Beyond the Sparkle: Unpacking the Meaning of Freedom Through Art

As I look toward the 4th of July this Friday, my thoughts vacillate between childhood memories of dazzling fireworks and celebrating the birth of this nation, and the present reality of a country divided in its view of what freedom means. 

15 Rites.  2025, Mixed Media: Paper collage and acrylic on canvas,Only 15% of the world’s population is White, and yet the elites of this 15% continue to refer to the other 85% of humans as Minorities. In places where the White Minority holds the vast majority of wealth and resources, their luxurious lives were fundamentally built upon the exploitation and murder of the non-White Majority.

I have spent the majority of this year processing the news that comes in every day and sharing a bit of the work that is to date complete. The reality of our history as a nation, and how controversial acknowledging the truth of our past, our role in the current state of affairs, and what are the signals of hope for the future. 

I look beyond the immediate sparkle and delve into the rich, often complex, tapestry of what freedom truly means. Independence, while celebrated, is a multifaceted concept, shaped by history, societal structures, and individual experiences.

Each piece tells its own story, and I’m hoping at the end it’s a story of hope.

This Fourth of July, I invite you to ponder these deeper meanings. I encourage you to explore art that resonates with these themes, whether it's a piece that evokes a sense of liberation, challenges a preconceived notion, or simply sparks a moment of quiet contemplation.

Koa Makes a Good Point. 2025, Mixed Media: Paper collage and acrylic on canvas, 20 x 20 x 1.5 in. Inspired by the writing of Koa Beck, we’re reminded how much feminism is just for white women.  Whether subtle or overt, the end result is the same–so many voices are silenced and left behind. With the 2024 election, this became all that much clearer as white women failed to do their part in stopping the rise of an authoritarian ruling party, and instead continued to hang on the coattails of white privilege.

Freddie’s Solution. 2025, Mixed Media: Paper collage and acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20 x 1.5 in. An homage to Freddie Oversteegen and other brave women who had the courage of action when faced with the realities of fascism. The Nazis were monsters. And they were also weak, greedy, and arrogant. Freddie Oversteegen saw this clearly and gave many of them the punishment they deserved, luring them into the woods with hints at romance and sending them to their graves.