Water Stories: A River Harvest

Artist Statement Water Stories, a digital art piece, was one of the artworks shown in the 2024 River Reflection exhibition. This was created by gathering inspiration from the producers, cast, and the vision of preserving places and people through stories that are connected to nature and how it impacts its community. This is also part of the multidimensional performance project with the help of producers, Dr. Tru Leverette Hall and Dr. Maureen McCluskey. By being exposed in the River Reflection exhibition, people will be able to understand the artwork and spread the news of not only preserving the environment, but also helping communities and creating memories together. Water Stories: A River Harvest , includes symbolism and meaning such as in the decision of drawing a right hand holding a tree branch. The process included tons of research. For instance, the right hand can have a Biblical meaning as the “right hand of God,” a representation of strength or protection. It can also represent acts of charity and positive actions. Having a right hand made of water holding a tree branch pointing to the right represents wanting to feel a connection to the nature of life and death, then eventually being reborn into something new and different. By having the tree branch pointing upwards, it can also represent growth with the roots expanding from the hand. Water and nature are harmonious with each other; one without the other would lose its representation of how the world came to be and it is vital for life. I am majoring in psychology, with a minor in criminal justice and an interdisciplinary study in theatre at the University of North Florida. Although psychology is my major, I am glad to have the opportunity to include my passion for the arts, especially drawing on paper or digitally. My hope is to help someone, anywhere in the world, to understand that we have the power to give back to the community and especially to nature. After graduation, I want to be able to help people express their emotions and be vulnerable in a safe space.