michele ann travis damascus

< While attending Pratt Institute I was asked to do a number of self portraits and it was perhaps my least favorite thing to do next to balancing my check book.This painting was a declaration of my sexuality...no, I am not gay! I decided for life to go only 'one way'. I suffered from rejection. I related to Van Gogh to some extent but never enough to cut off my ear.This was by far my favorite self portraits and I feel represents the atmosphere an artist needs to thrive in.

I was living at 129 Saint James Place in Brooklyn, New York. I believe that the artists I lived with will always be a vital influence in my life. Karen, Carter, David, Roxanne, Tony, Robert, Kevin, Michael and the many overnight guests.

> My tag was Torn, short for the white tornado. I was white amongst many African American teens who were very adapt at break dancing. I was like the girl in flash dance only perhaps much more real in the lifestyle I choose to share with TSB - The Shadow Bombers, The Boogie Boys, JAC Dancers and Howdy High. I was the white whop lady of Union Square. I was a B girl. I was a hip hop fanatic. Having met Keith Haring and LA 2, I decided to tag on canvas. I was the white Tornado because I cleaned homes for a living. I was the white tornado because I spun around when I danced. I loved to dance.

< I learned that the best way to guard your heart was to have a hedge of protection about you. The hedge is a bush...on the bush there is fruit...the fruit of the Holy Spirit...love, peace, patience,long suffering, gentleness, meekness, goodness, self-control, faith temperance...If all these are in operation the devil can not have a foothold or way in to your heart.

> Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. Feet trample it down, the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor. The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the LORD. O LORD, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them. LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. -Isaiah 26:2-12

< I was friends with Chip Egglestone at the time and I remember him working on this beat up old black truck in front of Mark¹s house next door and to ³keep him company² I painted in my front yard. I liked doing that because I attracted an audience of children. I wanted to communicate how much God loved Chip to restore his faith in Jesus and chose the verse in Genesis to stir up the truth that God created us. The sand seemed the closest thing to dust I could find. It was Chip¹s favorite part.

> John 15:5-13 ³I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father¹s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ³As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father¹s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

< I became a missionary while attending Regent University with Broken Chains. Jeremiah 29:7 was the verse God gave to me when I moved into Campostella Square. It was an awful place and unlivable. I remember telling God that I would live there if he would let me paint. I learned to love the ghetto and the children of the inner-city.

> Press On, while living.

> I did this painting for the Associates of the Orlando Museum Art after Dark On The Road show at Harold and Maude¹s.I wanted to be sure people knew how to get saved just in case the Lord led them there to see the work on the walls.The Saul a.k.a. Paul figure reminded me of my brother. The eye was gross but I would imagine having scales on your eyes would be gross.

I relate most to this bible story because of my own conversion story and how my mom almost named me Damascus when I was born. I remember my mom telling me that I was born after a long and painful labor. When the nun came into her room to ask the name of her baby, she said Damascus. But the nun said ³Oh no, that¹s no name for a beautiful little girl, we¹ll name her Michele Ann for Michael the arch angel and Michelangelo.² My mom agreed. So I took Damascus as my pen name, my painting name, and my company name.

Poem Untitled

You know Lord, I've spent all year (1996) trying to clean up, trying to sort thru and trying to maintain... My feelings are rapidly changing metaphors of menopause ‹ should I put my life on hold? Is it not yours to live?

As I attempt to to paint, I reflect...what do I see? But the past...separate and far from me. Friends and broken hearts, unexpected yet necessary and I'm not sure why things I do coincide with people I spend time with. Painting marks times, experiences, moods, periods... some have a dozen in blue, for me it's true too! But I see each painting as a world of many moods- stroke after stroke. To paint...after 2 years of not... to rummage thru hardened acrylic, smelly mixtures of accomplished works. To bring all the tools together out of boxes in the garage, and to risk making mistakes... to spread myself out as the flat background color... to inconvenience my dad and brother as I prepare a place to make my messes.

A table here, a table there... only to confine them to beds, chairs and TVs in their bedrooms... while I begin to change the atmosphere. To worship God with creation, with artistic expression, with brushes on canvas and paint, mixed media. To encourage others that Jesus is the life, the vine. To declare that apart from Him I can do nothing. To keep faith alive, to have an attitude of confidence, to say I paint. Through The Looking Glass (COMPILATION). The National Library of Poetry. Melissa S. Mitchell, editor. page 449 ©1997 Michele Ann Travis

list of exhibits
Anthrax Gallery - Closet Art - 1982 Stamford, CN

Clarendon Road Church - "Christmas Celebration"
Winter 1989, Brooklyn, NY

Regent University Library - "Student Exhibit"
1991, Virginia Beach, VA

Associates of the Orlando Museum - "On The Road"
Spring 1997, Orlando, FL

Valencia Community College - "Staff and Faculty Show"
Summer 1997, Orlando, FL

Associates of The Orlando Museum - "Southern Women¹s Show" Fall 1997, Orlando, FL

Associates of The Orlando Museum - "Art & Technology"
Fall 1997, Orlando, FL