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I was moved by the violent shootings at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida in 2016.
This horrific event awakened me on a greater scale to the hatred ingrained in our society.

“Eden” is a good friend who spoke with me about hostilities he encounters on a regular basis as a gay African American man, despite living in a “progressive” city.

I portrayed him in a seated pose, with the colors of the rainbow flag filling the space behind him.
His posture conveys the tension and watchfulness that he assumes to navigate daily encounters.
The painting highlights the colors of the banner and their symbolism: life (red), healing (orange), sunlight (yellow), nature (green), harmony/peace (blue), and spirit (violet)…the basic rights to which all humans are entitled.

I’m declaring my support for people who are denied these freedoms. It’s an important statement for me artistically and personally.

Justin Hess

justinhess@jhessfineart.com