I tend to avoid discussing politics or religion as I find it uncomfortable to engage in heated debates. However, my eldest daughter, Alexandra, had introduced me to a podcast by Estee Lalonde which sparked a change in my perspective. While listening, I was initially unsettled by Nina Donovan's comment about the importance of not being apathetic during difficult times. Given the political climate in North America and the #metoo movement, I knew that I could no longer remain silent. As a mother of two strong and independent young women, I felt a responsibility to take a stand against anything that may be considered unjust or discriminatory, especially since I come from a large multicultural family and strongly believe in equality and acceptance for everyone.
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I kept asking myself, "What can I do?" and it occurred to me that art has long served as a catalyst for change. This is why I chose to use my voice in the best way I knew how, by empowering other women to be brave and show up in their lives. My younger daughter, Katherine, had previously suggested that I paint famous women who have influenced our lives as part of a year-long project titled "Heroes." As part of #The100DayProject, I took this idea further by painting 100 women in 100 days who personally impacted my life in some way on 8x10 gallery canvas to celebrate and honor the "nasty women" in my life. I began with a self-portrait, followed by portraits of the beautiful women in my life who stepped up to support this project.