Desert Travelers by Alethea Eason
Acrylic
Unframed: 12" x 16"
Artist's Statement: I am inspired by the confluence of desert and mountain environments here in southern New Mexico, personal spiritual archetypes, issues of social justice, and the joy I feel when I put color onto a canvas. I believe we are all connected to the Divine Artist and that the gift of art-making resides inside each one of us.
Almost two years ago, I volunteered to work at the shelter in Deming, New Mexico. When I made eye contact with the adults, and in my halting Spanish, welcomed them to the United States, telling them I was happy that they had arrived safely to the shelter, their faces often softened. I received smiles and word of thanks back. I could only imagine their hardships in reaching Deming, and the challenges before them of finding host families across the country, waiting for hearings, and knowing the possibilities of being sent back to the chaos and danger of their countries were very real.
The work that RGBM is doing in Juarez will affect not only those who have arrived at our southern border but in other countries where refugees are trying to build new lives. The shelters in Juarez are growing into sustainable models which can be emulated worldwide. Please support this important work!