Social Justice – Veronica Winters Painting

Category: Social Justice

Artist’s writing about social justice.

The statue of Liberty

Posted on September 15, 2024September 22, 2024 by veronica

statue of liberty-Strasbourg — The Statue of Liberty, Strasbourg, France.

I spent two days in the Louvre. On my way home, I flew from Paris to JFK, New York. My husband and I were stopped, detained, and 2 guys from the US border protection services asked us to open our phones and give those to them. They said that if the phone is open, it would be quick and I’d get it back in a couple of hours. They also gave us a paper with a local phone to call about our phones. Mind you, it’s been a week of not receiving the phones back. The suggested number to call doesn’t work (no one answers it). I’ve been a US citizen for over 15 years and immigrated to the States over 26 years ago. I’m an artist, writer and educator who was stopped and detained. We pay all taxes and contribute to this economy and society in every way we can. None of the reasons listed in the paper applied to us besides the ‘random search’ one. Obviously, it’s not random.

If you’re about to travel abroad, please know that you have a legal right not to give them passwords or codes but you have to give up the device at their request.

This statue of liberty is located near Strasbourg in France. It’s a representation of freedom and democracy for most Americans. Unfortunately, it’s a complete illusion. If you’re a dreamer, understand that this level of targeting civil liberties is getting one step closer to the tyranny of Stalin’s repressions. British people get arrested and jailed for speaking the truth. This erosion of freedom and democracy is real under constant surveillance of this state. Every day a small part of freedom is taken away with a new law you have no idea exists.

Summary of Key Rights as a US citizen generated by ChatGPT:

You cannot be denied entry as a U.S. citizen.
CBP can conduct routine searches without suspicion, but advanced or intrusive searches may require reasonable suspicion.
You are not required to provide passwords for electronic devices, though refusal may result in prolonged detention of the device.
You do not have the right to an attorney during routine questioning or searches.
You can refuse to answer non-identity related questions, but this may result in delays or further inspection.

Although border searches do involve reduced protections, CBP must still act within the scope of the law, and unreasonable or abusive actions can be challenged in court. If you feel your rights have been violated, you may wish to consult a civil rights attorney or file a complaint with DHS.

Leadership & new order

Posted on May 1, 2024June 27, 2024 by veronica

A new leader & his order often destroyed cultural and scientific heritage of any given society. During the repressions of the 1930s in Russia, new government executed top scientists, artists, and writers. In China, Mao’s cultural revolution wiped out the intellect of the country. Many centuries back, the book of songs (that’s attributed to Confucius today) was burned along with other ancient texts and people who opposed new order. What remained was memory and some memorized poems and texts. The medieval ages & religious wars in Europe saw an unprecedented destruction of science & culture reverting the humanity back by hundreds of years, leaving it in a thorough stagnation. It’s common to see state confiscation, scientific and cultural reversal and overall decline instead of the birth of a thriving, new society after such events.

While new replaces the old where creation is impossible without destruction in a natural cycle of life, it seems that psychopathic leaders alter this cycle where they can. They rule with endless propaganda and control. Controlling people’s thoughts, ideas, beliefs, religion, culture seems paramount to leader’s success. Only psychopathic rulers can govern and hold on to this position for a long time. Otherwise, the ruler is assassinated, executed or imprisoned.

We try to pick a president based on our morals, beliefs and ethics, searching for a leader with a “heart.” Unfortunately, we won’t find one because he or she doesn’t exist. Each person takes a specific job in society based on his personality and inner life. Top politicians have qualities other people don’t possess and vice versa. Those people are low on empathy and emotion. Therefore, the decisions they make are easy for them to make.
Obama can’t control TikTok. Hillary couldn’t tank Trump with her lies about Russian collusion. Trump suddenly worries about the morality of abortion overturning the law. Putin uses religion and TV propaganda to justify his choices and outcomes. Democrats have captured the media with their agenda. The Republicans want to die in the Senate when they reach 100 years of age. As a democratic society we end up with top politicians who serve the privileged few who really rule and kill behind the curtain. And we- the people, become entangled in this web of rules, regulations, lies, prosecution, control, disbelief and hurt. Strong voices get jailed. Others accept bribes. We pay taxes to bomb the world. We hope for a better outcome only to lose it after another election cycle.

