You may have seen some of the work I've been a part of in Portobelo, Panama over the last few years, which has been funded now two times by Alternate ROOTS Artistic Assistance grants. Portobelo has become a home away from home for me and I have a family there. Soledad Marín, my "mom", lost two of her children Thursday night when a landslide caused the back wall of their home to collapse. My two little sisters, Omara and Suleyma, were killed. Omara was going to turn 11 this month. She has been my sidekick in Portobelo since I arrived. Sule had just turned 17 and was planning to come to the United States for college next year. Both girls were beautiful and full of life. They loved to sing and dance Congo. They wrote to me just about every day. We were all looking forward to my visit next month, which had just been planned. I am heartbroken.

Soledad needs help with funeral costs. If you are able to make a monetary donation, you can do so via Paypal using the address info@ourcreativecurrents.org. You can also send an email to info@ourcreativecurrents.org with the amount you would like to donate and the administrator will reply with a Paypal invoice. All love, light and prayers are also greatly appreciated in the wake of this devastating tragedy.

The first picture you see when you open my website was taken on a day when I was painting in the Taller in Portobelo. Look to the right and you'll see Omara watching me paint. It's impossible to know how to go on while also knowing that I won't see her on earth again or hear her wild laugh.