Beijing Bling

I've been watching the Olympics off and on over these last two days. Saw the "redeem team" kick some china ass on the hardwood, and Phelps kick everyone's ass in the pool. I must admit, I enjoy watching the games. My favorite events being Track and Field.

The opening ceremony was something I've never seen before. It was the the mother of all sporting event shows. I was simply in shock and awe at what was displaying right in front of my eyes. I can't imagine what that must of been like to be there live......wow!!

And I sat there taking in all the pyro, colors, costumes, and sheer artistic display....i wondered...."I wonder how much money China spent on this? So I did a little quick research...

it is estimated that somewhere in the neighborhood of 42 Billion (US dollar) will be spent on these Olympics. China's is representin, no doubt. Of course some of that will come back in corporate sponser and much of the money was spent on improving Beijing infrastructure that will benefit the chinese for years to come......but 42 Billion ? And thats a shy estimate. China is pretty tight lip on it.

And was it not just a month or so earlier that a devastating earthquake killed several thousand chinese and much of them were children? I bet they could have used that money to improve the shoddy construction that crumbled like a house of cards.

Is this really necessary? Seems these Olympics recently have gotten out of hand, and now it will be a contest of "I can do it better than you". Meanwhile we have global poverty, famine, war torn nations, genocide, AIDS...

I love the concept of nations coming together in the spirit of goodwill. But I love the concept of sharing the wealth to those that really need even better....

Give me your tired, your poor

A line from a poem, “The New Colossus,” by the nineteenth-century American poet Emma Lazarus. “The New Colossus,” describing the Statue of Liberty, appears on a plaque at the base of the statue. It ends with the statue herself speaking:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."



My answer to the "illegal" immigration debate.

Evicted, James 2: 1-13

Title: Evicted, James 2: 1-13
24" x 36" acrylic on canvas

21st century human oppression known as Hurricane Katrina. Prepare for the Casinos. I can see the advertisements now....Mardi Gras, Big Easy, 777 JACKPOT!!......
Makes you think twice about those levees. Is this what the "American Dream" has become? Lose your job, house, possesions, freedom. Knowing that you will never get your home back or any fair compensation. Meanwhile plans are in the works to complete demolition only to be replaced by 3000 room capacity Casinos.

The Conquering of Sin

16" x 20" , 18" x 24" , 16" x 20"

Acrylic 2003

These three pieces make up one final piece. Like God taking form in 3 persons. Like all colors can be derived from 3 (yellow, red, blue). I get a ton of bad looks and comments from this one, let me tell you. I think it hits a nerve with people, Christians alike. In actuality I can't figure out if people get upset because it's a depiction of Jesus on the cross or because it's a depiction of a BROWN Jesus. Let us see him as how he most likely was. These three together on a wall make a powerful statement.

Hills and Valleys of Honey

18" x 24" Acrylic

The female form is a landscape to me. There are hills and there are valleys. Some have bigger hills than others. This is a tribute to the lovely shape of brown women everywhere

Segregated Man

16" x 20" Acrylic

Think we don't live in a segretated society? Think again. What we wear, watch, laugh at, listen to, agree with are segregated. Our schools are segregated. Our neighborhoods are segregated. Our cities are segregated. What we find beautiful is segregated. We are all the same but treat each other as separates, clinging to what we know and what feels comfortable to us.

Someone Call 911

48" x 60" Oil

I could create an entire blog on this one piece alone. The passage reads from Isaiah 29: 15-16 NIV. I omitted the airplanes for a reason and that being because they were not the cause for collapse. 51 and 52 should be obvious if you think about it.

Revealing What Seems Right

20" x 30" Acrylic

Sometimes what looks right on the outside and appears like the "just" thing to do is merely a front for what lies beneath the surface. If it is examined under the right light you can see the hidden agenda beneath.

Long Walk Home

18" x 24" Acrylic

David and Goliath

24" x 36" Acrylic (sold)

I'm not a climber by no means, but I respect those that do it

Sunkiss

24" x 36" Acrylic (sold)

I suppose there might a "real" place like this somewhere, but this image came straight from my imagination.

Skyscrapers

24" x 30" Acrylic (sold)

If you have never see the mountains in Glacier Park, you are really missing something. I was excited to sell it but at the same time sad to see it go, but I know it is in good hands.

The Visitor

16" x 20" Acrylic

This is my "comeback" piece. This was done after 10+ years of not painting or drawing. The title should give you an idea of the perspective you need to take to understand it.