Just like the problem, the solution is never simple or clear. Every new idea or the structure of a society like communism, democracy, autocracy, and even utopian communes has beautiful thoughts that get corrupted by the human element. So it seems that a renewed system must consider human weaknesses and inability to change to function in a different and sustainable way. Is it possible at all? We can only know this after some social experimentation. But who wants to do just that?
Because progress is exponential, we are able to evolve and advance more rapidly with each decade. Perhaps, new ideas will sparkle and ignite a strong wave in evolution of humanity that’s more encompassing of the past, human element & the seed of life.

The Canvas of the Soul: How Art Improves Your Emotional Well-being

Posted on January 6, 2024October 23, 2024 by veronica

Imagine this. We can feel confident and inspired by looking at bold brushstrokes of Sargent. Or, perhaps, we can find solace in Vermeer’s quiet portraits. Maybe, the gaze of Frida’s self-portraits can reflect our own inner strength. Visual art, in its myriad of forms and styles, is a keepsake of our emotions. Art is open to everyone, regardless of age, culture, country or education level thanks to art museums, books and the Internet.

lady reading letters of Heloise and Abelard-1780-A. dAgesci — A lady reading letters of Heloise and Abelard-1780 by Auguste Bernard d’Agesci, oil painting, Art Institute of Chicago

The Science of Art & Emotion

ingres-Princesse-de-Broglie-1853-closeup-of-face-and-jewelry-the-met-best-art-museums — Ingres, Princess de Broglie, 1853, closeup, the Met, New York

When we go to an art museum to marvel at the technical skills of artists, research reveals a deeper magic at play. Studies have shown that engaging with visual art can trigger a cascade of positive effects on our emotional and mental well-being:

1.Reduced stress and anxiety: A 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that museum visits lowered cortisol levels, the stress hormone, in participants. Promoting relaxation, art can be a useful technique to lower your anxiety level without taking the prescription.

2. Enhanced mood and happiness: A 2015 study by the University of Westminster revealed that looking at art increased feelings of pleasure and excitement in participants.

3. Improved empathy and social connection: A 2020 study in PLOS One found that viewing art together fostered greater empathy and prosocial behavior among participants.

Federico Uribe art, Adelson Galleries, 2023, Miami Art

The Secret Weapon is Art Education

The impact of visual art isn’t just for art nerds; it’s an effective tool for nurturing well-being from a young age. Art education is often ignored in public schools giving more value to sciences or sports. However, we have many parts to us and we grow emotionally by incorporating many subjects and social cues into our life. Art isn’t about making pretty pictures; rather it’s about:

Building self-esteem and confidence: As children express themselves through art, they discover their unique creative voices, boosting their self-confidence and sense of accomplishment.

Enhancing cognitive skills: Studies show that art education improves critical thinking, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills, giving young minds a well-rounded workout.

Fostering emotional intelligence: Through art, children learn to identify and express their emotions, developing a healthy vocabulary for their inner world. I think this is the most overlooked, yet most powerful application of art in our daily experiences.

Creative thinking is not limited to arts. It often influences our business and social decisions.. Creativity is essential in problem solving, science exploration and personal life growth. Some super creative personalities like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk have revolutionized our understanding of and interaction with technology. Creative thinking is about generation of unique ideas and solutions. It’s a skill that takes time to develop while we study arts and sciences in school. Sometimes students do need help with homework and assignments. There are many companies that offer quality service helping students succeed in learning. At homework help websites experienced writers help students understand difficult course topics, reducing stress and overwhelm. Students are able to complete homework on time and hone their creative skills. They show improved performance in grades and timely submission of assignments.

Mäda Primavesi (1903–2000) Gustav Klimt Austrian, 1912–13 — **Gustav Klimt, Mäda Primavesi (1903–2000), Austrian, 1912–13**, oil on canvas, 59 x 43 1/2 in.

