While I have been incarcerated there have been so many devastating wildfires. Watching California burn from behind bars was heart wrenching. In the fantasy world of my dreams I stole Barrat (the heavenly white stallion that carries the messengers of God) and together we vanquished these fires. When I am released, I hope to immerse myself in the wilderness that remains largely untouched by development and forest fires, inserting myself to help replant indigenous plants and trees in burn areas.
In this visceral, material world of concrete and steel I am presently confined to, it's easy to overlook I am a spiritual being composed of light and love that transcends all boundaries. The intangible fabric of prayers and dreams are what bind this world together. Without them we are hopeless and lost. We must believe that prayers and dreams can heal, can set the persecuted free, can fortify and initiate peace, and can bring sunlight and rain where they are needed.
Inshallah.
Colorado prison rules forced me to remove the stretcher bars from my canvas, leaving the edges raw and holes from the staples.
This painting was commissioned for the exhibition “Painting Ourselves into Society” at the Berkeley Art Center, 2024.
