84 x 51 inches, canvas, acrylic and metallic paint, hand embroidery and beading.
Collection of Women’s House, Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, Western Africa.
Artist Commentary
The appliquéd fabrics are unique to specific countries in West Africa. The eldest son is responsible for providing for his family before and after his marriage. Collection of Women’s House, Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, West Africa.
Mother and Children
Hinduism: Find a wise teacher, honor him, ask him your questions, serve him; someone who has seen the truth will guide you on the path to wisdom. Bhagavad-Gita, The Yoga of Wisdom 4:34
Buddhism: Pleasant in this world is ministering to mother. Ministering to father too is pleasant in the world. Dhammapada, The Elephant 23:332
Judaism: Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; and he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him. Holy Scriptures, Proverbs 23:23-25
Christianity: Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou might still the enemy and the avenger. Holy Bible, Psalms 8:2
Muslim: We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the child to his weaning is a period of thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, “O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as You may approve; and be gracious to me in respect of my offspring.” Qur’an, The Winding Sand-tracts 46:15
Bahá’i: Children are even as a branch that is fresh and green, they will grow up in whatever way ye train them. Take the utmost care to give them high ideals and goals, so that once they come of age, they will cast their beams like brilliant candles on the world… Selections from the Writings of `Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 35-36