The Power of Belief

In childhood, Santa Claus was real but God wasn't. What do I believe in now? Although God lives in my soul, I want Santa back. 

The Power of Belief

Halloween "Who Am I?" series

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. It lets me see the world from a brand new perspective, one based on that year's costume. The power of believing the story I tell about my life can limit my growth if I let it. Am I a victim of my success, or the hero of my life? 

The Power of Belief

My ex-husband used to dress up as a clown, spreading fun to kids as I drove JoyCar in local parades, bubbles flowing out the back of that funny, polka-dotted car. Who needed Halloween? I noticed that kids' ability to stay in the moment is intoxicating; they are exactly who they were born to be.

Love Sex Comedy

Part of living my 'new' story is inviting all the mystical, magical, spiritual serendipity into my awareness on a daily basis. My luck, intuition, sixth sense, and belief in a power greater than myself (who gently guides me) drive both my collage art and my emerging career as a Dream Collage Artist.

Mountain Magic

Envisioning life as a Dream Collage Artist usually reveals new avenues for me to explore, such as seeing potential where others see problems, investing in right now, and finding out who I have not yet become. This collage asks, "Can you change your destiny before noon?"

Amanda

Iraq series

Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan on 5/1/2011, almost 2 years after fighting returned to Afghanistan to target the Taliban (who originally protected Bin Laden after the twin towers fell on 9/11/2001). Early on, critics charged Bush with going to war in Iraq to finish--by killing Saddam Hussain--what his presidential father started and to secure access to gas resources. With both men gone, I don't feel any more secure.

Iraq 1:  Before the War

Iraq 2:  After the Fall

9-11 series

Watching that first attack on American soil (since Pearl Harbor) constantly repeated on every news channel brought tears to my eyes; it still does. We're back on our feet now and the fighting continues abroad 15 years later. Is it time to "Rethink Everything"?

9-11:  Capitalism vs. Terrorism

9-11:  Patriotic Spirit

9-11:  Promises to Keep

9-11:  Back on Our Feet

9-11: Rethink Everything

President Obama's Legacy series

Our first bi-racial president's legacy includes Obama recognizing in a 2016 speech that change takes time but "We are not as divided as we seem." We've watched racial profiling and even police officers targeted in hate crimes, but cameras are now capturing many unjustified shootings of black men.

Multiracial in America

Many minorities doubt that either presidential candidate is capable, let alone interested, in resolving the racial tensions simmering just below the surface. Reality is getting stranger and stranger. A black, male friend of mine is worried about driving across country because he might get stopped by the police and never make it home.

Politics 4: Clinton vs. Trump

President Obama originally ran on the message of change in 2008, saying "Yes We Can." That message of hope was needed more than ever in 2012 after the Japan nuclear disaster, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the rising death toll and violence in the Middle East.

Hope

Getting relected in 2012 was not a given. President Obama had to work for every vote he received.

Politics 3: Obama vs. Romney

Obama's first presidential race was strong and predictable. As a Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama gave the keynote address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He looked and sounded presidential, which introduced him to the national audience that voted for him in 2008.

Politics 2: Obama vs. McCain

Race in America

As President Obama leaves office for good in 2017, we see more hate crimes, racial profiling, police as targets, and unemployment hitting blacks harder than other races since the 2007 recession started. We’ve come a long way, but most everyone agrees we still have a long way to go.

"Multiracial in America"

Racism was unfortunately alive in Nashville back in 2001. Dating a Mexican revealed prejudice, literally in my own back yard. I learned that “Picking the right white is not as easy as it sounds" (as noted in this collage) when the best candidate is black, brown, or another color.

The Right White (Fear Less)

Originally this collage was about how magazines use subliminal messages to sell stuff. This final version looks at race, lust, seduction, secrets, and also strong families.

Subliminal Seduction