Exceptional Mothers
Happy Mother’s Day! The above painting came about after a Mother’s Day champagne brunch with my family. Returning to our home everyone retired for a nap. Still dressed up and nowhere else to go I began this self-portrait. My daughter lay by me asleep and my mother, who had passed away, buzzed around my head in my thoughts as seen in the painting. Today I am reminded of my mother’s guidance, not to fear diversity and be more accepting of differences.We all have more in common than not. There are a lot of deep wounds in our world’s history but we can only right things today and do everything in our power to take some action to move forward. Anita Roddick cleverly said, “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.”
It is resolutely stated here by Rossana Castrellon, the 3rd subject in the Global Women Project series of portraits (preliminary digital sketch below), quoting John D. Rockefeller, “I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty… “Rossana is the President of Union Nacional de Centros Educativos Particulares of Panama, as well she is involved in four other significant organizations focusing on education and international relations. She is the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Panama. The following video is taken from my interview with Rossana in Panama City in preparation for her portrait..
Rossana’s mother, NIVIA GRACIELA ECHEVERRÌA SÀEZ, was a pioneer and mentor as the head of the first entrepreneurial group in Panama. A firm believer in the importance of education she started a school 50 years ago and had a profound impact on the woman Rossana has become. Rossana has inspired multitudes of women as well as today’s youth, and so carries the spirit forward. In memory of her mother we honor her as an exceptional woman.
Rossana herself is an remarkable mother and dedicated to the special needs of her son, Fernando. She was written about last December: Soy mejor persona, gracias a mi hijo.” “I’M A BETTER PERSON, THANKS TO MY SON.” Artículo Publicado en la Estrella de Panamá Hoy, Domingo, 6 de Diciembre. Rossana and Fernando are also pictured above on the April-May cover of Mama de Hoy.