In This Together

“In This Together” represents connection. My intention for this piece was to effectively display a connection between two souls and to capture the significance of an emotional bond. 

My brother, Riley, is portrayed as the rider in this painting. He is an excellent performer in Calgary, a true inspiration to his dance community. Riley and I have undergone many hardships together and I am beyond thrilled to be a part of his performances and support him as he discovers his art at a deeper level. Riley has a way of expressing his emotion through dance with such intensity that it makes his performances seamless. When he dances, everything he has gone through exits his mind through every movement and it’s obvious to see the passion beaming from his heart. Riley compares not only to the performers at the Stampede, but to the riders and patrons as well. I find it fascinating to see the relationships built in the dance community and similarly, the connections that are formed between a person and their horse. It’s amazing how much effort and extensive work must be devoted to our team, our family and our partners in order to form substantial trust and achieve success… and success is far more meaningful when you can enjoy it with someone. I may not have a direct connection to a specific horse and I am certainly not a performer but I truly recognize the significance of connections. I see what goes on backstage. I know how much pain and joy goes into perfecting one's skills and I understand the impact others have on our lives and on our passions. 

These ardent connections are perfectly displayed at the Calgary Stampede. People are brought from all over the world to a place where complete strangers can interact and experience magnificent shows, thrilling competitions and bizzare food together.  Our passions are meant to be shared and they should have an impact on our souls. What better place to relieve our minds from daily afflictions and enjoy the abundance of special events with each other.

The idea of connection was also inspired by the current pandemic. 

Stay safe. Stay strong.

We are “In This Together”.