This
painting is oil on rag paper. The idea came to me as I worked on
a project in my old neighborhood. The scene is at the end of the
street that my mother use to live on. It was a project that no one
wanted to work on, partly because of the area and also because the work
was up in the air. Broderick, which is now part of West Sacramento,
at one time had a reputation as a bad part of town. But it really
never seemed like a place that was unsafe or undesirable to me. I
did my best on that project to give something back to a community that
didn't have that much in terms of wealth. As usual at lunch time
I would draw. Later, when the job was completed, I went through my
thoughts about some of the poor individuals that I came across and their
kindness and the crosses that they carry.
This
piece was entered in an annual religious art competition held at St. Johns
Lutheran Church and it received the "Best of show" award. It was
also purchased by the church and is part of the church's collection of
art on exhibit. |
