“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.”- Henry David Thoreau

Painting by me!

Jillian let me borrow her book, Graffiti Women: Street Art From Five Continents, and I’m already completely inspired to get back into this style of work. My favorite artists featured in the book include Siloette, Aleteia, Swoon, Nuria, Microbo, Hera, and Fafi. There is such a great range of work shown in this book with one section dedicated to graffiti and another to street art. Graffiti is made-up of mostly letters created using aerosol with a push for quality and quantity, while street art cultivates a more figurative approach with less words and more images using stickers, posters, aerosol, and even acrylic and paint brushes. Both styles promote public art that makes a statement whether that be to one individual or to the world.

Graffiti Women brings me back to the art I find most inspiring, and it encourages me, as a woman, to PAINT! I used to make stencils and frequently used mixed media including aerosol, paper, and charcoal in my work, but since moving to Durham, I’ve stuck to acrylics on canvas for the most part. I miss the messiness and spontaneity that comes with graffiti and street art, along with the confidence to “just go with it.” Slap some paint wherever you see fit, let the spray drip to the ground, and let the art lead you instead of you controlling the outcome.

Graffiti and street art are at the core of “Tink.” Strouse and I once had a graffiti wall in our backyard, and every Wednesday night, a  bunch of graffiti artists friends would come over to paint. Everyone had their tag name, except me. Trying to spray “Rachel Freeman” or even just “Rachel” was not only too long but just plain boring. “Tink,” having been a nickname since high school, naturally became my tag name and the name I’ve since used to sign my work.

Ishmael Beah is a former Sierra Leonean child soldier and author of the published memoir, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. I read his book a few years ago and was gripped by the stories, rather the realities in his life. At age 12, he fled attacking rebels. By age 13, he was a soldier in the government army. “Eventually released by the army and sent to a UNICEF rehabilitation center, he struggled to regain his humanity and to reenter the world of civilians, who viewed him with fear and suspicion. This is, at last, a story of redemption and hope.”

I decided to paint Ishmael’s portrait, because he taught me about a world I knew very little about…a world that still exists today for over 300,000 children in more than fifty countries. He also taught me about hope. “When I was young, my father used to say, ‘If you are alive, there is hope for a better day and something good to happen. If there is nothing good left in the destiny of a person, he or she will die.’ I thought about these words during my journey, and they kept me moving even when I didn’t know where I was going. Those words became the vehicle that drove my spirit forward and made it stay alive.”

Ishmael is a survivor and is using his experiences to bring hope to humanity. He currently lives in New York City and works towards ending child soldiering and helping those affected by war.

I just added three new paintings to my Etsy shop! Check them out and share the link! I also do custom portraits, so contact me if you want an original, unique, personalized gift for your loved one for Christmas!

Shane Claiborne

Lardi

Ishmael Beah

September 17th was the opening reception for “Silence That Speaks:” an art exhibition of paintings by me and photographs by Elisabeth Vitale. My works are portraits of people from all walks of life who have influenced me in some capacity. Some faces are recognizable while others are a representation of a type of people; but, behind each face there is a story to be told…or uncovered.

Elisabeth’s photographs are of her travels to Europe, her musical influences, her moments of peace, and her times of discovery. Snapshots of people, places, time, and objects, her images are loaded with narratives that the viewer can either imagine, learn from the photographer, or experience on his or her own.

“Silence That Speaks” is an exhibition about the stories that can be revealed through a painting or a photograph. The exhibition is at 105 West Main Street Gallery in Durham, North Carolina and runs through October 24th.

Me and photographer and friend Elisabeth Vitale are showing new work at 105 West Main Street Gallery from the September 17th through October 24th. ”Our images tell a story of the people, places, and moments that speak to us.” Silence That Speaks. The opening party is Friday, September 17th from 7-11pm. Mark your calendars. Tell your friends. See you there!

First Friday Raleigh was this past weekend and included the opening of my solo show at The Gallery at Vintage 21.  V21 could not have been a better host venue. Their graphic designer created beautiful publicity, which was handed out and hung around town, and an artist statement poster, which was framed and placed on an easel. The venue also provided all of the food and beverages. Jessi, the gallery coordinator, and her husband, Matt, were helpful with anything and everything I needed. Truly amazing examples of servant hearts.

I met lots of wonderful people throughout the evening, and enjoyed sharing the story behind each painting. Thank you to V21 and everyone who attended!

The show is up for the entire month of March, so be sure to stop in!

The Gallery at Vintage 21
117 S. West Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
firstfriday.vintage21.com