“The New Religion,” Watercolor
I painted this watercolor in the 1990s when my husband was working endless hours, and being called during the night and on weekends and vacation.  It seemed Business was the new God.  At the time, Secularism had not been identified by name, but I felt it, and painted this man with a technology crown as a sacrificial son to this new religion.

“Grandma Praying,” Charcoal
 As I deviated from the profile of this familiar model, I was suddenly struck with overwhelming grief—it was the profile of my Gramps appearing on the paper, instead of hers!  Imprinted on my childhood memory was his head bowed in prayer…or maybe he was napping!  She quickly took on his face in this portrait instead of hers, as I struggled to control my long buried emotions.

"Ancient Cross," Acrylic

"Cross for Christians and Jews," Oil

"Cross for Twin Towers," Mixed Media
This piece evolved over many months, starting with pages collaged from an old book I found on tyrants.  Later I added other elements, and distressed the surface.  Late one night, I dragged a stick of charcoal over the center and rubbed—and there appeared a ghost image.  The next morning, it was announced that Osama bin Laden had been killed. It was May 2, 2011. I added the cross made of bible pages, and later realized it was a double vertical, like the twin towers.

"Cross for Nigeria," Oil
On January 30, 2016, Nigeria’s homegrown Islamic extremists Boko Haram firebombed huts killing at least 86, including children burned alive in the Dalori village and camps housing 25,000 refugees.  Over 60 people were treated for burns after the four-hour siege.

“Cross for Christian Genocide,” Oil
On Page 203 of the report "Genocide against Christians in the Middle East" submitted to Secretary of State John Kerry by the Knights of Columbus and In Defense of Christians is listed the compulsory prices of women and children as ISIS spoils of war:
75,000 dinars A Yazidi or Christian woman, aged 30 to 40 years
100,000 dinars A Yazidi or Christian woman, aged 20 to 30 years
150,000 dinars A Yazidi or Christian woman, aged 10 to 20 years
50,000 dinars A Yazidi or Christian woman, aged 40 to 50 years
200,000 dinars Yazidi or Christian, all children, aged 1 to 9 years
UN representative Zainab Bangura said girls as young as one were being "peddled like barrels of oil" in Syria and Iraq.  The report is 278 pages, dated March 9, 2016.

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"Cross for Syria," Mixed Media
First published as a blog, "War and the Unknown," in September 2013, http://brighton.patch.com/groups/peggy-n-brewers-blog/p/war-and-the-unknown
 
Between Syria and 9-11, I have been on overload with images of pain and suffering.  My response was "Cross for Syria."  Doing it made me feel better.  It is my way to alleviate anxiety and confront ambiguity.  Now I can go back to more peaceful art subjects.
 
This face is inspired by a sculpture I saw some time ago.  I believe it was in Chicago at the Polish Museum of America, although the head had a more sublime expression.  The rest of the work arose from my mind and a deep faith that good always triumphs over evil.  In that spirit, I offer it.
 
Techniques:charcoal, pastel and collage.  I rubbed out the original figures drawn on newsprint to create a background.  Later, I collaged pages from a used book on evil doers and their evil deeds throughout time.  Then I intensified the ancient look of it all with more rubbings.  Then over several days, I produced the drawings.
 
Lastly, a quote I noted in 2007: We know that every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering; not to share them would mean to betray them....Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Oslo, Norway, December 10, 1986.

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"Cross for Detroit," Acrylic
The broken windows of Detroit buildings inspired me to create this piece, done in acrylic, very dimensionally. It goes back to my years attending Cass Technical High School in the inner city, a "magnet school" in the 1960s.

"About to Turn," Charcoal & Pastel
 When a fellow artist’s daughter modeled for us at the Whitmore Lake Portrait Group, I took advantage of her teen angst to add a cross to its message. Teen suicide is climbing and answers are evasive.  Secular society can be shallow and cruel, with particular expressions for youth, including school shootings.