I love this African saying, and it seems that it is more applicable than ever. We need ever watchful, caring eyes for our children in a world that has become both smaller and larger at the same time. We need a coat of protection for each other in our journey that allows us to be respectful of our differences and to understand that our survival depends on our ability to embrace each other wherever we are, because some of us have traveled far to get here.
Art is about authenticity, and it is this authentic voice that we seek in art—it most often matches the very essence of that we crave but are unable to verbalize.. Good writers leave us with a sense of self. We come away with more than we had to begin with. That begins our transformation and begins our own search. Artists can create a universal language without words that can mirror a conversation that is necessary for us to move forward in community.
We cannot talk about art without talking about the artist. His or her journey often becomes ours.
