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Alisa Clark

Why We Don't Suffer

Artist Statement: I am uncomfortable about what my dad did as a scientist. He was a good man. He was a loving father. He made personal sacrifices to help others. However, he brought living things suffering. What if the price of his research was more than a rat? Maybe there were monkeys suffering in one of his labs, but I just didn't see them on Take Your Child to Work Day? Does this make a difference? Where do we draw the line? What my dad and other scientists did came with a price, and we didn't pay it.

In fact, we don't suffer as much because of it. Would I want a person with rheumatoid arthritis to give up their pain relievers so fish, mice, rats and monkeys don't have to pay the price? I'm not sure what God would want, but I know that I keep taking ibuprofen when I need it. When my child is in pain, I offer it to them. This is why we don't suffer and I reticently admit that I am grateful. I use my paintbrush to capture it all: both the good and the bad. I accept the tension and I share it on my canvas.

Bio: When I paint, I am not always sure of where the brush will take me. When I work, I start to notice things: I become more aware of who I am and where I am at on my journey. As I choose a color or make a stroke on my canvas, I make discoveries. I try to stay open and not push thoughts and feelings away if they are uncomfortable or unnerving. I try to be in the moment and go where my brush goes. Sometimes, I go to wonderful and joyous places. Other times I end up somewhere a little hard to embrace. Regardless, I try to be mindful and present, and I try to be one who communicates the transformative power of art through words and images, and believes in releasing the spiritual power of painting to others: its power to reveal God's presence in our daily lives, give us peace, and make us more mindful on our journey.