Shine Your Light Contest Winner
And the winner is...
@irishskier Congratulations Helen Cummings!
Below is Helen's beautiful response that really wowed my family. Its timeliness resonated so much as we all need more people advocating for marginalized youth, minorities' rights, and an end to racism through educating ourselves and others.
Thank you all so much for taking part in this experience of sharing. I look forward to continuing these "Random Acts of Art" and I encourage you to continue to share your light, and this conversation, to ripple it out into the world. Once you can start gathering again instead of light chitchat ask others how they are sharing their light and if they don't know maybe you can reflect how you see them sharing their light. Now that's a conversation worth having in my opinion! The more we can bring forward this conversation people will become more conscious and through that enlightenment, we can all change the world! The power of our light is endless!
I never mentioned to you how I try to share my light with the world but basically, I strive to be in service to the greater good and to help people see their own light. This can be individually based or organization-wide. I have often thought of myself as a conduit shining light and energy on people and initiatives I believe in to bring about something greater. What I am becoming aware of now is that I can also shine my light and uplift others through my art as well. I am excited to say this will not be the last giveaway. I am committed to doing at least two a year so keep your eyes out! Thank you to @amandascgorman for your eloquent inauguration poem and for sparking me to share my light with the world.
*For those just seeing this post the original giveaway prompt is after Helen's response.
HOW HELEN SHINES HER LIGHT WITH THE WORLD:
"When I adopted my sons from foster care in October, 2016, I knew the world was still rife with racism that would make being a 15 year-old year old black teen more difficult and more dangerous than it was for his white friends and classmates. I also knew that my 9 year-old would soon transition from being a small-for-his-age, adorable little boy into a teen who would be perceived as a threat solely based on his skin color. But what I didn’t know was that the next four years would subject my boys to overt racism and as they watched white supremacy be endorsed by our country’s own leaders while some people in our own (very diverse) community embraced ideas that belonged more to Jim Crow-era America than the 21st Century.… ……..I decided four years ago to bring light into my life and into the life of my sons and other marginalized people by learning, listening, and honoring the voices and the experiences of Black Americans. Going forward, I will continue to challenge racism at every opportunity – whether that racism be subtle microaggressions, unacknowledged privilege, well-intentioned saviors or the extrajudicial murder of unarmed black people – while acknowledging my own role in the perpetuation of systemic injustice and trying to be an ally to all marginalized groups in every way possible." -Helen Cummings
A big thank you to Helen for being such a quiet leader in the lives of many. Adopting older children is something many shy away from yet so many children in foster care need. I am so moved that Helen embarked on this journey of love and empowerment. Congratulations to Helen and her boys! It makes me so happy to know The Contrast of Dawn will live out its days in such a loving home.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
January 20, 2020 — Original Art Giveaway!⠀
"The Contrast of Dawn"⠀32x14"⠀
I painted this Shellscape the night before the 2020 election when times were bleak and we were divided as a nation. The country has erupted since then, and we have seen things we couldn't even imagine happening on our own soil. ⠀
Regardless of your party, we are all Americans. I hope that you were as inspired by Amanda Gorman's poem as I was. I am hopeful that you will join me in BEING THE LIGHT our nation needs to join together in the days and years ahead.⠀
In an effort to share my own light today, and to celebrate this historic day where we saw the FIRST FEMALE Vice President inaugurated, I AM GIVING AWAY "The Contrast of Dawn." In order to enter into this drawing please do the following:⠀
1. Share how you are bringing light to the world and the lives of others. How are you giving back? ⠀
2. Tag a friend in the post and invite them to share their light.
Helen Cummings and her sons on adoption day.
Giveaway prize: The Contrast of Dawn, 32x14” encaustic on wood. Part of the Shellscapes Collection by Erin Rigney.