Birds of Paradise

Acrylic on paper
24" x 30"
Courtesy of the Artist

On a trip to South Africa, two years ago, as we were leaving
Johannesburg, I noticed what appeared to be a mountain of trash. As we got closer, it was apparent that what I saw was not trash at all. It was a mountain of houses. They were small 5' x 8' shacks made of planks and tin. They were stacked as far as the eye could see.

There was a cluster of Bird of Paradise, my favorite flowers, lining the highway. As we drove by, I noticed young African children standing amongst the Birds of Paradise. I didn't
know if the children were beggars or not. They were standing there dressed in bright white t-shirts and colored African wraparounds. The children stood with their hands behind
their backs with poses that exemplify dignity and beauty. It was as if they had been placed there. As we passed them, they smiled at us.

In this art, I attempted to capture the dignity and beauty of both this little girl and the flowers.