Gustav Klimt despised government control and censorship in the arts, and as a result, revolutionized the art scene in Europe with his sensual, stylized art in early 20th century. He has influenced many modern and contemporary artists as well as art styles, including Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, and Russian Constructivists. According to the Met, The girl’s parents were banker-industrialist Otto Primavesi and his wife Eugenia, who were supporters of progressive Viennese art and design. This painting was seized by the Nazis from Jenny Pulitzer Steiner in 1938 in Vienna and restituted to her in 1951. http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436819

Tips to Tap into Art’s Therapeutic Power in You

Every person has the artistic side inside him. It may be dormant or not fully explored. As we nurture this part of our personality, we discover new ways of looking at the world. We become more creative in our jobs. We feel emotional connection to people. We engage with others with empathy. We see beauty in ordinary places. We become more connected to the source of our divine nature.

So if you’re in the mood to discover and process your emotions via visual art, here are some tips to get you started.

1. Visit an art museum or art gallery:

When you travel to another state or city, place the largest art museum and a few art galleries on your list. Not everything is going to look as art to you or become your favorite, but you learn to explore art beyond your comfort zone; you also understand what you really like or dislike. Sometimes, I go out and get disappointed in the shown objects promoted as ‘art’, but there are moments when I find paintings or sculpture that inspire me to create art or try new art materials or just look at the subject differently. I often study paintings by looking at unusual composition, color use or texture created in paint. Such visits cultivate my taste and appreciation of art.

OtherWorld, interactive space, Columbus, Ohio

Digital art and technology: I find this new realm of technology exciting. I’m not talking about the NFT scams or bitcoin-get-rich schemes. I think that the interactive, digital art installations are becoming more creative and exciting in comparison to contemporary painting. Some interactive installations can help you explore yourself and grow your understanding of reality by going to these virtual reality rooms. I like how some artists combine nature and technology to create moving exhibitions. My favorite artists in this field are: Studio Drift, Studio Olafur Eliasson, Kusama’ Infinity Rooms. You can also explore new interactive spaces like Other World, a 32,000-square-foot immersive art installation in Columbus and Philadelphia. It’s an interactive, multilevel playground filled with large-scale art, mixed reality playgrounds, and secret passageways. It’s a surreal mix art, technology and interactive experience.

Meadow a Permanent Sculpture in Prague

OtherWorld, immersive space in Columbus, Ohio. Mushrooms changing color and sound.

2. Let your inner artist shine:

Grab a brush or a pencil and make a drawing of something in front of you. Sketch a tree outdoors or a flower on your table. Write a note next to your sketch about your feelings as you’ve been drawing it. It’s about finding joy in the process of creation.

3. Turn your home into a gallery:

abbotsford house castle library — Abbotsford house, Castle’s interior with a bookcase

Surround yourself with art that speaks to your soul. Photographs, paintings, small sculptures or even handmade coffee cups can create a nurturing environment that reflects your inner world. Sometimes I visit homes that have 100% white walls. These houses look empty of color and emotion. Lacking personality, such houses are generic and sterile. Every human being is unique and by exploring your emotions in art, you create beautiful and healing space for yourself and others around you.

midnight dream_bedroom interior shot_celestial painting

4. Engage with art in everyday life:

Notice the beauty in the architecture you pass, the patterns in nature, the colors of a sunset, the texture in your friend’s bag. Collect those moments in a sketchbook or pictures because the world is your scrapbook of memories and emotion.

Church in Venice with mosaic floor design

5. Art therapy:

Art therapy is a profession and service that grew out of art-making. It’s about using visual arts as a tool for self-expression, emotional exploration, and healing. From trauma recovery to managing chronic illness, art therapy offers a powerful outlet for processing difficult emotions. If you think that drawing is not your thing, try making collage pieces out of magazines and postcards exploring your emotions. I find that I often make art and collages without any particular thoughts but the meaning reveals itself when the art is done… Just like writing or a combination of the two, such process can help you understand and process your painful past to move into the light.

Sometimes psychologists use projective tests to understand your psyche.

Deep Dive into Projective Tests:

Projective tests, like inkblots and incomplete drawings, offer a glimpse into unconscious thoughts, feelings, and conflicts. They often look like symmetrical blobs of paint juxtaposing negative and positive space. But how does it work, right?

The Projective Hypothesis: Imagine throwing a pebble into a still pond. Ripples emanate outwards, revealing the contours of the pond floor. Similarly, projective tests are thought to “disrupt” the calm surface of the mind, provoking responses that reflect our inner landscape. By presenting ambiguous stimuli, such as inkblots or unfinished sentences, psychologists encourage individuals to project their own interpretations and motivations, revealing facets of personality that might otherwise remain hidden.

