Milwaukee Gaia Buddha
PBS series 'Wisconsin Life' segment (nominated for a Midwest Emmy!)
WE ARE MANY AND WE ARE ONE
Milwaukee is my hometown; Gaia is a Greek word for 'Earth', and Buddha in this example means better understanding. Milwaukee Gaia Buddha is a symbol of the collective living spirit of our city, inclusive of all. She is born from the seed planted that inspires all of our hearts to work cooperatively for the common good.
Of course, he isn't alone - all the other children of the city join him in his desire for the chance to express their raw potential as human beings - the life moving through us that has equal value as a part of society.
...
While I was painting this mural it
was just weeks after a fatal police shooting sparked unrest in
Milwaukee's Sherman Park neighborhood. The unrest turned violent and
made national headlines. Reflecting on my experience of that moment, I
struggled with how to, or whether or not, to include any reference to
that incident. I recognize racial tension in Milwaukee. I'm aware that
painting alone does not solve that problem.
I
knew it was not a new thing. But it does speak of the times we are in, a
time in which I feel called to action; a time in which others feel at
best called out of love and at worst spurned out of fear - to action. I
choose to spread seeds.
There is a seed within each of our own hearts that desires to belong, to
feel connected to something bigger (such as in a community, social
group, or society) and valued for what we can contribute to it. We need
to be able to see ourselves in each other, as brothers and sisters.
"One thing that helps this connection grow is creating creative
resources, spaces of beauty and joy that inspire us to be more
open-minded and caring. The attractive energy of our caring attitudes
can have unseen impacts on our surroundings like seeds planted that grow
and show up in our lives in little ways. We replant the same energy
when we intend to. Opening our hearts and using our imagination allows
our infinite raw potential to flow unconditionally. This strengthens our
ability to see better possibilities. " ~Tia
VIOLENCE IS A CRY FOR HELP
Violence is a desperate call that something has gone wrong that needs to
be corrected. It's a signal that there is suffering that needs to be
recognized and then a willingness to help make it better. Finding ways
to make something better creates an outlet for the natural life moving
through us to express itself in a constructive way. Violence is
destructive because it weakens the very roots of what making anything
better requires - a willingness to work together.
The force which cooperates with our desire for violence is a destructive one. Since I believe Spirit is constructive in nature and the underlying principles which govern it do not contradict themselves, to align with that means to take an attitude of non-violence. Anger needs to be channeled into a constructive expression. That is the work of the divine. It works against our greater good to let it destroy. Anger is natural. The act of willing it into a constructive channel is supernatural. When there is a loss of hope, using arts and culture as therapeutic spaces for expressing feelings and imagination are helpful outlets that can be uplifting and can play an increasing role.
I like Ghandi's quote: Be the Change you Want to See. To me life is about that. It has ups and downs, challenges, and unfairness. Pessimism about that reality feels condemning, and that is not the kind of life I want. Revenge is temporary, because our hearts know that we have betrayed our greater purpose. The act of heartfelt caring is an unyielding force. It holds the long view in focus, with a wide angle lens.
This is what I feel the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. embodied in his efforts for a non-violent movement. His legacy stands as one of unconditional love toward a force great enough to keep whole generations of a people down. A force still at work in many arenas of society; at work around the globe. We have to ask ourselves: Where are we being presented with opportunities to invoke this same legacy in our lives? We will always be presented with unfair situations in life, it comes with the territory of being human. So are we condemned to act out of our most basest of human instincts?
The force which cooperates with our desire for violence is a destructive one. Since I believe Spirit is constructive in nature and the underlying principles which govern it do not contradict themselves, to align with that means to take an attitude of non-violence. Anger needs to be channeled into a constructive expression. That is the work of the divine. It works against our greater good to let it destroy. Anger is natural. The act of willing it into a constructive channel is supernatural. When there is a loss of hope, using arts and culture as therapeutic spaces for expressing feelings and imagination are helpful outlets that can be uplifting and can play an increasing role.
I like Ghandi's quote: Be the Change you Want to See. To me life is about that. It has ups and downs, challenges, and unfairness. Pessimism about that reality feels condemning, and that is not the kind of life I want. Revenge is temporary, because our hearts know that we have betrayed our greater purpose. The act of heartfelt caring is an unyielding force. It holds the long view in focus, with a wide angle lens.
This is what I feel the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. embodied in his efforts for a non-violent movement. His legacy stands as one of unconditional love toward a force great enough to keep whole generations of a people down. A force still at work in many arenas of society; at work around the globe. We have to ask ourselves: Where are we being presented with opportunities to invoke this same legacy in our lives? We will always be presented with unfair situations in life, it comes with the territory of being human. So are we condemned to act out of our most basest of human instincts?
Even if we can change policies, we can't legislate an attitude
We think we've figured it out – or at least grown up enough as a society
for the work of relating to each other in a better way, as brothers and
sisters to be behind us. If we look around, we can find examples where
it's getting better, but there is much work to be done. How can we do
this work in the world?
Even if we can change policies, we can't legislate an attitude. I
mean this in the sense of the attitudes and biases that we hold near and
dear. The work of accepting one another as we are; of appreciating what
we each have to offer to society as a whole, and of respecting the life
moving through us equally - those are attitudes that help us work
together better. That work is still up to each of us as individuals. Its
figuring out how to better care for ourselves and one another. Only in
our hearts is the path made clear.
I believe God is not divided in his purpose. Every act of harm is a knife in the fabric of our common good. To quote a reference to Obama's call during his last speech to the United Nations - I believe we are being called to be co-workers of God.
Milwaukee Gaia Buddha (copyright Cosmic Butterfly Design) was designed and painted for Black Cat Alley, a street art destination on Milwaukee's East Side.