Art is resistance. Sometimes art is all we have. During these hard times anything we can do to keep going and bring something beautiful into the world is a good thing. Times are hard. They are going to get harder. In the US we are in a struggle for democracy. People are struggling for their basic human rights and our constitution and way of life is in danger. I don't know how to proceed through this or how to keep making art; just that I NEED to. It's hard to even pick up a pencil and painting is beyond me at the moment. I am looking at my tools, organizing and moving things around. This is a way of connecting to my art, however small and seemingly insignificant. Sometimes I scribble on a scrap of paper just to connect my broken heart to my art. Every day I refuse to give up to despair is a form resistance; I feel helpless and powerless. But I will keep doing whatever I can to resist giving into this fascist regime.
I am still stitching because that is the limit of my current creative capacity and the rhythmic motion is soothing. It helps me get through each day. I sit underneath a painting that I painted in 2016 when I felt like I was on top of the world. It is beautiful and reminds me of a different time and place. An innocent time before I saw all the horrors perpetuated by our government. A time when I thought our country would always stand for goodness and freedom. I still believe in goodness and freedom and that they will prevail. Our country is in a crisis and we need to choose kindness and humanity and love.
Until then I will keep resisting and sending my love to all those who have been hurt by our government and support those standing up against ICE and their cruel inhumane tactics. I am sending my heart to the friends and families of those who have been harmed and killed by by ICE and other agencies. Nobody deserves to die for protesting. Nobody should be taken from their homes illegally. Nobody is safe until all of us are safe. Nobody is free until all of us are free.
Until then I hope you are able to keep resisting and I hope you are able to make some art; even if it's just scribbles on a scrap of paper.
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