RISE
With the help of volunteers, POWER was able to complete project RISE and donate 10 pieces promoting compassion, peace, and strength to Maitri. Maitri is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco that primarily helps families and individuals from South Asia facing domestic violence, emotional abuse, and cultural alienation.
By Hannah Helmy. Watercolor. The high chair: This piece shows a woman seated on a crumbling thrown. It represents the fragile and tireless path that women have to take in order to reach the top.
By Arezoo Ghasemzadeh. Digital. This piece illustrates a woman sitting on a tree branch in an outdoor library. As the nature and birds around her flourish, so does her knowledge. As Francis Bacon once said, “knowledge is power.”
By Jana Ashour. Digital. This piece shows a person holding a tray with a cupcake on it. It symbolizes embracing the small joys in life. The colours from the cupcake emanate to the rest of the painting, representing the pervasiveness of joy and contentment.
By Basil Lera. Digital. This digital piece illustrates two women reaching in for an embrace. The lighter blues and colorful background in the painting are meant to evoke an uplifting emotion in the viewer. It is important that people are there to support each other and value our community.
By Ruhani Suresh. Digital. The colourful nature of this painting juxtaposes the mellow expression that the dancer wears. In life, we are made to conform to many expectations and find ourselves complying. However, when we forget to introspect, our emotional self takes a toll.
By Audrey Yip. Digital. As children, we embrace the world with open hearts. With age and experience, the darker parts of society and our experiences create storminess, depicted through the darker colours in this painting. Here, a stream of light illuminates the heart, causing a return of childlike innocence.
By Jana Ashour. Digital. The moon is a traditional symbol of femininity and emotionality. Here, the full moon morphs into a crescent through its union with the woman’s hair, symbolising an intimate connection with oneself
By Ruhani Suresh. Digital. This pandemic piece depicts the balance between severe societal circumstances and one’s emotional state of being. The yellow background serves as a symbol of both alertness and calmness. The person’s relaxed posture represents the desensitization notwithstanding the ongoing toll of the pandemic.
By Jana Ashour. Digital. A helping hand is always available.
By Gefen Alon. Acrylic markers. Field of flowers: This piece provides commentary on traditional pieces that portray women sitting stationary in a field of flowers. The stationary position and graceful posture reflects society predilection to objectifying women. This painting, with the red smudges and blurry figure, depicts the destruction of her identity because of society’s portrayal of her.