Gateway to the World
I was the winner of a mural competition which resulted in the installation of this mural called "Gateway to the World" in downtown Vancouver Canada which remained on the wall for over 5 years. It received national media coverage through publications such as Canadian Art Magazine, Time Magazine and BC Woman in addition to national newspapers across Canada.
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As a veteran Boston marathoner, I felt a strong calling to express this world changing incident in paint. For something that brings back only positive celebratory moments in the past, that memory has become very cherished in a different sort of way. As a runner, my finishing time has always stood out more than the actual time of the day so I felt that the hour and minute that the clock at the finish line stopped when the event tragically happened became more prominent to me as a runner.
With an event as tragic as the bombings in Boston, I felt that all people were affected in a different way; but for me it was very personal. Because of that I wanted to use my own running shoe in my painting which became reminiscent of the hours of training I put in for the event. The butterfly reflects new life and rebirth. The finish line reminds me of my faith...and the white markings of the butterfly for the lives lost that day. The title of this painting is most significant as that is the time that the clock was stopped due to the tragic event.
Although a tragedy like this is forever engrained in our souls, we will not be overcome by them. We will rise and we will finish the race.
