Reclaiming Hope

My life these days exists at the confluence of two great rivers: The Connecticut and the Ammonoosuc; and two great cultures: Native American, writ large in the blood of my Abenaki Grandmother and Iroquois Grandfather; and in the American culture laid out in the dreams of our founders, in the sacred texts of our Republic, and the sacrifices of generations seeking to "form a more perfect union".

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But the dreams of our founders today are in existential peril.

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Every day I ask the universe to give us the wisdom to overcome this. I understand the immediacy of the challenge that can still bring us peacefully through this, but I also know that time is not our friend.

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The sacrifices of American Heroes on the beaches of Normandy, the sands of Iwo Jima, a thousand engagements in the struggle to preserve liberty, shrouded forever in the fog of war.

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My Navajo brothers at Iwo Jima who served as Code Talkers, despite enduring nearly 400 years of genocide, were a part of 10% of Native men who served as soldiers in WWII - The highest percentage of any demographic group, in the most just of wars.  Yet, the silly baffoons who occupy the White House are now attempting to erase them from history. We will not allow that to happen.

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The dreams and strength shown by countless Americans of all colors who fought for the franchise for women and men both, faced dogs and firehoses, were beaten for crossing bridges, sat at lunch counters, gathered to declare their commitment to a community of men and women equal under the law, is under threat.

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Reclaiming Hope, Restoring Community

15" x 20"

Edition of 25

$395.00

Printed on fine art rag paper with archival inks

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My images often combine elements of photography, watercolor painting and digital craftsmanship. The final images are produced as signed limited edition prints on museum-quality fine art rag paper, created with archival inks.  This image is also available as a more affordable unsigned open-edition print. 

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For a signed original of this image, click here

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Unsigned open-edition prints 

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Wayne’s images are a celebration of life, blending the real and the surreal to achieve a sense of place or time that reaches beyond the moment into what he calls a "dreamlike quintessentialism" designed to spark an emotional response. Using digital enhancement, handcrafting, painting, and sometimes even straight photography, King seeks to take the viewer to a place that is beyond simple truth to where truth meets passion, hope and dreams.

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No Ai resources are employed in the creation of this image. It is purely the work of the artist employing multiple media to create the final image.