More from an American in Paris

From the Heart

Omaha Beach in France

Of all the places to visit in France, Omaha Beach was on our Top 3 list. Seeing thousands of white crosses, a few crumbling bunkers, and the uneven terrain from World War II bombers pelting the shoreline left an indelible mark on our hearts.

Over nine thousand American military members are buried above the beach. The loss of life for the allied troops and enemy forces was enormous. Looking down at the beach from the bunkers, you could almost hear the Saving Private Ryan battle cries. Conflict is costly.

Vet writing hero message on Hometown HeroWhile on Omaha Beach, I thought of the veteran soldiers who visited my ArtPrize 2015 Hometown Hero installation. These veterans soldiers, who honored the World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan fallen, made a deep impression on us—the ArtPrize visitors, my volunteers, and me, the artist. Their story of sacrifice and loss, even decades later, was profoundly visible. We all felt their grief.

Many tears fell. Both the soldiers’ tears. And the onlookers’ tears. Our tears gathered and fell as the soldiers recorded the names of their fallen heroes on the painting and, then, silently saluted their comrades. One soldier even crawled up to the painting on his abdomen in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Marine style, to write the name of his fallen “brother.”

Heroes written in beach sand

As a military wife, grandmother, and artist, it is my mission to seek hope and healing wherever my work leads. A work that focuses on viewers and their story. A work that offers a healing space.

Decades from now, what will be your story? Or my story? Will we be the ones who laid down our lives for freedom? Or will we be the survivors, passing on a hope-filled story to our grandchildren?

A Paint Brush That Speaks

Behind the Artwork

Courage Ablaze

My definition of being a human who cares about her world began to change in 2011, when I collided with Josephine and other Congolese refugees living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. At the time, my knowledge of Congo didn’t extend beyond a country located on the map.

For the next year, I began to research Congo’s horrific story—eight million people slaughtered in Congo’s holocaust and two million women raped. Why? Because of Congo’s vast natural resources, such as gold, coltan—used in our cell phones and laptops, and diamonds.

After learning about Josephine’s suffering and the millions of other Congolese people like her, this question burned: “Pamela, do you care enough about the women and children of Congo to do something?” I responded with my paintbrush to give viewers a glimpse into the fierce determination of these remarkable individuals by creating a healing space called Courage Ablaze. After viewing the work, several American visitors confided their own rape stories; Josephine’s pain ignited courage.

Does Josephine’s story also kindle your compassion? When others are in need, like our sisters from Congo, what can the rest of us do to help them? When one woman supports another, our lives interconnect—setting hope and healing ablaze.

Josephine’s story is a composite story that has been shared in the news or reports. Her real name and some of the details have been changed.

Instagram @ Pamela Alderman

#paint4healing
#artistcitizenwork

Originals and Commissioned Art

Behind the Artwork

Cityscape No. 2, Pamela Alderman, Mixed media, 96 x 48 x 6 inches, 2018

Commissioned Art

It was an honor collaborating with Wolverine Building Group. I enjoyed working with the old historic site plans for the backdrop and the hand-painted Plexiglas shapes of their defining buildings in the foreground.

Cityscape No. 2, Pamela Alderman, Mixed media, 96 x 48 x 6 inches, 2018

Original Art

Splash - An original “hand painted” acrylic on canvas painting by Pamela Alderman

Pamela Alderman’s hand-crafted, custom artwork or original works are a unique commodity. Pamela accepts a limited amount of commission work per year. Please contact the studio to inquire about available artwork or to discuss your custom needs.

Instagram @ Pamela Alderman

#paint4healing
#artistcitizenwork

A 17 Mile Journey

Behind the Artwork

Getting trace drawing of hands in NYC

While walking seventeen miles through New York City, I invited individuals to respond to my interactive art as I stopped on sidewalks, waited in line at famous tourist attractions, or sat in Starbucks. I challenged others to live generously and be part of the solution to healing our broken world. My artwork spoke of compassion and living large hearted. But do I actually live that way myself?

Hand trace sketches from NYC

At the end of one day after challenging others on the streets of New York to help impact our broken world, I missed a valuable chance to connect with a stranger. After a woman who was drinking alone at the bar saw my husband pull out my chair at the table, she said, “Aren’t you lucky.”

We chatted for a quick moment. But I kept thinking of her as I ate my meal. When she pulled out twenty dollars to pay her tab, I had an urge to offer to pay for her drink. But I didn’t act.

I did say goodbye, though, and wished her well. This restarted another small conversation. But as I watched her leave the restaurant, I felt an emptiness—a lost opportunity. I didn’t have any more maps left to invite her to interact with my art. But this woman probably needed something deeper than an interactive art experience. This woman may have needed the artist, herself, to live out her art message.

Today I’ll look for another moment to connect. This time I hope to respond like Babette and offer the next stranger an opportunity to experience infinite grace. Then my artwork will actually have an impact across generations because the artist will have learned to live with an open hand.

Babette’s Feast is now playing at the Theatre at St. Clements located at 423 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036

#BabettesFeast
@babetteonstage

Love Crosses Borders

Behind the Artwork

Babette's Hands, Paper collage panels, 9x4 feet, 2018

Babette’s Hands, Paper collage panels, 9×4 feet, 2018

Artist Statement

Babette’s Hands. A symbol of humanity. With her hands, she stitches her world. A physical touch given—not taken. With her hands, Babette stirs the soup. A labor of warmth shared. With her hands, Babette kneads the bread. A redemptive pressing. With her hands, she artfully sets the table with each spoon. A whispered prayer for each stranger. With her hands, Babette serves her family. A living testament of fellowship. With her hands, Babette sacrifices all. Lavishly. For her fractured family. Her fractured community. Her fractured world.

Like Babette’s, your hands offer endless possibilities to heal. You, too, can touch another. To celebrate Babette’s Feast a short story by Isak Dinesen, you are invited to trace your open hand on a piece of paper. Our severed world stitched—with your hand, your connections, your intersections. The spirit of inclusion expands. Citizen and refuge. How will you multiply Babette’s sacrifice? On your traced hand, jot a note, a sentence, a word. Then go. Place a spoon. Set a table. Throw a party. Offer hope. To your fractured family. Your fractured community. Your fractured world. Radical grace—embracing the “other.”

Babette’s Feast played at the Theatre at St. Clements located at 423 West 46th St, New York, NY 10036 (just west of 9th Avenue).

#BabettesFeast
@babetteonstage

Babette’s Story

Behind the Artwork2 Comments

Sketch of Babette's Hands paper collage

An artist is never poor.” Babette’s Feast by Isak Dinesen

Do you know the story Babette’s Feast? Babette, once a famous chef, is a refugee, who escapes the French civil war and resettles in Norway. For the next twelve years, she cooks for two deeply religious sisters—without pay. One day, Babette’s financial position changes, so she decides to prepare a lavish feast for the sisters and their neighbors. Overwhelmed by Babette’s generous hospitality, the meal helps heal the broken community.

#BabettesFeast
@babetteonstage

Top image: Babette’s Hands (sketch), Paper collage panels, 9×4 feet, 2018