An art exhibition of a different kind

Dear Editor, I have marvelled at persons who are truly talented in different way. There are people who show caring and put together the hard work of differently abled persons. One such event was held at the Cheshire Home, in Unity on the East Coast. It’s truly mind blowing to discover that a person is gifted with something one could never have imagined. There was an art exhibition at the Cheshire Home. Residents such as Cary and several others showcased their art, done with little sophisticated equipment, just mere paper and colours. Their paintings were on sale too. I wanted a particular painting of a jaguar but it was sold out. The Peace Corps were able to organize and invite as many people as possible. Despite the distance and the rainy weather, there were enough viewers and buyers at the exhibition.

I know Cary because I had accompanied him from Lethem to Ogle on a plane after a bad accident about four years ago. Initially, he was stationed at the Missionary of Charity sisters in New Amsterdam, where he got his initial physiotherapy. Then he was moved to his current home. He was frustrated in the beginning since he had to learn to be normal despite his disability, which confined him to a wheelchair. The Mother Teresa nuns encouraged him to scribble, so that he could slowly begin to move his hands. That initial scribbling led him to draw and eventually allowed him to become an amateur artist. Why am bragging about his art? The reason is simple: four years ago he could not move his hands and feet but after four years he can make use of his hands for something extraordinary. I suppose credit must go to all those people who helped him reach thus far, but most of the credit must go to Cary, who thought he would not be able to do anything and was able to do this.

There’s nothing impossible for us; it’s all within us, but we need to ignite it. I suppose there are no born artists, but they become artists through their perseverance. One should not give up; one never knows when things will turn out to be extraordinary. But the tendency is to give up when things don’t go according to our plan.

Having said this, people like Cary need encouragement and praise so that they can feel their own worth. We as a nation need to recognize some of our strengths and build on them. Let us help our youth to dig deep and find their worth. This will help us to build our nation. The development of a nation depends on the youth when they are properly guided and encouraged to nurture their talents. Yours faithfully, Rev Jerri Dias