A Tug at My Heart

Along with the rest of the world, I am so distraught and distracted by the horrific images and stories out of Haiti. I never have been to Haiti, but a piece of my heart is in the country that shares its island, the Dominican Republic. It was over 10 years ago that the DR and a very special group of people welcomed me into their family and their lives. My world was forever changed for the better- not only with the joy and the love that I experienced, but also by the window that I gained into the lives and cultures of those who I would never have had the opportunity to meet. Part of that experience for me has been to have the rare opportunity to wind in and through the majesty of the sugar cane fields and the communities of workers and families that are largely, Haitian. Speaking through fractured Spanish, French, Creole and English, the stories were born, and the days of hard work alongside the big bulls and their handlers, fell away to nights around fires and ceremony. My curiosity was born out of a sheltered naivety and I would say, so was theirs. There is a pride and dignity and smiles that light up the skies. I have been working on a book of my drawings and have now decided, that, once I publish, a portion will go to the relief effort. For now, please look for information coming soon about how to support in a collaborative effort with Urban Sketchers.