GALLERY
Safe and Sound
Safe and Sound was inspired by the plight of immigrants in the Americas. It was created after I watched a documentary on the Darien Gap. Months later, when the Darien Gap was closed to migrants, I asked myself what had happened to all of the people who were in motion trying to make their way to the USA. When I researched the current situation to find the answer to that question, I was inspired to create this art. US Immigration policies and border controls have made it extremely difficult to enter the USA legally. Even seeking asylum has become a time-consuming, difficult and expensive process. In January 2025, the CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) One app used by immigrants seeking to enter the USA ceased to accept new appointments. The CBP deactivated the appointment scheduling feature for all ports of entry at the US-Mexican border. Many migrants who had waited months to enter legally were left stranded. Others who had spent months migrating to the US border found themselves unable to move forward. Thousands are essentially in limbo stranded in Mexico, Central America and South America. Often forced to retrace their steps, these migrants find that humanitarian aid is often limited. Others have remained in Mexico in a legally perilous situation without the means to move forward, or to return from where they came. For example, thousands of Haitian refugees are stranded in Mexico. Other refugees are stranded in Panama, Columbia and elsewhere. The conditions in which they find themselves often leave them vulnerable to exploitation. They frequently have limited access to clean water, food and secure housing. The humanitarian aid that is available is limited. The charities that do assist these migrants in transit are always in need of donations.
Live and Thrive
Live and Thrive was inspired by the on-going food crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa. One in five people in Sub-Saharan Africa live with food insecurity or malnutrition. For many, securing adequate and nutritious food is a daily struggle. Clean and fresh water is also in short-supply for many who face this daily struggle. Climate change has added to this crisis. Rising food prices has also exacerbated this situation. Despite the fact that world hunger has slowly decreased, it has increased in Sub-Saharan Africa. The IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) defines famine as a situation in which at least one in five households in a region have extreme food scarcity and face starvation and destitution. In 2024, famine was declared at the Zamzam camp in Sudan. Other regions in Sudan and elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa are considered to be at Crisis or Emergency levels, on the IPC’s Food Insecurity Scale, but are not yet at Phase 5, Catastrophe/Famine. Many charitable organizations have focused their attention on this cause, but there is still much to be done.
Free From Shame
Free From Shame was inspired by the gender-based violence in Kenyan refugee camps. This art contains an image of an African acacia tree with the profile of a woman's face. The words "Free From Shame" are a reference to the misplaced shame suffered by many victims of violence and sexual assault. This sense of shame can be overwhelming and it often prevents victims from seeking help. Kenya hosts more than 750,000 refugees. These refugees fled ongoing conflicts, food insecurity and political instability. Many arrived from Sudan (especially the Darfur region), South Sudan, and Somalia. The largest refugee complexes are Kakuma and Dadaab. The Kakuma Refugee Camp includes the Kalobeyei Settlement. The Dadaab Refugee Camp actually consists of three camps, Hagadera, Dagahaley and Ifo. The residents of these camps are predominantly women and children who face a daily struggle to survive. They are often victims of sexual assault because there is little security provided at these camps which are often targeted by thieves and predators. The Kenyan government relies heavily on the efforts of charities and NGO’s who mainly rely on private and corporate contributions to continue their efforts. These charities and NGO’s often provide the only assistance available to victims of sexual assault.
Ehayhu ij-yvy -Love the Earth
Ehayhu ij-yvy -Love the Earth was inspired by the people of the Amazon Rainforest who have fought a battle to protect their home for decades. Their battle is also a crucial, environmental struggle to protect the largest rainforest in the world. This art includes the Guarani words "ehayhu ij-yvy" which translates to Love the Earth and the English words "the land without evil was beautiful like the sky," which is a reference to a Guarani tradition about a beautiful land that is like heaven and without evil. This paradise has come to represent a place where people can live in harmony with nature and the divine, without the ills of colonialism, environmental destruction, and exploitation. Although traditionally this Land without Evil was believed to be located across the ocean, others came to believe that this land is a place of infinite food, where a great forest provides everything freely, and anyone can live in harmony with the divine. The Amazon Rainforest and surrounding regions, which are home to many indigenous peoples, including the Guarani is still beautiful like the sky, but it is not without evil. The destruction of the Amazon Rainforest needs to stop, for the sake of the indigenous people who call this region home and for the sake of the environment. The Amazon Rainforest covers about 2.5 million acres in the roughly 3 million acre Amazon Basin. Deforestation has had devastating effects on the Amazon Rainforest. This is devastating for all of us because the Amazon Rainforest absorbs 25% of CO₂ emissions. In the last half a century, about 20% of the Amazon Rainforest has lost its forest cover. Deforestation has also had a terrible impact on many indigenous groups with some being displaced from their ancestral homelands. The Amazon Rainforest lies within the borders of nine countries; Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador and French Guiana. The efforts of these countries to preserve this natural wonder are not enough. Fortunately, many charities and NGO’s are dedicated to preserving the Amazon Rainforest and rely on contributions from private individuals and corporations. Their work is essential to all of us.
