ArtPrize 7: Hometown Hero Joins Collection at Silver Star

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Hometown Hero arriving at ArtPrize Seven and being carried by GRFD firefighters

During ArtPrize Seven in 2015, the public demonstrated enormous respect for our military by acknowledging the men and women who are willing to lay down their lives for our country. Our guardians of freedom. And now it is a tremendous honor that the original Hometown Hero painting will join the permanent collection at Silver Star—a thriving veteran community that promotes human flourishing.

I would like to thank Developer Marvin Veltkamp and Veterans Program Coordinator Tim Hunnicutt for their vision that includes using art as a healing catalyst for our veterans. While witnessing hundreds of visitors interacting with Hometown Hero, one Blue Star Mom said, “There’s a whole lot of love in that painting.” And because of this love, we are excited that the healing influence of Hometown Hero will continue.

Blue Star Mom’s Support Hometown Hero II

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FOX17 interview for Hometown Hero II

MI Toy and Trinket CompanyDon’t miss Hometown Hero II: Guardian of Freedom artwork unveiling and fundraiser for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Suicide Awareness. A special thanks to the Ottawa-North Kent Blue Star Mothers for their generous support.

Event Info:

Marne American Legion
1469 Arthur Street, Marne, Michigan
Friday, August 19, 2016
5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Hometown Hero II custom frame/easel designed and manufactured by metal artisan, Steve Umstead, of MI Toy and Trinket Company.

See FOX17 coverage of the Hometown Hero II event…

Hometown Hero II Travels to the Pentagon

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Hometown Hero II: Guardian of Freedom

Hometown Hero II
The Pentagon, Washington, DC
September 5-17, 2016

Sergeant Ron Kelsey, founder of Reflections of Generosity, a traveling art exhibition which helps provide soul healing for our military community, invited me to give a presentation, lead a workshop, and exhibit my artwork at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. in September. I answered, “Yes!”

My talk will raise awareness of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and soldier suicide through my new art series called Hometown Hero II that focuses on hope and inner healing for our military community. Some of our soldiers are struggling with a cascade of emotions after returning from war. While in Iraq on an American base, Sergeant Ron Kelsey heard police sirens whiz by. Suicide had claimed another young soldier’s life. Ron writes, “Fellow soldiers walked around like lifeless zombies.”

According to the VA, approximately 11-20% of our current veterans are experiencing PTSD. And 18 to 22 veterans commit suicide daily. This means that approximately 8,000 veterans a year take their own lives. According to NBC News in 2012, more soldiers took their own lives than died in combat.

Healing in Arts

Hometown Hero II paintings are being created for soldiers like Sergeant Ron Kelsey and their families to sign the names of their heroes on the artwork. These paintings will be unveiled at the Pentagon and then will travel to military bases with the Reflections of Generosity Collection. Sergeant Ron Kelsey says, “Art can help heal the battlefield trauma entrenched in the soldier’s heart. Thankfully, in the art world, their feelings and voices can be freely expressed.”

Healing Wings (detail)

Hometown Hero II Art Unveiling and Fundraiser

Hometown Hero II fundraiserJoin us for a pig roast on Friday, August 19, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Marne American Legion on 1469 Arthur Street, Marne, Michigan. The Hometown Hero II painting will be available for viewers to sign. This event is sponsored by Ottawa-North Kent Blue Star Mothers MI #194.

Become an Art Patron!
Help Fund Hometown Hero II

Many of you will want to help raise the funds needed for the artwork and travel expenses. The paintings will be donated to Reflections of Generosity. Tax deductible funds can be donated through New Horizons Foundation.

Courage Ablaze Continues to Ignite Hearts

From the Heart

7 foot pillars and other elements of the Courage Ablaze installation

Courage Ablaze tells the story of the innocent women and children caught in the crossfire of annihilation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Though the fires of adversity scorched their families, these fierce women are salvaging what’s left and starting over. Since first debuting at ArtPrize 2012, I completed twenty-five additional portraits and recorded several more Congolese stories.

Courage Ablaze watercolor paintingFrom ArtPrize 2014 to several solo shows including the last exhibit at Michigan State University, Courage Ablaze acted as a catalyst to open hearts. Though the work told the stories of Congolese women half a world away, several American visitors confided their own rape stories. Courage Ablaze facilitated small steps towards healing as individuals shared their pain. I’m grateful for the opportunities to touch so many visitors with the untold story of DRC Congo.

A Tip of the Hat to My Congolese Friends

Loyalty - watercolor painting from the Courage Ablaze seriesI would like to acknowledge the Congolese leaders who kindly supported Courage Ablaze throughout the last few years. Kizombo Kalumbula, a naturalized Congolese pastor and director of International Berean Ministry, joined me in several presentations by educating the audience on the reasons for the conflict and the complex history of the region. Le Clay, Congolese refugee singers from the Leon Lusamba family, helped humanize the statistics by singing Congolese songs in French, Lingala, and Swahili at our presentations. Florimond and Jeannette Kabanda from Congo International Ministries and Paul and Charlotte Mpindi with Mission French Africa have also supported the work. I would also like to thank the numerous Congolese models and storytellers for their courage and vulnerability in allowing their lives to be portrayed with paint brush and pen.

Nibito’s Story

The Congolese women first captured my heart back in 2011. Since that time, I have been continually amazed at their strength and valor. A few months ago, I saw a video of a Congolese woman being reunited with her children after years of separation. The happy family laughed, hugged, and danced. But another woman near the end of the video caught my eye, a woman whom I happened to know. I’ll call her Nabito. Nabito was separated from her child years ago when rebel soldiers raided her Congolese home. In all probability, Nabito will likely never see her child again. Yet, in the video, she was laughing, hugging, and even dancing along with the other family as they celebrated their reunion. As I watched the video, Nabito’s gratuitous generosity moved me to tears.

The Congolese women, women like Nabito, have expanded my definition of courage. Their tremendous strength of character, their determination to survive, in spite of enormous loss, inspires me. These Congolese women have taught me new lessons on how to respond to adversity. Truly, these women and children are my heroes.

The Work Lives On

Love - part of the Courage Ablaze watercolor seriesIn June, Courage Ablaze joined the permanent collection at Bethany Refugee and Immigration Services where the art will continue to tell the story of the women and children of DRC Congo. Bethany has the resources to reach beyond my influence, as a culture care artist, for the Congolese people.

So the past five years of work with my Congolese friends reaches a transition. The journey has been difficult. It isn’t easy telling the stories of immense atrocities and pain. After loading the truck and watching the artwork leave my studio, I felt a sense of release. Deep satisfaction. Up to this point, I have done all I can do for the Congolese people. Perhaps, one day, I may highlight the courageous stories and artwork in a book—and maybe even travel to Africa. But for now, I pray that Courage Ablaze continues to ignite a fire of hope beyond anything I could ever imagine and that peace will ultimately prevail for these beautiful women and children of DRC Congo.