I feel like I am in over my head painting on the subject of race! Partly because I am white, and don't feel the negative effects of racism personally. I also live in a very white, rural area of the world where there isn't much chance of getting to practice racial diversity or have conversations with people of different racial experiences.
This is what has been on my heart, so I am using painting to explore race.
This painting is a snapshot of Earth from above. It is focusing on what we all have in common. The continent is skin colored.. because we are all shades brown really, made from and living on the soil of this planet. When I painted he word human I used blue. The font and the way the word twists reminds me of the color of the veins under my skin as they carry life to my body.
I dipped my finger in shiny Red paint and finger painted the word RACE. We all have Red blood running through our veins, and the same creator made us all. We are in this together, this quest to survive and thrive here. If you get a chance to see this little painting in person, run your fingers over the word race. It is raised and shiny. Touching this completes my connection to the subject, and reminds me that I am part of it, that being "white" doesn't mean I am colorless. This is something I belong to, and care about as part of the human race.
Then I painted the sea and the continents. This planet is our home and we are quite literally family. I wish I could call call a family meeting to find out what is going on between some of the brothers and sisters here below! I think if we all came to the table we would find that there are two (or more) sides to the story.
So, I have begun a quest to understand. I am reading, and I am praying and talking and looking around at the world I thought I knew with heightened awareness of this thing called RACE that is dividing us.
"God, give me your eyes, and help me to hear different opinions and seek out other stories and see the hearts of your people. Give the leaders of our country wisdom to bring the changes that need to happen that will bring real and lasting PEACE between our brothers and sisters and HEAL our nation."
-Deborah King