Mother We Won't Forsake You
Inspired by my granddaughter, Charlotte’s enthusiasm for skateboarding and with the Chinese Year of the Dragon as a thematic backdrop, I created this work to celebrate the joy of movement and all children’s enthusiasm for dare devilry whether skating, or hulu hoop dancing. Chinese mythology envisions dragons as a symbol representing good fortune. Unlike the western dragon, Chinese Dragons are seen as benevolent and powerful mythological creatures I envision Charlotte’s undulating motion as akin to the progress and regression we make in our efforts to stem the tide of global climate change. These dragons painted with lush colors of orange and blue hues have sharp claws and teeth which, express my anxiety about my grandchildren’s future. The serpintine dragon bodies are undulating masses of dynamic energy. Charlotte both flows with dragons’ energy and is swamped by it. I
This painting focuses on children's embrace of the moment and the thrill of twirling, dipping, flying, swinging as the spirits moves them. Creating artworks, which celebrate the joy experienced by children through sports, dance and play, is a poignant reminder of what will be lost if we continue to “sleepwalk into climate catastrophe”.[2]