Common Projective Tests:

Rorschach Inkblot Test: The Rorschach presents ten inkblots of varying shapes and complexity. Psychologists analyze the patient’s interpretations, focusing on content, location, and movement. A bat in the blot might indicate anxiety, while seeing multiple figures interacting could suggest interpersonal struggles.
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): In this test, individuals tell stories about ambiguous pictures depicting people in various situations. The psychologist delves into the themes, emotions, and conflicts projected onto the characters, gaining insights into the patient’s underlying motives and needs.
Draw-a-Person Test: Simple as it sounds, this test can reveal volumes about self-perception and emotional states. The size, posture, and details of the drawing can offer clues about self-esteem, anxieties, and interpersonal relationships.

You can read about these tests here: https://pdx.pressbooks.pub/thebalanceofpersonality/chapter/chapter-3/

Evaluation and Interpretation: Projective tests are not designed to provide definitive diagnoses, but rather to offer additional information alongside other clinical tools. Psychologists consider contextual factors, compare responses to established norms, and analyze the specific details and patterns in the patient’s interpretations. Projective tests can reveal deeper dynamics:

Defense mechanisms: The way individuals cope with stress and anxiety can be evident in their interpretations, revealing defense mechanisms like denial, projection, or rationalization.
Unconscious conflicts: Underlying anxieties, fears, and desires can surface through projected themes and symbolism, helping psychologists get to the root of emotional struggles.
Relationship dynamics: Projective tests can shed light on how individuals perceive and interact with others, offering insights into potential relationship difficulties or attachment styles.

However, it’s crucial to remember that projective tests are not infallible and rely heavily on subjective interpretation with some cultural biases and individual quirks that can influence responses. While not perfect, they can be valuable tools for psychologists to gain a deeper understanding of their patients, their personalities, and the emotional forces that shape their lives.

6. Community art projects:

It’s often difficult to make yourself do something outside the house if you’re introverted or feel tired after a work week. However by going out and participating in collaborative art projects, you gain a sense of belonging, connection, and collective creativity that improves your mood and well-being. Imagine painting a mural for your community or taking an art class to learn the basics of pottery or sculpture. This activity can make you feel needed and appreciated by other members of the circle.

In conclusion:

Art is a valuable tool helping people express their emotions in a safe environment. Children benefit from doing art greatly by learning to explore their feelings and their relationship to the world around them. Art nurtures creativity, intrapersonal skills and grows emotional intelligence that becomes useful in a wide range of daily tasks. Art reduces stress and anxiety.

Remember, the emotional impact of art is unique to you. So, the more you explore, experiment, and record, the more your soul expands with empathy, love and curiosity. Art provides emotional connection to ourselves and the world while other activities may not have the same reach. Create healing space in your mind, home, relationships by developing your skills in painting, drawing, sketching, photography, pottery, etc. The world awaits your light.

Colored Pencil techniques Video class by veronica winters_s

The apotheosis of war

Posted on October 22, 2023October 22, 2023 by veronica

The US was involved in a number of wars in the past 100+ years.

Wars:

World War I (1914-1918)
World War II (1939-1945)
Korean War (1950-1953)
Vietnam War (1954-1975)
Gulf War (1990-1991)
War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)
Iraq War (2003-2011)

Proxy wars:

Chinese Civil War (1944-1949)
Greek Civil War (1946-1949)
First Indochina War (1946-1954)
Korean War (1950-1953)
Vietnam War (1954-1975)
Angolan Civil War (1975-2002)
Nicaraguan Revolution (1979-1990)
Salvadoran Civil War (1979-1992)
Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)

Russian-Ukrainian war (2022-

There is some debate about whether or not some of these conflicts can be classified as proxy wars. In Serbia, the US was involved in the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999. This bombing campaign was launched in response to the Yugoslav government’s crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. The bombing campaign lasted for 78 days and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

The US has also been involved in the conflict in Libya. In 2011, the US led a NATO intervention in Libya to protect civilians from the forces of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. The intervention resulted in Gaddafi’s overthrow and death. However, the conflict in Libya has continued since then, with various factions vying for power. The US has continued to be involved in the conflict in Libya, providing support to the internationally recognized government. However, the US has also been criticized for its role in the conflict, with some accusing the US of destabilizing the region and creating a power vacuum that has been exploited by terrorist groups. The US involvement in the conflicts in Serbia and Libya has been controversial. Some argue that the US interventions were necessary to protect civilians and promote human rights. Others argue that the interventions were illegal and counterproductive, and that they have contributed to the instability in both regions.

