“Family Reunion” By Laverne Ross

This is a piece of a family reunion. Kids playing, some gathered and talking, one women who appears to oversee the cooking. This painting also has lots of color with a sharp vivid appearance. I identified with this piece because some of my fondest family memories of heritage and culture were at family reunions. As a child, I remember looking forward to the reunions. So much good food, and because I have such a mixed family so many different types of food.  The Caribbean food came from my mother’s side Haitian and Belizean and my father’s good old southern food. It was at a family reunion that I learned my father’s grandfather was the child of a slave and owner in Pine bluff Arkansas. There was so much love between everyone at these family reunions and a lot of making up if anyone had any differences. This family reunion piece reminded me of my own personal cultural heritage because they are something my family has been doing before I was born. Bringing everyone together to remember the importance of family and love, forgiveness and strength. Besides all the sentimental value of them they are a ball. Every generation of music is played, games new and old are played, prizes and contest too. Just a good time celebrating family.

“The Meditation” By Lee Vanderwalk

I picked this piece because it remined me of the women in my family. Majority of my family is females we defiantly outnumber the men. I see strength, grace, depth, and culture looking at this. And that’s what the women of my family represent, and what they make sure to instill generation after generation. Identifying with this piece made me think about how opened minded and acceptant to different personalities and ways of living, working, eating, even communicating we are . I identified those things through the colors the multiple women, their poise ad structures, and unity all while being different. I wouldn’t say that the women in my family are feminist but we have always been taught to be independent, strong and that we deserve just as much as men do. Especially with the younger generations we all aspire to hold and be our own with or without a companion.

“History behind carebian food produces” By Nicoles Jean Louis

I picked this piece because of the different food items laying around the women. Food is huge in my family both man and women enjoy and love cooking. Especially being mixed with quite a few different back grounds. The red peppers made me think more towards my mother and all the spices she that side of my family likes to cook with. Often when my aunt takes trips to Belize she almost always sneaks back some spices for my mother. Cooking is a sign of affection for us, and a time to bond. when someone is sad, mad or happy you can allows make a meal to discuss it. I remember being a little girl helping my mother and aunts cook and I also remember being a little girl helping my father and uncles cook too. In both instances, I remember feeling the love in the air doing so. I now I have those same experiences with my own niece. And as tradition, culture and heritage goes she will hopefully have these same fond memories and be sure to pass them down when she gets older.