I was encouraged to submit artwork for an exhibit here in Greensboro North Carolina called Artista (http://greensboro.skirt.com/node/24653). This exhibit is quite profound. They are raising money for the future leadership of young women. I knew I could not pass up this wonderful opportunity to be a part of such a cause. So, I decided to create a piece that was appropriate and near and dear to my heart. This piece exemplifies the empowerment these young girls will adhere to upon their coming of age. Through their experiences of life and the honing of their focus as young women, this piece represents the leadership and energy they will create as strong independent women.
What I experienced in creating this piece was amazing. I not only wanted to show the girls through the energy I painted in this artwork, but I wanted to find in myself the empowerment I have acquired as a woman. I did not realize the magnitude of the power I have grown to embrace through the past 15 years of my life. Since I was a teenager I have learned some influential lessons of what it is to be a woman. By learning to say what it is I think and feel, yet I have mostly learned these lessons by NOT representing my moral compass that I have fine tuned. During those times that I was not true to my strong feminine self, I felt how much it hurt to not be me; to not show the world what it is that represents me as a feminine entity. The world during my life in my 20s was just coming into separation of the negative and positive traits of being a woman. I was torn between being a nice girl who did not speak her mind in fear of being titled a bitch if I did, and the other side of the coin which was representing my true self which is quite blunt and practical and still being called such things. I have learned now the balance in being logical and to the point, yet in a soft and compassionate manner. This is where I have found my leadership role. I can now be who I am despite what others say or how they label me, and I can have confidence that I am an independent and powerful woman, a powerful human, and by speaking and living my truth I am respected as such.
It took nearly a decade for me to find this perfect spot as a woman, and too, our society has come a long way. Though there is still much adversity to conquer being a woman, or a minority of any kind by that matter. I can honestly say now, in the year 2009, that I am proud to be a woman, a human, a leader, a mentor, and most of all a genuine person that can help mentor others honestly and truthfully.
Please come by the Greensboro Cultural Center Thursday, February 26th from 5:30 to 8:30, to experience this wonderful event!
