Sometimes Dreams Come True

General

Pamela with Congo Governor, Kabasu BabuLast week the Honorable Governor Kabasu Babu from Congo spoke at Grand Valley State University. After trying to contact him by email, Facebook, and his cell phone, I finally connected with him following his presentation. He graciously accepted my invitation to a private viewing of my 2012 ArtPrize entry Courage Ablaze—highlighting some women and children from Congo—featured at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel prix cialis en pharmacie.

I was excited to discuss his country and to share my passion for the Congolese people especially after being immersed in my refugee work. The governor thanked me for my artwork and advocacy for the Congolese.

Valor

Behind the Artwork

Seven foot pillar with Valor paintingColumns represent strength; they hold something up. The column displaying my painting entitled Valor connects important elements, inviting the viewer to interact with the painting through a 3-D experience. Because of its cylinder form, the column also portrays unity, or continuity.

The Valor column, which displays my painting of Toni and her child, represents the bond between a mother and her child. At the same time—since the entire painting cannot be viewed from any one vantage point—the column also creates tension by highlighting the distance between the two figures. This distance symbolizes Toni’s story.

For without any warning, war separated Toni and her daughter. Soldiers swept through her village, killing her husband; in the midst of the horror, Toni and her daughter were separated. When I learned about Toni and her story, I was struck by her tremendous valor.

Toni must grieve and move forward with her life without knowing what happened to her daughter. This amazes me. Toni’s strength of character holds up something higher than mere positive thinking. Her live exemplifies a rare inner stability. Although soldiers destroyed her family, they couldn’t break down her resolve and steal her peace. After hearing Toni’s story, I could not escape the painful question: “What am I made of?”

“Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.”
Michel de Montaigne

NOTE: Seven foot pillar shown above on right includes giclée on canvas reproduction of Valor. Valor, Pamela Alderman, watercolor on paper, 58×44 inches, 2012.

The Flame Tree

Behind the Artwork

The Flame Tree at ArtPrize 2012

The Flame Tree
Pamela Alderman
Multimedia
48×95 inches
2012

The copper tree represents the African Flame Tree, a resilient tree that showcases brilliant red flowers. The charred frames symbolize the family members slaughtered in the African holocaust. Since the beginning of the genocide, an estimated five million people—fathers, mothers, sons, daughters—have been savagely killed.

To symbolize the horror, a marksman shot holes in the frames. When the bullets pierced the frames, I shuttered. My heart ached as I imagined the lifeless Africans dropping—all those loved ones dead.

Though vicious enemies have sought to annihilate the Congolese people, their sturdy generational roots continue to grow. Glowing candles rise under the blackened frames portraying the courageous spirits of the Congolese people. And these refugees, like the Flame Tree’s blossoms, still radiate stunning beauty.

NOTE: The Flame Tree is part of the Courage Ablaze exhibit at ArtPrize 2012.

What Happens to Your Artwork After ArtPrize?

Behind the Artwork

ArtPrize visitors often ask me, “What happens to your artwork after ArtPrize?” The answer, as you can see below, is varied.

CompanionsArtPrize 2009
Companions
Pamela Alderman
Watercolor on paper
18×24 inches

Following ArtPrize, Companions was jury selected for the 110th Philadelphia Watercolor Society International Exhibition. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Children’s Hospital of Denver display Giclée reproductions of Companions. Currently, the original painting is part of my traveling exhibition entitled Healing Reflections.

 

LivingArtPrize 2010
Woman in Red
Pamela Alderman
Watercolor on paper
22×30 inches

As artist and ambassador for the Go Red For Women initiative, I continued to exhibit Woman in Red after ArtPrize. The Heart and Vascular Center of Metro Health Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan showcases Giclée reproductions of the Woman in Red series. The original painting, entitled Living (shown on right), was purchased by a private collector. In 2011, the original painting entitled Against the Wind was donated to the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball to help raise support for heart disease.

 

Braving the WindArtPrize 2011
Braving the Wind
Pamela Alderman
Watercolor on paper
26×40 inches

Giclée reproductions of Braving the Wind series are on display at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The original series, featured at Women’s Expo in 2012, is part of the Healing Reflections traveling exhibit.

Courage AblazeArtPrize 2012
Courage Ablaze
Pamela Alderman
Watercolor on paper
66×44 inches

Courage Ablaze being exhibited at ArtPrize 2012 will be featured at Women’s Expo in March, 2013.