Blog Archives

Eric

10/31/2014

"I sensed the racial tension in Memphis the first day I came here. It's palpable. I could feel it in the structure, the streets, even the architecture. It was as though when Dr. King was assassinated, things just stalled. There's been some progress, but there is a glossing over of problems that just have never been dealt with. I was born the day Dr. King was buried, so in some ways bridging the racial divide has always been a part of my life. I want to cross over lines and to help to close the gaps between people. When we get to know each other intimately, we find out that the 'other' is not so different from ourselves.

"Growing up, my family intentionally placed me in environments of diversity, and while we cherished our community and the richness of our culture, we were always exposed to the 'other.' None of that was a problem, but my issue became one of identity. For a long time, I functioned as a chameleon, shaping my personality to fit in with whoever I was around, whether socially, economically, or academically. It was a real challenge to figure out who I was within the mainstream culture and who I was within the marginalized culture, but eventually I came to define myself as God defines me, to doggedly pursue his image of me, and to be my authentic self."

Eric Wilson serves as a full-time minister.

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Verlesha

10/31/2014

"I’m thankful for my grandma. She was religious and very old-fashioned. She never wore a pair of pants. Only dresses. She was always a lady. She taught me not to have sex before I was married. She told me that if I ever had kids, to raise them myself and not expect somebody else to do it."

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Zorina

10/31/2014

"My biggest challenge is being too old for the current work force but not old enough to retire. I got laid off eight years ago from my job as a research biochemist. They took me out to lunch for my birthday and laid me off the same day, five days before I would have qualified for longevity benefits. I had been there for 25 years. It was 'Happy birthday, thank you, and goodbye.' I do home health care now, but this is not what I went to school for. I make 75% less than I did. It's hard to find work that pays you what you're worth."

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Greg

10/30/2014

"When my soul-mate, best friend, and fiancee overdosed on heroin and died, that was a wakeup call. It was enough for me to say, 'God, please help me!' and he has. I've been sober for a year now, and I meditate every morning. I tell God what I'm thankful for and ask him how I can be of service. To me, service is a way to give back what I may have taken. My life is good now."

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Mary

10/30/2014

"When my daughter was born, I was so happy. She was my first girl, my only girl, and she brought in so much light and joy. I remember how she used to smile with her little fat jaws and how she would crawl around and grab onto things. She was such a quick learner and has always had a good memory. My little girl is five now and still has that smile, that joy. She's hilarious and very smart. I love her personality. She still crawls up in my lap. When I’m going through the worst, she helps me know that everything is going to be OK. She's a lovely little girl."

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Luanne

10/30/2014

"As the older child of two deaf parents, I had to take on a lot of responsibility at a young age. I was signing my first words by the time I was six months old and making business calls for my parents when I was only five. This was before the advent of a lot of assistive technology and before security was so tight. I'd explain the situation to the person on the other end of the line, and they would deal with me. Banking, credit card companies, everything. My parents depended on me a lot, especially my mother. Even though both my parents could read, American Sign Language is an entirely different way of communicating, so when they got mail, for instance, I interpreted and simplified the wording for them so they could understand. When we went out to eat, I did the ordering. I did whatever needed to be done.

"I see how my parents have struggled financially because of the limited job opportunities for deaf persons in Memphis, and I know they want me to do better for myself. That's been very motivating for me as I've gone through school. I'm an elementary school teacher now and will be completing an Ed.D in Special Education in May. I want to use my education and experience to help families of children with special needs. I believe this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Our class did a service day at Shrine School when I was in high school, and I fell in love with it. I've always been drawn to kids with special needs. It seems that everything in my life has been shaping me to go down this path."

Luanne Sailors' website, http://ourspecialnetwork.com, provides resources and support for people with special needs. She offers K-6 General Education tutoring, K-12 Special Education tutoring, and consulting services for families of children and adults with special needs. She may be contacted through her website, http://ourspecialnetwork.com or on FB at http://www.facebook.com/ourspecialnetwork

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Marquis

10/29/2014

"I like hot Cheetos. My daddy took me to the park today. I swing on the car tire. I watch football with my daddy."

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Taurel

10/29/2014

"My mom passed in January of 2012, and my dad passed in October of last year. It's been a challenging time. My parents were married for 41 years, and they never separated. It's not like today, where when people have a hard time, they leave and go in different directions. My parents focused on each other and worked as one. It's hard to find people who value those kinds of things today. People don't grow up with good role models anymore. If you've never seen a good marriage, it's hard to know what to do. You're a product of your environment, but you can decide you want your life to be different. It's up to you to make those changes."

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Milan

10/29/2014

"My happiest moment was coming from Nepal to America. I never thought I would be high up in a plane. We have our own house now. It's a good house in a good neighborhood, like in a movie."

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Katie

10/28/2014

"I was working outside at Crosstown Arts one evening, building pedestals for an exhibit that was opening the next day, when an African-American man came down the sidewalk. He asked what I was doing, and I explained. He said, ‘I’ve never been in a gallery before’, so I told him about the show and invited him to attend. Then he said, ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a cute young white girl. I can’t believe you’re being so friendly.’ ‘What do you mean?’ I asked him. He said, ‘Well, I’m a black man, a stranger walking by, it’s evening, and you’re being nice and not judging me.’ I said, ‘I have to walk by places in the evening too.’ He ended up coming back the next night for the exhibit. He stayed the whole time, eating, drinking, and meeting new people. I was really glad he came. I want to be an accepting human being, to take people as they are. We all experience the same emotions. If we can look past appearances and see what we have in common, I think the world would be a happier place.

"My dad was in the military and we had traveled all over, so our family was very accepting of people and open to diversity. When we ended up living in a small Arkansas town, it was a huge shock. Although people were very polite and there was a certain Southern charm, there were also undertones of judgment, intolerance, and racism. It was an interesting contrast being raised like that, but I have to tell you I was itching to get out as soon as I could.

"My art reflects my fascination with contrasts and colors, and I think it comes from my experiences growing up. I like to explore the dichotomy, the differences between things that are and things that aren’t. A lot of my work has to do with the longing for connection too: connection to other people and connection to myself. Both my brother and I were adopted, and I find it interesting how I can be genetically related to someone even though I’m not physically present with them---and how I can be so close to my family even though we are not genetically related.

"Contrast and connection are major themes in all of my work."

Katie McWeeney works out of her studio at the Art Factory at 777 Cox, Memphis, TN (near Central BBQ on Central Avenue).
She can be contacted through the Palladio Group or on FB at: www.facebook.com/kathleenmcweeneyart

Instagram: @kmcweeneyart

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