STaND aPaRT

BE YOU

12″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Omega Bond

 

Worry too much about what they think. Can’t taste that good, the Kool-Aid they drink. Follow the crowd, get lost in the mix. Brainwashed by others, might never get fixed. Beware of the wolves dressed up in sheep clothing. Beware of fitting the molds that their molding. TV’s got your mind and remotes you control. Feel trapped by the system, there’s no letting go. Don’t be afraid to step out in the rain. Don’t be afraid of the change and the pain. Challenge of life can only make us stronger. Challenge of life will make us live longer. Not a product just stuck on the shelf. Get up, stand up, just be yourself.

FoR You

 

MY LOVE

12″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Omega Bond

 

Give you my heart, my soul and everything I am. Every line, every dot, every drop of paint from the can. Let you in, try to give you a little piece of me. Bare my soul in my work hoping you can see. Loving the response, the likes and checking them everyday. Your feedback, your words and what you have to say. Filling your home with my emotions on your walls. Someday to be passed down to hang in your kid’s halls. This project has grown into more than just mine. For you or a friend there has become something to find. To come back to… To enjoy… To take with you… To give to someone else… To love. Thank you…

No MoRe WaR

CONFRONTATION

24″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

Just when you thought you couldn’t take no more. They want to start up with another pointless war. Invade a country and make them like us. Close your eyes shut your mouth and get on the bus. But it’s just another war that can never be won. Take another life by the bullet in your gun. Makes us look as if we are doin’ this for fun. They can try and hide, but they’ll never out-run. We only get to hear about what the media shows. Innocent lives lost, how many? Who knows? Power down the screen and go about our day. Not really caring what their people have to say.

Now how can we keep going on like this? Another dead body is a family member missed. These wars just cannot go on anymore. Half of us know not what we’re fightin’ for.  Please just stop we can’t take it anymore. So yell it if you’re with me WE DON’T WANT ANOTHER WAR.

PaSS iT DoWN

JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER

24″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

Take her hand, never let it go. Give her the world, everything you know. Take her heart, never let it break. Pure and fragile, life’s what’s at stake. Uncontrollable, who she’ll turn out to be. Give your guidance, worry not she will see. Your knowledge is something to embrace. To take with her in this great big place. Grow up fast right before your eyes. Wake up one day and realize. Mama’s influence means so much. Mama’s love, Mama’s touch. She’ll look back, never let it go. She’ll pass on everything she will know. She’ll be like you, just wait you’ll see. Just like you, I hope she’ll be.

HiM NoTTa RaSTa?

STICKS & LOCKS

18″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Oak Tag

 

Him look skinny bro. Is him eatin’ enough? Him look shaggy too. Why him lettin’ da beard a-grow? Him a rasta mon, is him now? Rollin’ ina de herb fields pickin’ ganja out. Sing a reggae song ‘n’ hum de tune. From when-a de sun come up till him see de moon. Beat of de drum make-a him move him feet. Sun, it be shinin’ ‘n’ de weather is sweet. Him locks be-a blowing ina de wind. ‘N” him singin’, him sing it ‘n’ bring it again.

ToGeTHeR STRoNG

THE TREE OF

40″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

No better than a homeless man walking dark roads. All part of this together so the story goes. No worse than the best teacher molding lives. You’ve got to open up your eyes. Judge not your sister she may help you some day. Lend a voice to your brother to help him find his way. Negative thinking, go away let me be. Concentrate only on the positivity. Love your family now, cause them not a tear. Keep this tree strong while you are still here. Roots go way back, back when we were free. I’m where you are from. We’re from the same old tree.

TaKe WHaT You NeeD

 

 

 

 

 

SUGAR DADDY

24″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

 

Try to give you what you want.  Hope you take only what you need.  Just can’t be no sugar daddy.  Fancy clothes, cars, phones, diamond rings.  None of those things are my thing.  Fake boobs, make-up, nail salons.  I’m passin’ by and movin’ on.  Gucci, Prada, Louie V.  Big name bags don’t impress me.  Who are you really?  What’s inside?  Behind the smoke and mirrors that you hide.  What moves you?  What breaks your heart?  Are you funny and are you smart?  Are you worth more than what you buy?  I need to get into your mind.  Just can’t be no sugar daddy.

