By
Kc Pollak
Piece description from the artist
This piece stems from two factors: First from the unknown of COVID-19. Secondly, from social injustice going on in the world, especially the United States. Not only are we the worst nation hit by COVID-19 but racial tensions are higher than ever. Possibly even peaking to before the civil rights of the 1960s. White privilege is something most white people don’t even know they have or that it exists. If you’re white you don’t see it. If you’re a person of color, it’s everywhere and inescapable. Have you ever had to explain to your children how to talk to a policeman if they are ever pulled over so that they don’t have to fear for their life? Have you ever had someone lock their doors as soon as you walked out of a mini mart? I’d say that would be a resounding ‘no’! White people have created this elephant in the room, and it is up to us to dismantle it. Yes, I’m white. What took hundreds of years to build will take decades, if not hundreds of years to dismantle. But it is up to us to do it. It doesn’t matter if you feel you have not been part of the problem. Some might say ‘I’m not racist!’, or, ‘My ancestors caused this problem, it’s not my fault’. The point is to acknowledge that white privilege exists because it does. Then next is to hear people. Truly hear them. The next thing is to be part of the solution. Probably more than anything right now is raising awareness of white privilege and social injustice. Get people to wake up to it. Then and only then can we make anything happen. We (as white people) need to shut up and listen. We need to hear people and see them. We are in a critical period in history right now. Not only are we in a once in however many hundred years pandemic but we are in worse social upheaval than ever before. It is long past the time to rewrite history and send it in a new direction. After all, we bleed the exact same color. We are one human race.
The storm is upon us. This storm is raging! It’s up to us to change the course of history. Right here, right now.
I have been an artist all my life, ever since I could hold a pencil. I have always loved to draw and paint. My styles have varied over the years from realism to abstract and everything in between. The mediums I most enjoy working with are: oil, colored pencil, charcoal, graphite, watercolor, pen & ink, alcohol ink, and acrylic. Currently I am experiencing a mammoth amount of creative freedom working on abstract art.
In 2015, I donated one of my kidneys to a young woman who had only been born with one very diseased kidney. Since then she has been thriving and now going to college and living her life. What a blessing! I consider this a privilege and I'm so happy I was a match for her.
I have lived all over the country (U.S.). I primarily grew up in Woodland Park, CO. Following living in Woodland, I lived in Durango, CO, Farmington, NM, Houston, TX, Philadelphia, PA, Atlanta, GA and currently live in Montrose, CO (hopefully for good). I thankfully found my way back to Colorado. We live near Colona, in the shadow of Buckhorn Mountain (west/central Colorado) and absolutely love this place! It is remote, uncluttered, quiet, peaceful and beautiful. The inspiration I feel in my heart here is something I’ll be forever grateful for. It makes my soul sing!
I love to ski and am glad I live near some great places. Telluride, Crested Butte, Aspen, etc …when money allows. On February 12, 2017 I was in a ski accident in Telluride. Someone hit me from behind and knocked me unconscious for a few minutes (yes, I was wearing a helmet) and broke my collar bone. The guy hit me and left me for dead. He still has yet to be found. It's considered a felony to hit and run, just like in a car. Consequently, I suffered a concussion that has changed my life forever. My creativity has changed. Something happened to my eyes and I have a hard time doing the tiny details I used to do. But something also clicked in terms of how I approach my art. The freedom of abstraction has helped me heal and cope. Not only from the accident but with so many areas of my life. I have learned what true forgiveness means (to give as well as receive). I have a new appreciation for how fragile our lives really are and just how quickly life can be taken from us. A lot of things can change in the blink of an eye! That moment created a complete paradigm shift in my life. Mostly for the better.
I’m involved in an art mentoring program called Art Partners. I mentor a young boy (age 10). He created a piece that won first place in the student category of the Ouray Alpine Artist’s Holiday art show (nationwide) as well as 1st place in The Montrose Visual Arts Guild 2018 art show. I love the fact that I get to help shape this young man's creative future. He's my lil buddy.
There is an old cabin (100+ yrs old) on the property where I live that I have turned into my art studio. It’s my retreat and sanctuary. While I'm in this cabin, creativity just bursts forth in a riot of paint and color! This, I believe, is my heavenly father working through me. I'm still not sure what the grand purpose is but I keep my mind and heart open. I'm expecting adventure because, really, there's no way to know what's next. Like I always say, "the point is not to live forever but to create something that does."
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