Brother
Alexandra M.
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“Brother” was painted to share the story of my great uncle, Rino. In Bagnasco, Italy, his sister Anna pedaled flour sacks back and forth to supply her family with the necessities to make bread. They struggled through the hardship of WW2 and lost a sibling, who was only a baby. After the devastation, Rino was given the opportunity to come to America while he was young enough not to require citizenship, but his sister Anna was an adult and could not come over without applying for it. This process took decades and in the meantime, she settled in Canada. Presently, she lives in a nursing home, and my great-uncle supplies endless amounts of kindness and shows immense gratitude to her by taking care of her needs in the later years of her life. The bond between a brother and sister can be separated but never broken, even while apart in different countries. This painting attempts to show that behind a smile there is history, perhaps of harder times. The house he sits in with ivory walls and a toaster in the back is well-earned, and even with the better living situation he gained, there is still a longing for the simplicity and compassion that was expressed when he was less fortunate. His stature and personality are gentle and caring. I feel you can see that through the painting, and it correlates quite well with his person in reality. His vest, never wrinkled; his hands, clasped in a forever sophistication and understanding of those around him; his glasses, always poised on the tip of his nose, which can express the balance he has found in life. When looking at “Brother,” I assume you would have never guessed that this person had once lived on a farm, and you would be surprised to learn that his main job was herding cattle to and from the pasture while warplanes soared ahead. “Brother” can be both emotional and regal. It is hard to imagine him younger, but the person that looked at you through the screen is someone who has always put family first.
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I create meaning and share that through art, which invokes emotions in the people around me. It’s two things at once; it feels like a superpower. As an avid artist, I am moved by emotional depictions of experiences. I hope to capture that in my art by paying attention to the details I see and feel.
