Dear Art Lovers and Patrons,

As an introspective child, I always wondered what it was like to be someone else, especially someone who was outwardly so different than I. I pondered all the characteristics that comprised the person I knew as "me" and the seemingly random choice of circumstances that made up my world. During my years of marriage and child-rearing, that curiosity waned in the midst of a busy life; yet was never far from the surface of my consciousness.

As an artist, I didn't begin my study of painting in the conventional way, building one skill upon another, in preparation for the most challenging of subjects, the human figure. Instead, I was drawn to portraiture from the beginning and eventually that interest grew into a passion. A portrait is not simply a surface rendering. It is a sacred map to a journey of discovery. As a result, I never tire of looking into the eyes and the soul of each person I paint and when my work is done we are still connected even though we may never meet again. I become a part of them and they become a part of me.

The more I learn about those who are so different from myself, the more I discover my own true identity. From these indigenous peoples and my artistic journeys I have been blessed with life-altering images that I wish to share with others. The people I have painted are real, not reflections or ghosts from another time or whimsical discriptions of life on other continents. Not only have they shared their outward images but they also have given freely of their wisdom and the deepest mysteries of their hearts. Each person is a sacred relic of an all-too-often vanishing culture.

Surrounded as I often am with the gloss and glitter of our material society, I have learned to appreciate life in a different way from the simple and the poor. I have felt and experienced their respect for life, Mother Earth and their God. I have learned that their lives are worthy of and, indeed, demand this artist's brush. My hope is that as you look into each subject's face, you will see a reflection of your own.

Joyce Birkenstock
June, 2000

Inquiries concerning the scheduling of this unique exhibit are most welcome.
Joyce Ann Birkenstock can be reached at:
561.737.5931 Phone | 561.737.1270 fax