Kali

"Kali" 60" wide x 48" high, acrylic on canvas. My contemporary Kali is a global female warrior focused on clearing paths. She holds a Gil Hibben wood knife design, here I have made the knife stone referencing a story of the White Knife Clan people who carried white stone knives. Click here to read more about Kali Ma an often misunderstood goddess.

Kali is also a reality based martial arts system in the Phillipines, employing the use of several weapons.

Devotional Bengali music is known as Shyama Sangeet and features themes around the Hindu Goddess Kali.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia4DWUBqEKY

Jamaica is home to many Indians who came as indentured laborers, they make up the second largest ethnic group in the island, the first being Africans. (Hinduism had an influence on the Rastafarians who often refer to marijuana as Kali- the Hindu goddess whose name means"great black mother whose invoking is usually associated with the lifting of sagging spirits). The vintage B&W photo from the National Library of Jamaica features two indian girls in Jamaica cooking rice (date unknown). To read more about the history of Indians in Jamaica click here.

Passion

"Passion" 12" x 16" Oil on canvas. She is a leader, decisive and confident attracting others through her brilliance and warmth. She encourages you to take risks, be unique and ignite your inner fire. She celebrates the gift of her menstrual cycle, honoring it as a time of being more psychic and intuitive. For more information on the historical significance of women's menstrual blood click here for an article by Adelheid Ohlig titled, "Women's Blood Mysteries". "Passion" is inspired by the following Fire Goddesses; Brigit a Celctic Fire Goddess associated with light, inspiration and skills associated with fire like weaponry, Pele the Hawaiian Volcano Goddess, Hestia Goddess of the Hearth and Oya the African Fire Goddess.
Click here to read more about the African Fire Goddess Oya from The African Realm of the forgotton goddess

For a list of names meaning fiery, fire, blaze, flame, burning, etc. click here.

Chinese Jamaican's

"Miss Young"
12" x 16" Oil on Canvas.
This painting is not a portrait, my process is to paint and allow these characters to emerge. She is titled Miss Young in honour of my half chinese maternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Young. My grandmother was born in 1923, she was a dressmaker who at my request made numerous doll clothes for my dollies.

Recently I was browsing through the Jamaica National Library's images on flickr and came across some images of Chinese Jamaican Ladies from the 1930's, they were newspaper announcements for their occupations such as; vocalist, doctor, cashier etc. It was uplifting to see how many were involved in family businesses, medicine, and especially the arts.

Top row: Miss Audrey Leahong, well known fancy painter, Dr. Hoashoo M.B. one of two lady doctor's in Jamaica, Miss Elma Fung, who is her father's cashier.
Bottom row: Miss Doris James, a well known vocalist at concerts, Miss Doris Chin Loy, Who is now studying in China and Miss Fay Hendrickson, assistant in her father's business.

To read more on the history of the Chinese in Jamaica click here.