My newest work, Kintsugi/perfect, imperfect, 48x36, oil on canvas, was exhibited at the Gallery of Creative Pinellas Arts Annual 2023-the Party on November 9, 2023, with art from various disciplines, live music, and entertainment. The exhibit continued through December 31, 2023. 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo, FL #ARTN
This Creative Pinellas project is now traveling throughout the state of Florida. It started in 2020 through interviews with these two people - one who saved my vision and the charge nurse of the Covid unit of Saint Anthony's.
This portrait project consists of a series of 3610x12 paintings of women who are crucial to making our community thrive and function. It includes women in a broad spectrum of economic status and a variety of occupations.
The purpose of this project is to honor and celebrate 2020 women's suffrage and to honor the women of St. Petersburg who are crucial to the city's operation.
This exhibit is part of the national organization of the Women's Caucus for Art, St. Petersburg's Chapter. The exhibit opened on August 8 at the Morean Arts Center, with plans for the exhibit to travel to other venues.
I chose two women to paint. The first person drawn and painted here is Missy York, charge nurse of the Covid Unit at St. Anthony's Hospital. All of the interview questions were the same for each of the participants.
Q.Who are you?
A. My name is Missy York. I am a conservative bohemian, funny, truthful and fabulous.
Q.What do you do?
A. I am charge nurse on a COVID unit.
Q.What is your wisdom to share?
A. If we shift the paradigm to education as supreme, that one day our leaders will be grounded by science and elevated by art. We will be curious and empathetic of others and see people by their deeds and not their demographics. And we will no longer be afraid to weave our individuality with the collective consciousness of our community and life at-large.
Q. If you could do one thing for St. Pete?
A. I would completely overhaul our public school system where families do not have to "play the lottery" to get their child in a quality school. Every school should be exemplary to generate intelligent and compassionate citizens.
Q. Comment on women's suffrage.
A. Woman's right to vote is her right to be heard. It is essential, that when you elect to use your voice you do so with clarity, conviction and grace for your audience.
A. My name is Missy York. I am a conservative bohemian, funny, truthful and fabulous.
Q.What do you do?
A. I am charge nurse on a COVID unit.
Q.What is your wisdom to share?
A. If we shift the paradigm to education as supreme, that one day our leaders will be grounded by science and elevated by art. We will be curious and empathetic of others and see people by their deeds and not their demographics. And we will no longer be afraid to weave our individuality with the collective consciousness of our community and life at-large.
Q. If you could do one thing for St. Pete?
A. I would completely overhaul our public school system where families do not have to "play the lottery" to get their child in a quality school. Every school should be exemplary to generate intelligent and compassionate citizens.
Q. Comment on women's suffrage.
A. Woman's right to vote is her right to be heard. It is essential, that when you elect to use your voice you do so with clarity, conviction and grace for your audience.
Q.Who are you?
A. I am Nancy Diane Yates Bryant, MD. I am a wife, mother, grandmother and native Floridian.
Q.What do you do?
A. I am an Ophthalmologist in St. Petersburg who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases.
Q.Words of wisdom
A. Always lead with your heart - however in the words of my dear mother, Mrs. Hattie King Yates, "Always use your head!" "When we do the best we can we never know what miracle is wrought in our life or in the life of another" - Helen Keller.
Q.What one thing you would do to change St. Petersburg?
A. I would ask all people who enjoy the privilege to live and work in our beautiful city to treat each other with sincere kindness, love and respect. To become the best they can be by educating themselves, participating in healthy activities, helping and inspiring others so that collectively our city will continue to soar.
Q. Comments about Women's Suffrage
A. The right for women to vote was gained in 1920. Sadly, that movement did not include all women due to discrimination and systemic racism. This unfortunately also included the highly educated, distinguished and accomplished women in my own family who were denied simply based on the color of their skin. Black women did not officially participate in the voting process until the passage of the Voters Right Act in 1965. Although the history of the Suffrage movement is wrought with a dramatically flawed and imperfect vision, we have seen the power of the women's vote in our present American democracy.
