|
"When I lived in Chicago,
I witnessed the destruction and violence communities suffered in the
hands of local gangs. People were killed and property destroyed.
Some communities decided that they had suffered enough. They
formed local watch groups and took over the abandoned lots where the
gangs congregated. They turned these lots into playgrounds and
community gardens. I remembered these gardens when I began
thinking about my piece for this show. Gardens represent many
different ways of healing: meditation, nutrition, and growth.
I choose to represent my garden in the form of a mandala. Mandala
is a Sanskrit word meaning "Whole World" or Healing Circle.
It is a universal symbol found both in art and nature. The
materials used in this piece, watercolors, also suggest a symbolic
cleansing and the ink is strength. The colors are reminiscent of
the vibrant colors found in most traditional Latin American art.
Together these elements form the complete piece titled 'Healing
Garden'."
|