​“The ideas behind these paintings are varied, but many revolve around the concepts of having a voice or having that voice taken away. Some of my own personal losses were influential, but universally, they reflect unheard or silenced voices - voices of the oppressed, the subjugated, the overlooked. Going beyond loss, these paintings also reflect a path to peace: acknowledging things that can't be changed, accepting there will always be truths unspoken and conflicts unresolved. With more optimism, the paintings also contain the narrative of living in the quiet spaces of grace and forgiveness. They tell of finding a new voice and finding the courage to speak out, make change, and move forward.”  --JM