11/03/2024
The Plea: A Call for Unity, Hope, and Service
Two days before the 2024 election, in which Donald Trump is running again, I reflect on our nation's state. There is fear and division again, and I feel compelled to create and share something meaningful during this uncertain time.
I remember creating The Plea during one of my life's most emotionally turbulent periods. It was right after the 2016 election. I had watched the campaigns unfold with dismay—so much anger, division, and selfishness. I couldn't shake the fear that this outcome would drive us further apart, would feed into the chaos rather than heal it. I didn't want to get overly political in my art, but I couldn't ignore how I felt. Art, for me, has always been about expression—finding hope amid darkness.
So, I turned to something that always comforts me—serving, interceding, and hoping for something better. It was something my mother had taught me: to be a servant to others, to be an intercessor. This piece is a reflection of that. Sitting on the edge, the figure embodies that spirit of intercession, the desire to bring healing and hope where needed most. His hands are clasped in prayer, his body curled in a plea for mercy and grace for all of us.
The wings in this piece were inspired by Shadow, a Bateleur Eagle I met at the World Bird Sanctuary. Shadow was striking, a creature of immense beauty and power. I observed him, watching how the light played on his feathers and how his presence filled the space. His wings represented strength to me—a regal and compassionate strength. I wanted that essence in this drawing: the strength of an eagle combined with the heart of someone willing to serve, to lift others up.
Shadow's story is one of survival and service. Captured as a young hatchling with his four brothers, Shadow was put into a crate and sold on the black market. When U.S. Customs intercepted the box, they found that Shadow was the only one still alive. He was taken to the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, a nonprofit dedicated to caring for raptors and eagles. Shadow was weak, suffering from pneumonia, and could not be released into the wild. But he survived, and not only did he survive—he thrived.
Shadow grew solid and majestic, becoming an ambassador for the sanctuary. For over 30 years, he traveled across the country, raising money and awareness for the sanctuary and its mission to protect birds of prey. He served his fellow raptors, bringing attention to their cause, just as a faithful servant would. I had the honor of painting Shadow for a fundraiser he was hosting, and the portrait was auctioned off, raising significant funds for the sanctuary.
I had no idea Shadow would be there when I was invited to speak at the fundraiser. As I stood before the crowd, Shadow's handler brought him out and placed his cuff on my arm, setting Shadow on me. His massive wings stretched nearly six or seven feet over my head. I was overwhelmed with emotion. My grandmother's Native American beliefs and my deep respect for nature surged within me. This powerful symbol of my grandmother's people and the people of America perched on my arm, looking at me as if to say, "Thank you." Tears flowed as I spoke, sharing the story of Shadow's journey. Needless to say, Shadow's portrait was the highlight of the evening.
The Plea is about more than just one moment in history. It's a response to a feeling, a time when I, like so many others, felt overwhelmed by the uncertainty of our future. It's about a hope that runs deeper than political affiliations, more profound than fear, and calls on us to be better, serve one another, and strive for unity even when it feels unreachable. The figure's gaze is turned upward—not out of despair but out of a belief that somehow, somewhere, there is a grace that can heal the wounds we've inflicted on each other.
Creating this piece was a healing process. I channeled my emotions into something that speaks to a collective need for compassion. I hope that when people see The Plea, they see not just the power in the figure's wings and his determination to keep hoping but also the call for each of us to serve.
As we stand on the brink of another election, it is our privilege and duty to serve one another, to reach across the camps of division and hate, and to find a way to heal our nation. The eagle has always been a symbol of this great nation—may Shadow's service be an example and a symbol for us as well. It is a call to action for us to intercede—not necessarily in grand gestures but in the small, everyday ways that bring us closer together. It's a reminder that, in times of division, it's the act of service, the commitment to seeking unity, and the willingness to lift each other up that will guide us through. To let love rise on majestic wings to yield to our better angels.
