Beautiful, natural, visceral, primitive, original, native, striking, unusual, aboriginal, ancient, wonderful, poor, extraordinary. This describes both the people and my reactions to them as I travel the world and photograph the faces of its many indigenous people. The beauty in the human face is a universal theme that ties us all together. It expresses not only the lifetime of an individual, but represents the diversity of human life. As indigenous cultures disappear, replaced by modernism and contemporary societies, the value of these cultures to the world are slowly being extinguished. A world where we are all the same is not a very interesting one.
I paint portraits to show the beauty and relevancy of indigenous culture to contemporary society. I hope to bring attention to the values these cultures represent and the challenges they face as the world moves them to the brink of extinction. As growing urban populations encroach on traditional indigenous territories, tribal cultures are forced to assimilate and westernize. Their lands are often exploited for natural resources by companies from developed countries, as well as their own governments. As a result the rights to their land and resources, as well as their culture and customs, are threatened. As an artist, my mission and responsibility is bring awareness of their plight to the developed world, and to show the interconnectedness of all human beings. I am both blessed and lucky to have this opportunity in my life.
After completing a Ph. D. and working 20+ years as an apparel and textile designer as well as university professor, I decided to use my design & drawing skills to pursue my heart's desire...painting. Because of travel to Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, I became sensitive to the plight of indigenous people on every continent. Starting with a photograph of a Masai woman taken in 1974 in Kenya, I began painting portraits of indigenous people around the world. When possible, I take my own photos. But I am blessed to work with several talented photographers who have beautiful photos of indigenous faces. My objective is to share the richness and beauty of indigenous people around the world, whose cultures are slowly dissapearing. Additionally, I paint landscapes, florals, and abstracts, inspired by my many travels. I hope you enjoy seeing my paintings as much as I enjoy painting them.
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