We All Do What We Need To Do

“We need to steer clear of this poverty of ambition, where people want to drive fancy cars and wear nice clothes and live in nice apartments but don't want to work hard to accomplish these things. Everyone should try to realize their full potential.” (Barack Obama)

This is the seventh in a series of paintings in which I have attempted to portray the dichotomy that I felt when travelling in China. On our tour we were shown the China that they wanted us to see. In our off hours, we saw the China that really exists. After thoroughly enjoying a musical/theatrical presentation of the history of this vast land, we walked the streets in the waning evening light. I saw this woman on the sidewalk doing alterations on an old treadle sewing machine. Her friend sat with her for company. I was struck by the contrast with the elaborate and beautiful costumes of the stage production we had just left.

China Series: Evening Out (24” x 24”)