et al # 5: a collaborative painting with the House Keeping staff of UNC

Journal and images of process.

Artist Statement

This painting was created in collaberation with the House Keeping Staff at UNC-Chapel Hill. It is my goal in this series to uncover wisdom in uncommon places. What worked its way into this painting were two major themes; one centers around friendship and joking. The other is around social issues such as physical abuse, work and pay, and politics/war. The latter issues came to light in the drawings from the workers in the old Dental Building. Several of those workers were from Southeast Asia (as I write this I wonder if their families or country of origin was hit by the recent disaster.) I used their input in two areas, the first between the red/orange upstretched arms. Between them is a landscape of far off mountains and a river. I also used their drawing of a tank. That donated drawing said something to the effect of "education or war: it's your choice." Well put.

The group of workers from Craig Dorm were much more interested in drawing images around fun times and things like home and family. There is a hidden home near the right side that refers to this, as does the blue chicken. I also got the central man and women from this group. The worker had drawn a lady kicking a man who had abused her. I ended up keeping her crying face as a more general symbol for suffering. Her blue, angle-wing like hair denotes her salvation.

Religion played a part in many of the drawings, thus the upstretched arms. Many comments to the positive and negative are recorded on the upright and inverted American flags on the right side of the painting. I hope the viewer leaves with a balanced felling of joy and sadness from this painting. Joy from the funny images and bright colors, sadness from the issues addressed. To me it is hopeful sadness though. It was an honor to work with these thoughtful, generous, and kind people. Thank you for your help.

-- Todd Drake