Berries and Dandelions

My mother and others fled to the mountains in China during the Japanese invasion and survived by eating plants and berries. Years of civil war, invasion and lack of resources led to my mother's (and others') decision to emigrate.
16 x 20" Acrylic on canvas 2022

Where Do We Belong

Legislation in several states in the US puts many families with children who identify as LGBTQ and may need gender affirming care at serious personal risk. A person's identity can't be changed by legislation and families shouldn't be treated like criminals.
22 x 28" Acrylic on Canvas 2022

Kindness and Chaos

After the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, there was widespread rioting in Washington DC. I was 8 years old and attending Anne M Goding Elementary School. The teachers organized rides home for the students as the busses stopped running. My middle school siblings tried to walk home but encountered rioting. Luckily, they were taken in overnight by a family. We were reunited the next day and so thankful to strangers and others for their help.
22 x 28" Acrylic on Canvas 2021

One For Sorrow (or The End of Friendship)

The cultural significance and meaning of flowers and birds are varied all over the world. The magpie can signify good luck or bad fortune depending on the country. Flowers such as belladonna signify silence and zinnias signify lost friends. During the pandemic and movements such as BLM and MeToo, there was upheaval between family and friend groups. People couldn't seem to find middle ground and some relationships wouldn't recover.
16 x 20" Acrylic on Canvas 2020

Victory in Georgia

This is a celebration of the elections of Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff as Democratic Senators representing Georgia. The border features Georgia's state flower, the Cherokee Rose, representing the removal of the Cherokee nation from the state by what is known as the "Trail of Tears".
22 x 28" Acrylic on Canvas 2021

First/Last Day of School

In Texas, parents are given a Child Identification Kit to help law enforcement and others to identify their loved ones in case of a shooting incident or other terrible situation. Parents list their child's height, weight, hair color, birthmarks and can provide fingerprints and a DNA sample. Yes, we can make the medical examiner's job easier but we can't adequately protect our own children. We can't settle for inaction versus adequate gun legislation and mental health services.
24x36" Acrylic on Canvas 2023