BRoKen CHaiNS

SHE IS FREE

12″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Omega Bond

 

Black shadow dancing on Heaven’s horizon. Chains could never hold you back. Hopes and dreams and misery fade like exhaled cigarette smoke in the sky. She is free. Butterfly wings leave empty caves hollow and cold without feeling, without sound. Blurred reality mixed with dreams create memories that never happened. She is free. Drifting in and out of subconscious thoughts of light, scent and sound. Cold sweat night terrors and racing hearts. Three in the morning thoughts seem to last so long. Black shadow dancing right through the gates. Broken chains hang from her wrists. She is free…

MoRe WaTeR, MoRe SuN

FLOWEBURST

10″ x 15″ Mixed Media on Wood

Seed gets planted, just doesn’t grow. Not enough water, not enough sun. Needed more attention. Seed gets planted, something begins to show. Little more water, little more sun. Little more attention. Seed gets planted… BLAM!!! Something begins to SPRouT! SPRiNG! FLoW! More water!!! More sun!!! This could be big, this could be the one! Stars aligning. Planetary shifts. Cycles of the universe, bring this seed a gift. Let this flower grow, let it have a thirst. Let this growth be big. Let it be… a Floweburst. Happening for a reason, not just because of chance. Floweburst do your thing. Floweburst just dance, dance… dance.

WHeN We WeRe YouNGeR

GROWING UP  (GIFTED)

8″ x 36″ Mixed Media on Wood

 

I never really got why we’re here. Just look at all we build in our lives and we all disappear. A few of us are born with so much while most of us just chasing down a dream that we just can’t touch. So why we try so hard in this place? When pain and suffering is a guarantee and happiness is a phase. I wonder if one day we’re at peace or will this whole world just become like the middle east?

But when I (we) was (were) younger, when I (we) was (were) younger I had the answers, I’ve got to say. But all of my answers, now that I’m older turned into questions, in front of me

I wonder where we go when we die. If there is anything past our lost sun and our sky? Cuz airports only take us so high. Is it hidden in the stars? What’s the answer to your soul lying? I wonder do we get to come back. I wonder if I will remember these questions I’ve asked. Or will I just start over again? I hope it’s not too hard to find all of my old friends.

I wonder if we get one true love. Or maybe there’s a few out there. Or maybe not even one. I wonder if it’s made up by man. I wonder if love is what we make with our own two hands. I wonder why I write all these songs. I wonder if you know what you’re saying when you sing along. And will you know my name when I’m gone? Or are you just too sick of these love songs?  ~SOJA

BLooD LiNeS

BROTHERS

18″ x 24″ Mixed Oak Tag

Memories of yesterdays past remind me of how much fun we had roughing up, beating up and growing up together.  No matter how many punches were thrown, names were called or fights were won and lost… we were brothers… are brothers.  The blood runs deep and we share this common bond that no one else in the world has.  I’d give up my life for either one of you and I feel you’d both do the same.  I love you brother(s).

eaSy SKaNKiNG

WHILE I LIGHT MY SPLIFF

18″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Oak Tag

 

Excuse me while I light my spliff. Good God, I gotta take a lift. From reality I just can’t drift. That’s why I am staying with this riff.  Easy Skanking / Bob Marley & The Wailers

Marijuana: The Weed of Wisdom  In Rastafari culture, the herb “ganja” (marijuana) was regarded as “wisdomweed,” and Rasta leaders urged that it be smoked as a religious rite, alleging that it was found growing on the grave of King Solomon and citing biblical passages, such as Psalms 104:14, to attest to its sacramental properties: “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth.”

 

eNCoMPaSSiNG

CIRCLE SPACE

8.5″ x 11″ Mixed Media on Board

 

 

Why circles? Why do I paint so many circles? Is it because they are the perfect shape? Is it because they are infinite? We have circles of friends. Everything comes full circle. Circle of life. Perfect circle. Inner Circle. 360 degrees in a circle. Walk around in circles. Circle circle circle. It doesn’t sound like a word anymore. Circle.

FoR My DauGHTeR

SHE WANTS

12″ x 18″ Mixed Media on Wood

 

I haven’t seen your face before, but you are the most beautiful person in the world. I’ve yet to hear you make a sound, but cannot wait to listen to what you’ll have to say.  I don’t know yet what you want, but I know you will have dreams. I don’t know what you’ll need, but I’ll give you everything. I cannot wait to take your little hands into the palms of mine. I cannot wait to love you until the end of time.