How Did The Wondrous Earth Collection Get Its Name?

HOW DID THE "WONDROUS EARTH" COLLECTION GET ITS NAME?

An American of Chinese descent purchased one of my art prints last November. He was so pleased with the print of a Chinese village that he posted a picture of it on FB and tagged me. There were a lot of positive comments from his friends. One comment was from a published award-winning author and poet, Nona Mock Wyman. She wrote an enchanting haiku (ancient Asian poem style) about the artwork. I asked permission to use this haiku and she was pleased to be so honored. She and I have been corresponding ever since and I have made a dear and special friend.

Nona Mock Wyman has recently received additional honors. She was interviewed for the California Library system as part of their Asian studies collection. “Planet China” honored eight women on International Women’s Day. Nona was one of the eight. She was gracious enough to kindly mention that I have incorporated several of her haiku in my artwork.

Here is the list of art in my Asian sub-collection, many of which include Nona's haiku. I hope you will view these and let me know what you think.

Title: Chinese Village By The River
I redid the Chinese village image using Nona's haiku at the top. And I changed my collection name from, “There is Only One Earth”, to the first line of the haiku, “The Wondrous Earth”. This artwork shows a Chinese village by a river. Architecture from diverse cultures enrich us all. The haiku says: “the wondrous earth/by sea, ancient dwellings/alas paradise” by Nona Mock Wyman, haiku-yun. The Chinese Village composition, including the haiku, is displayed at the top of this blog.
Title: Happiness May Be Enjoyed
We Are All One Family! This artwork shows that all peoples can find comfort in the company of friends and family and in the simple act of sharing food. The haiku above the image is: "Etched upon each face/Soul's desire to achieve/Family blessed” by Nona Mock Wyman, haiku-yun. Below the image is: "Course Rice for Food. Water for Drink, Happiness may be enjoyed even in these. Confucius"

Title: Asian Mother Reading
We Are All One Family! This artwork depicts a mother and daughter of Asian descent. The mother is reading to the child at bedtime. This is an act that is common across many cultures. The artwork contains a haiku: "books are wonderful friends/expanding one's soul to flight/intermingling minds" by Nona Mock Wyman, haiku-yun.

Title: Blossoming Moment
We Are All One Family! This artwork shows how mothers of all races and cultures help their young daughters become young women. The artwork contains the haiku: "shyness of child/gently merging with love/blossoming moment" by Nona Mock Wyman, haiku-yun.

Title: Chinese Beauty
We Are All One Family! This artwork shows the universality of women wanting to look attractive. The message below the image is: “Beauty is the Wisdom of Woman. Confucius”

Title: Chinese Folk Dancer
We Are All One Family! The child, dressed in her native dance costume to perform the Water Dance, is in front of a map of China. The message below the image is: "Dance is the Beautiful Language All Cultures Speak, Chinese Folk Dancer."

Title: Korean Folk Dancer
We Are All One Family! The child is dressed in her native dance costume in front of a map of S. Korea. The message at the bottom of the image is: "Dance is the Beautiful Language All Cultures Speak, Korean Folk Dancer."

Title: Unforeseen Treasures
The Wondrous Earth! This artwork shows the life teeming by a coral reef. With coral reefs dying, these plants and fish will also go extinct. “The haiku at the bottom is: “the depth of life/ treasures unforeseen/awaken am I” by nona mock wyman - haiku yun

Title: Koi Pond
The Wondrous Earth! This artwork shows the elegant beauty of a koi pond. A place to reflect and to refresh the soul.

THE RACISM OCCURRING IN AMERICA IS NOT NEW!

From ASPIRE (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Rising and Empowering)

“On March 26, 1790, the Naturalization Act was signed into law, prohibiting non-white people from becoming citizens of the United States.
Over 200 years later, the Asian community is still suffering from the effects of the racism our country was founded upon. Asian American and Pacific Islander elders are being physically assaulted in the streets. AAPI children are afraid to go back to school. And we're still reeling from the murders of 6 Asian women in a racially-motivated killing spree in Atlanta this week.

Reports show that there have been around 3,000 COVID-related hate crimes against Asian Americans since last spring alone, and that number is speculated to be a huge underestimation of the actual number of cases.

During Trump's presidency, we saw an alarming increase in anti-Asian hate crimes, and although Trump is out of office, his enablement of bold racism remains ingrained in our country -- and Asian Americans are the ones paying the price.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

I could include the same type of racial incidents and statistics for the other minority groups in the US – Muslims, Blacks, People of Color, LGBTQs, Jews, Hispanics and anyone who does not look like a White Christian whose family came from Western Europe.

Do not ignore harassment of others. On the internet there are several suggestions for what you can SAFELY do if you happen upon a scene of racial harassment or violence.

Remember, there is also another way to help: 100% of profits from purchases of my art goes directly to fight for equal rights and opportunities for all peoples and to protect the environment and wildlife.


NOW YOUR TURN

Do you think that my art in the Asian sub-collection helps non-Asians think about how “We Are All One Family” even when we are from diverse cultures and don’t all look like we are of White Western European descent? Please let me know your thoughts.

What was your experience with racial harassment? Please contact me. I would love to know your story.

Also, please let me know of topics you would like discussed.

UNTIL NEXT MONTH

Stay safe and well!

Linda Scroggin
artist@art4acause.net