Additionally, the US has been involved in a number of other conflicts over the past 100 years, but it is difficult to say definitively whether or not these conflicts can be classified as wars or proxy wars. For example, the US intervention in the Dominican Republic in 1965 and the US invasion of Grenada in 1983 are often considered to be military interventions, but they could also be classified as proxy wars, as the US was supporting or opposing specific factions in those conflicts.

Written with knowledge of AI-based Google Bard.

PS. The US is currently involved in the Russian-Ukrainian war and the Israel – Palestinian conflict in 2023.

Collective consciousness

Posted on September 17, 2023February 10, 2024 by veronica

illusion 24x36 oil on panel--veronica winters painting — illusion 24×36 oil on panel

Some day I will disappear. Family, relatives, friends and people I passed by once will also be gone in a few decades. Strangers will occupy our homes, jobs and aspirations. My memories will end along with my art. We all come and go like tiny specks of the universe. So what’s the reason for people to want more power, influence, and reaches?

We all should live in fair comfort of course, but we run for greater success and importance. Many of us are workaholics feeling uncomfortable in stillness. Some hate their jobs but feel determined to continue living in the grind. Others drift without a direction, hope or love. Everyone complains about the lack of time to do something good. Yet we all have the same 24 hours in day.

If we all considered the nature of life in the universe, we would rebalance our priorities and outcomes. We would pay more attention to our inner life and our relationships with others. We would value even silly moments spent with friends and family . We would feel love more often. We would find joy in warm hugs and grey clouds. We would pay more attention to a beautiful light swirling in our morning coffee. We would see magic in a brisk walk in the woods. We could keep more joy in our hearts, yet we open spaces for envy and hate.

Artists try to rebalance the universe. Fill it with light and beauty while the psychopathic people govern with lust for more control, power and wealth. Most people can grow beautiful flowers of joy inside their hearts, awakening to their full consciousness, sociopathic personalities can’t.

The easiest thing to do is to sit on the bleachers and complain. If you don’t like something in your life, change it (It wasn’t me who said the last two sentences. Rather the president of the Oklahoma State University at my graduation in 2003). Accept help from people around you or offer it to others if you see it’s needed. We have a chance to create harmony and peace collectively. We still have the time.

colored pencil manual veronica winters — These art instruction books are on sale on Amazon!

how to color like an artist_coloring book_veronica winters — These art instruction books are on sale on Amazon!

Video courses

The miracle of traveling to Nicaragua: how it changed my perception

Posted on May 10, 2016November 7, 2023 by veronica

In June 2012, our group leaders Jeff and Stelli Munnis organized a mission trip to fly to Nicaragua. Through the Seeds of Learning, a non-profit organization supporting the education projects in Latin America, we worked on the school building project in a small town of San Ramon, situated in the beautiful mountainous area, not far from Matagalpa. Chamba and Mina were the local leaders, responsible for the project’ completion and our well-being. 🙂

Our group arrived to the country to complete the interior and exterior wall painting, the construction of a separate kitchen (Nicaraguan mothers volunteer to cook lunches for their kids daily), and the building of some pathways with benches around the school. I must say that our expectation how the school is supposed to look like has nothing to do with the ones build in Nicaragua. Those are small, simple buildings with few rooms and fenced windows.

Since I came back from Nicaragua, I’ve been asked a number of questions that I’d like to answer here.

One of school building projects in Nicaragua organized by the Seeds of Learning.org

What did I bring from my trip?

I bought a few handmade pieces from the local artisans that included a couple of handbags and some jewelry made of real, colorful seeds. But what I really brought from my trip were the intangible things. Mainly, a change in my attitude about life. It was an intense period in my life when I had to look inward to understand myself and my needs, to clarify my goals and purpose, and to just appreciate life a whole lot more than I used to.

How much was it?

