I could not live in any of the worlds offered to me—_the world of my parents, the world of war, the world of politics. I had to create a world of my own, like a climate, a country, an atmosphere in which I could breathe, reign, and recreate myself—_That I believe is the reason for every work of art. "E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One)", acrylic on wood. In this piece my intent was to connect the past, present, and future in the stasis of a two dimensional piece. The intense vibrancy of the central colors are brought into a type of suspended animation hanging in the balance of a blue coolness. Out of Many One, speaks to the idea of reawakening beyond crisis a result of many hands making strong. The piece is backed by mandala-styled configured forearms and hands showing strength in diversity. The clenched fists, a time seared symbol of solidarity emits from the concentric circle of flames ignited by a central light. This light can be seen as the sun, the center of the solar system and the earth's most important source of natural energy. Without the sun, life as we know it would soon cease. That solar illumination frames the head of a young woman coming forth in the light of a new day. She represents the feminine energy, creativity, innocence, wisdom, and emotions purified by life's crucible. She is a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) to better represent those who have been marginalized in a binary society. Undaunted, she levitates in contained defiance of the weight of reminders that she is “other". Her white shirt is stamped with a red rose representing the inherent power of love, wisdom, beauty, and balance. If this piece had a third name it would be SOPHIA: Symbol Of Physical Hope In Action. That is what I see represented by relentless creatives moving steadily forward and continuously producing art in the face of opposing forces. Forces that, if left unchecked would render us philistine, trapping our “civilization" in the vortex of its own gloom, and consuming hope. Let us remember that we find our power beyond our pain. Out of all that has gone before, there is no rugged singularity. There will always be a “we" that emerges all the more empowered when we work as one. In this art work as with many of my pieces, detailed outward gazing eyes serve as a beacon, forward gazing while reflecting gaze of the viewer, intentional and unapologetic. The art takes agency in my quest to first address myself in a re-member-ance. My accepted positionality in this liminal space is that of a healing agent in this continuum between my ascendants and my descendants. I regularly use recycled southern elements, specifically iron and Alabama red clay, as charging conductors in my work. My practice is about revelation; the recognition, reclamation, remembrance, and resurrection of a constructed rather than an imposed reality. This work outlines a chosen future.