ON THE EASEL – ONE BLOOD SPEAKS – ALL LIVES MATTER

THE STORY 

The cast was photographed on a couch at my missionary doctor friends Jono and Destinie’s medical centre in Tonj, South Sudan.

At the back, from left to right: Aluel, Athem, Ajok, Zoe, Elli, Aluel, Shiloh, and Ajak. In the front: Zoe and Jed, all showing a glimpse of how life is meant to be.

Their childlike joy and innocence, free from prejudice, hatred, and bitterness, create a space of childlike innocense, peaceful coexistence and unity. It’s a prophetic picture of a future where black and white live together as one.

The universal evil

Where does prejudice come from? And how many of us are honest enough to admit we’re all capable of it?

I’ve seen prejudice in my own heart, but chosen not to pass it on. It stops with me. I’m learning that love does cover a multitude of sins*.

*I was surprised to learn that the word sin isn’t originally religious. It comes from archery and simply means “to miss the mark.” That made me wonder—if the Bible says all humanity has sinned, what exactly have we missed?

It seemed reasonable that if God inspired people to write the scriptures, then I could go straight to Him and ask what we’ve fallen short of. That’s when I began to see prayer not as a religious ritual, but as a real conversation with the One true and lovable creator who is love.

As God rightfully points out our flaws, criticising one another, unforgiving, unmerciful, self-centred, self-righteous, lust-filled behaviours, it’s easy to see how we pass on prejudices from generation to generation. b

I chose to let the rot stop with me and let Him help me change my way of thinking so my temptations to be prejudiced are not passed onto the next generation in my family line. blood veins peace prejudice

The road to peace – we all matter

• Black lives matter … yes! That does not mean that all lives don’t matter.
• White lives matter … yes! That does not mean that all lives don’t matter.
• All lives matter … yes!
• Every colour has its dysfunctional history of misguided agendas, and all lives, no matter what coat of paint, need to forgive the past and not perpetuate bitterness from previous generations.
• This needs to happen from the heart if we are serious about stopping the rot. If not, the cycle of unforgiven atrocities passes on to the next generation.
• I have chosen not to pass blame and bitterness onto the following generations.
• Being a white male, I have been the victim of prejudice, hatred, and threats for being male, Australian, and white for crimes I never participated in.
• I understand the generational prejudice others experience, which deems them to be continually ostracised. It’s painful to watch, and in many cases, I have been empathetic with their unprocessed pain. It hurts.
• We all need to be responsible by standing up to prejudice, loving our neighbours, and taking an interest in the welfare of others.
• In my opinion, the oppressor has to make the hardest first step to fix the problem. Humility is not easy for a proud blame-shifter, fault-finder, and that goes for any colour or gender.
• It’s necessary for the oppressed to receive forgiveness and to give it in return, and therein lies the answer … reconciliation on both sides stops the rot.

The manufacturers’ advice

“For the life of a creature is in the blood.

Made in the image (body, soul, and spirit) of a creator, mankind has the free will to forgive and love one another or to perpetuate prejudice and unforgiving bitterness over past injustices.

Mankind needs to know how forgiveness works.

Who has the keys?

Story to come

Multitudes know the secret. The mystery is available for all who truly seek it.

STATUS and MATERIALS

ORIGINAL FOR SALE   * On the easel, unframed 900mm x 1200mm and framed size approximately 1300mm x 1600mm
Painted with professional oils on the fine weave, gesso primed archival linen canvas. The canvas is stretched on New Zealand pine and treated with brushed dammar varnish protection.
* Originals and Limited Edition reproductions are supplied with Provenance, coded Authentication of Sale Certificate, and maintenance/care information.

25 LIMITED EDITION “ACRYLIC ENHANCED” CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS
Please ask about the price and sizes on stretch-mounted, Giclee printed archival UV treated canvas.
A master acrylic artist will digitally recreate the original painting and use hand-painted brushstrokes to replicate the original painting

75 LIMITED EDITION CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS * 
Unframed sizes | 960 x short side – $960  |  650 x short side – $650
Printed on long-life archival canvas. 8 colour giclee printed on fine art archival paper or archival linen canvas and acrylic enhanced. Protected with 2 coats of UV archival spray.
* Stretch-mounted reproductions will incur added charges for mounting and freight.

OPEN EDITION POSTER ART PRINTS * 
Unframed sizes | 594 x short side – $120  |  420 x short side – $92
* Posters printed on fine art papers and treated with two coats of UV archival protection spray.

PROCESS

Painted on fine-weave, gesso-primed linen canvas for long life. To be stretched and mounted proudly on hardboard, and protected with brushed dammar varnish.

FASHION and PRODUCTS

Images from “One Blood” will be exhibited on multiple product lines at Fine Art America

SHIPPING

• Includes insurance and package/handling fees.
• The Original and Limited Edition reproductions ship with the Provenance coded Authentication of Sale Certificate and maintenance information.
• Poster art prints ship in insured tubes.

AWARDS