In short, $2100 including the ticket … Some questioned my decision to spend my money on this kind of a trip that didn’t include the luxurious accommodations and a beach resort, rather made me look at the incredible level of poverty, made me sleep in a hot and humid room with a bunch of strangers (our group members were the strangers to me at first). I also took cold showers (there was no hot water in the houses), drove over the pitiful roads, had stomach pain, sweated for hours under the blinding sun, inhaled the paint fumes with the dusty, polluted air, missed out on my daily news intake, as well as running, baking, drawing, painting, and not drinking the hot Earl Grey tea. I can go on and on.

What did I gain?

A lifetime of raw experiences and a change in perception… I saw pure joy and happiness derived from simple pleasures – the interactions with friends, family and strangers that reminded me of my native country. The Nicaraguans had no access to infinite shopping, the Internet, gaming, or workaholic lifestyle. I didn’t encounter the unspoken, spiritual emptiness often observed in the West. As many choose to live the American dream owning a house, two cars and a dream vacation each year both good and bad comes with it. Owning a house often defines our identity. We work for it. When the house is lost due to fire or other accident, it feels like everything is gone. We feel as a failure. It happens as we often focus on getting the nice things, become the slaves to our endless need to work to support our lifestyle. This is the exact opposite of the Nicaraguan culture. Their focus is family, the cultivation of relationships and friendships. I was never interested in possessions or the accumulation of stuff, coming from the former USSR where everything was rationed, and in this country I found a similar focus on friendships.

Of course, Nicaraguans also have problems. Poverty is one of them. Yet, diving into a different culture was like breaking out from a shell that guarded my settled world. It was refreshing to look at the sincere enjoyment people had in their daily interactions with each other. It became the time to acknowledge their struggles that often involved hard, manual labor, and to appreciate my lucky existence living in the U.S. It was about seeing the humanity in simple things and actions, finding value in life, and accepting myself and others.

In Nicaragua we all had some rough times that reinforced our gratitude for having the very basic things back home, like warm running water, electricity, air-conditioning, and the rudimentary appliances that cut on our time doing the housework. But most importantly, I woke up from my sleep, redefined my beliefs, habits, and stopped being so self-destructing and unkind to myself.

+ Originally published in the summer of 2012.

To learn more:

Stelli Munnis http://www.stellimunnis.com/about/ and Veronica Winters talk about their art installation Eyes to See, filmed by WTAJ TV, State College, PA on Nov.2, 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNBNSozqy4Q
To see a video of the trip, go to YouTube and type in “Americans in Nicaragua” https://youtu.be/V4JWJ0X8P-M

To donate to the Seeds of Learning or to go on a trip like mine, visit: www.seedsoflearning.org

Eyes to See: U.S. Volunteers in Nicaragua, photo book, 160 pages

In this beautifully illustrated book, Stelli Munnis http://www.stellimunnis.com/about/ and Veronica Winters share what it’s like for Americans volunteers to travel to Nicaragua with the nonprofit organization, Seeds of Learning. Although volunteers travel to Nicaragua to build or renovate a school building, the real work happens when things are torn down. As the barriers between people are removed, and the walls individuals erect inside themselves are torn down, they become authentic and caring with one another. Volunteers return to the U.S. feeling different about themselves, others, and the world. They can’t help but feel deeply moved and touched by the hearts and spirits of the Nicaraguan children and people. The book contains over 100 full-color photographs that capture the spirit of what it’s like from the perspectives of volunteers, the children and people of Nicaragua.

My pictures represent a journey to a country with little means yet abundant friendliness. It is a place filled with strong women, free-spirited children, and laid-back men. The Nicaraguan way of life is slow-paced, hard labored, and dedicated to familial relations and friendships. It’s also a place where coffee growers, farming communities, and local co-ops harvest the land and live simply.

Images of children take a special part in this book. They had a natural, unspoiled ability to pose for my Nikon without any preconditions or special arrangements that others typically require when being photographed. They were neither rude nor aggressive; rather, they were kind, well behaved, and loving. I was drawn to their natural beauty and eagerness to communicate with our group of strangers and foreigners. This experience was deeply touching and filled my heart with love and gratitude.

