Torn

Artist Statement: In this painting, I was acknowledging my anxiety in recent political conflicts that is extremely personal to my family regarding the tariff war that has escalated between The United States and Canada. I support Canada for fighting back against a bully. In fact, I’m proud of them but it’s made me question my own loyalty to America. It made it more difficult when my Canadian family visited as I feel the pull of my family’s origins. If I can’t support the man that represents this country, maybe I belong to a different one? I have maps of Alaska and New Brunswick framing my self-portrait, I have an eagle and poppy flowers symbolizing the two countries, along with a color wash. I cut my canvas to reveal the Canadian flag hidden inside myself.