Braving the Wind: Kara’s Story

Behind the Artwork

Braving the Wind at ArtPrize 2011

Kara, a young woman, had been battling cancer for several years. To portray her story for ArtPrize 2011, I combined the paintings of Kara in Braving the Wind with an interactive metal Healing Tree. Visitors were invited to write notes, honoring loved ones struggling with cancer and then hanging the notes on the tree. This was the first time I created an interactive healing installation. Now visitors had the opportunity to expand the work with their own stories.

Years later, Kara and I reconnected. We had a special opportunity to sit down and discuss our ArtPrize journey: An immersive experience with the ArtPrize audience. Art had made a bridge for us to connect and develop a special friendship while the art also had created a pathway to inspire exhibit visitors. Through Kara’s perseverance and willingness to help others—in the midst of her own reoccurring cancer battle—20,000 ArtPrize visitors ended up being inspired to participate.

How can you encourage a friend or loved one battling cancer or simply help a friend in need?

Visit healinginarts.org to learn more about our inspirational work.

Our healing art involves you—because you matter!

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.

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Josephine’s Courage

Behind the Artwork

Faith - 2018 watercolor painting in progressTold in Josephine’s own words

“My husband and I heard a man knock on the door. The door was largely open. Soldiers were emerging inside the house; we made a loud noise and asked rescue to anyone who could hear us.

“I started to cry, and my husband cried too. I could not imagine that death entered my life. I trembled like a sheet of paper. The soldiers asked us for money. My husband gave all that we had. Before they wanted to leave, the commander had already torn my clothes.

“That night, because I am a woman who is now known by several men, I lost my husband too. Many do not want to associate any more with me because I do not *smell well. I do not know how to join together a little money to request a surgical operation. I must forget and forgive my torturers and look at the future in front of me.”

* Because of the fistula—created when she was raped, Josephine’s bladder leaks like a sieve.

Faith 2018

Behind the Artwork

Faith - Part of the Courage Ablaze series, Pamela Alderman, 12 x 16 inches, Watercolor on paper, 2018Viewer Responses

Amazing process in how you work the face. The mouth being the last part of the painting. Women who had been seemingly silenced by horrific circumstances—reawakened with the restoration of their voice through accompaniment of listening hearts and ears that gift compassion and hope. Maura

I see the past pain in her eyes but hope for the future too. This is a living painting.

I’ve been watching your Congo art forms evolve. Your hand has become graceful in its touch. Insightful now. Anna

Those eyes speak volumes. Barb

Faith – Part of the Courage Ablaze series, Pamela Alderman, 12 x 16 inches, Watercolor on paper, 2018

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A New Test of Courage

Behind the Artwork

Faith (detail), Pamela Alderman, Watercolor on paper, 12x16 inches, 2018

After posting Sabina’s story and image a few months ago, my friend Laurie asked me to paint another Congolese work. But Laurie’s request posed two challenges for me. The first challenge was to paint a watercolor painting. Four years ago, I had tucked away my watercolor paints—partly in frustration with my watercolor work at the time and partly because it was time to expand my art into new areas. I worried that the painting might flop due to a lack of practice.

Secondly, I had made up my mind to retire my Congolese artwork. But with that announcement, Laurie’s challenge came. This posed another dilemma: Would I stick to my plan and keep the work retired? Or would I allow my passion for the Congolese people to be rekindled? In the end, I decided to haul out my watercolors, face my insecurities, and paint.

It was also amazing to discover that the same emotional response to painting the Congolese work back in 2012 was still active. Throughout the entire painting process, my soul bled—through my paint brush onto the canvas—for Congo’s pain. So now I wonder: Is my Congolese work finished?

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Healing in Arts Award

General

Sustainability Champion Award from GVSU

Thank you to the Office of Sustainability Practices of Grand Valley State University for recognizing my interactive healing art with sex-trafficking. It’s a real honor as an artist and community member to receive the Sustainability Champion Award. Thank you so very much!

This award also goes to all my volunteers—my collaborators—who work so hard to serve the public through my healing art! Your candles shine brightly!