Artist Statement for Counting My Blessing
“Counting my blessings” is a visual documentation of my spiritual journey. I worked hard and overcame life’s obstacles to become successful. I use my art to document my experiences. God guided me to success despite harsh environments. I lived in the southwest area of Philadelphia. I lived in The Bartram Village Housing Projects as a child and I encountered drugs and violence. My future was bleak according to the national statistics in the 1980s. If you lived in the projects, your chances for success did not exist. I had no options or resources while living in the housing project. The national statistics stated that my harsh environment could lead me to incarceration, drug addiction, or death by the age of twenty. My life took a different direction.
I survived my harsh environment. I became a father, a successful artist and art educator. My artwork represents the good, the bad and misrepresented parts of my life. My images comprise my family history, self- determination, fatherhood, spiritual connection, and pursuing the American Dream. God lead me through these social obstacles; as a result, he strengthened my dire despite my lack of resources. I want the viewer to gain the understanding that if you believe in God and have faith; then, you can achieve and overcome.
I survived my harsh environment. I became a father, a successful artist and art educator. My artwork represents the good, the bad and misrepresented parts of my life. My images comprise my family history, self- determination, fatherhood, spiritual connection, and pursuing the American Dream. God lead me through these social obstacles; as a result, he strengthened my dire despite my lack of resources. I want the viewer to gain the understanding that if you believe in God and have faith; then, you can achieve and overcome.