The lush tropical landscape, verdant mountains, and blue skies with billowy clouds provide the backdrop to many of my photographs. It was my intent to capture the spirit of the Nicaraguan people and their rustic lifestyle, while also showing the architecture, housing, and utilitarian objects used in everyday life.

My sole purpose for creating this book is to let curious hearts see and understand the country. It’s a powerful and transforming experience to travel to the second poorest country in the western hemisphere and witness how people there live. It my sincere desire that my photographs will inspire many Americans to travel to Nicaragua with Seeds of Learning or donate to their organization. They are committed to providing children and communities with a tangible opportunity to improve their lives by having greater access to education.

Thank you for your interest in our work and for supporting this project!

-Veronica

Gun violence in America: how we can make a positive change

Posted on October 8, 2015January 16, 2022 by veronica

The second I saw the face of an alleged school shooter in Parkland, Florida, my mind threw me back in time when I worked as a visiting artist in rural schools of Pennsylvania. The arts grant allowed for artists’ placement in public schools to teach their particular art form to every kid in class. The school children usually had a very limited exposure to the arts, living in small towns or rural communities. Those were sobering moments in my life because I began to see how poverty, incarceration of family members, and the ‘no child left behind’ policy affected children every day. Parents and politicians often blame the teachers for bad education, but teachers are not the real problem. I saw care and commitment. The problem was the educational system and poverty. In such work, I met a teenage boy who seemed focused, polite and content on one day, and the same kid would emit incredible amount of anger on another day. Sometimes, I felt like he could hit me for no reason when I stood next to him, and one day he got handcuffed in class by a policeman to be escorted out of the classroom. While I wasn’t his target, I felt shaken. Later I learned that someone from his family was jailed for drugs, and his crazy behavior was the result of his family conditions at home. The teenage boy became the outcast because both his family and society failed to protect his broken heart…

As cruel as it sounds, it’s not the last mass shooting happening this year. We almost get accustomed to these chilling events when parents drop their children off at school, and some kids never come back home. Instead of looking into the gun laws and prohibiting the military-style weapons from purchases, we are offered prayers, condolences, and the denial of the obvious. Politicians will always serve their agenda, financially depended from the NRA.

The U.S. is the only highly civilized country in the world that shows consistent outbreaks of gun violence. Its free and democratic society allows people to shoot on the streets, in movie theaters, college campuses, schools, and even churches. I’ve never seen so much violence in my life as I see in the news here, but we can’t really blame the media for that. Gun ownership is more than the right. What I see is daily conditioning of the young, growing up watching unbelievably realistic violence in movies, killing people in video games, and seeing cruelty online. Often times the depiction of heroes or “cool” men with multiple weapons somehow justifies their actions, raises them to the pedestal of manliness, and shows them as the singular and the most just defenders of American freedom. The Hollywood movies impress me with depictions of cruelty happening on big screen. Why does “the Game of Thrones” receive such accolades when every few minutes someone is violently killed or mutilated? Of course, there is an argument that it’s the reality of our world and humanity, but I have to say that teens live and learn from that, develop ideas and become accepting of the horrific events, instead of learning to appreciate the acts of kindness, love, and forgiveness. This twisted social norm affects generations.

While viewers get horrified and sob over the innocent people killed in the movies like “the Hunger Games,” we as a nation have no problem sending our children to war. Barely out of high school, these children become the “army proud” and “army strong,” serving our country or maybe serving the views of the elite controlling the end game. In a high school graduation ceremony of my son, I witnessed complete insanity. After all the students received their academic awards, only two of them deserved a standing ovation. Those students stood on a podium to accept the society’s loud appreciation for going to become soldiers. No academic achievement caused even a quarter of loud applause they received. Why are we so proud of sending children to fight and get killed? This country is my home, but its actions often make me shiver.

I believe that the real change will come with the new generation taking charge of the U.S. Congress. It will come when the culture embraces emotional health and beauty in school classrooms by offering classes that take care of our feelings, not just brains. When we see a lot less violence in the movies and video games. When we feel the need to be responsible for the community and people around us. We never know where or how we will lose our lives, but the immediate solution is to offer love and care to others every day, no matter how hard it may be. Maybe then there will be a place in time and space when everyone becomes peaceful and kind, and not overwhelmed with grief, frustration and pain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_church_shooting