22-FEB We're All the Same by Monica Van Dyke Johnson

We're All the Same is an interpretation of a poem by Nilufer K., a middle school student in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Young student poets were each paired with an artist who created an artwork based upon their poem.  I opted to gather two friends of different racial backgrounds to pose with me for a photograph which was taken for this purpose by my friend Al Butzer. The photograph served as a visual for my painting.  Joining three strong women together to illustrate the fact that we are all human, all the same, despite our different appearances, and echo Nilufer's call to take action and stand up against discrimination is a powerful statement.