"INSPIRATION" and another painting

[AGUILAR MARRERO]

WHEN I WENT TO PUERTO RICO WITH MY GODMOTHER "TANAMA" (DEBBIE TORRENS), SHE TOOK ME TO SEE A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF "NANIKI". SHE HAS A WONDERFUL PLACE WHERE WE LEARNED ABOUT THE HERBS AND ABOUT OUR TAINO ANCESTORS. EVERYWHERE WE WALKED YOU COULD FEEL THE PRESENCE OF MOTHER EARTH AND THOSE WHO WALKED THAT TIERRA BEFORE US, IT WAS VERY SPIRITUAL. THIS WONDERFUL WOMAN SHOWED ME MANY SECRETS OF THE LAND AND MADE ME LAUGH OFTEN. NANIKI IS ALWAYS FIGHTING FOR THE PEOPLE FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. I REMEMBER GOING TO ONE OF THE LARGE HARDWARE DEPOTS AND THEY WERE CRUSHING DOORS AND OTHER FURNITURE THAT WERE WARPED OR SLIGHTLY DENTED. SHE TOLD THEM" CANT YOU GIVE THOSE DOORS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NONE, INSTEAD OF DESTROYING THEM". (THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THAT HURRICANE THAT HAD REALLY WOLLEPT P.R.), THEY REFUSED AND SHE WANTED TO SEE PEOPLE IN CHARGE AND EVERYTHING. SHE IS ONE STRONG AND DETERMINED WOMAN. ANYWAY WE STAYED WITH HER SEVERAL DAYS HELPING HER BUILD A SPECIAL PLACE. NOT ON THE LAND AS IT IS SACRED AND YOU CAN ONLY DO CEREMONIES AND LIVE LIKE OUR ANCESTORS. HER HOME IS OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE LAND. I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE P.R. THE NEXT DAY AND I GOT REAL SICK. SHE QUICKLY WENT GATHERING SPECIAL HERBS AND MADE ME A TINY BOTTLE OF IT TO DRINK. I ARRIVED IN THE CONCRETE JUNGLE FEELING FINE. I ONLY REGRET HAVING NOT TAKEN A PICTURE OF NANIKI. SEVERAL YEARS PAST, AND SO DID MY GODMOTHER (BLESS HER). AND IN 2003 I SAT ON THE FLOOR TO PAINT AND NANIKI CAME TO MIND AND HOW SHE AND THE LAND IS ONE. HER WHITE HAIR AND NOBLE YET GENTLE FACE SO FROM MEMORY AND WHAT I COULD GET, THIS IS WHAT I PAINTED. SHE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PAINTING AND THOSE WHO HAVE I NEVER TOLD THEM OF THE ORIGIN, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS THE INDIGENOUS CARIBBEAN NETWORK IT IS TIME PEOPLE SEE IT AND KNOW WHY IT WAS PAINTED. THIS IS DEDICATED TO A WONDERFUL WOMAN WHO HAS PLACED US AND THE CULTURE AND ANCESTORS BEFORE HERSELF. WITH MUCH REPECT AND LOVE

"MOTHER EARTH"




HOPE YOU LIKE IT AGUILAR

[AGUILAR MARRERO]

SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. I LOVE HER LOVE OF LIFE, SPIRIT, AND PRIDE. I HAVE KNOWN THOUSANDS AS I TRAVELED THRU OUT THE WORLD WHILE IN THE MILITARY AND HAVE YET TO MEET ANYONE LIKE HER. BO'MATUM

[Rixturey]

Hi, Thank you for the painting -- you have capture the spirit of Naniki! I am sending you a picture of the "abuelitos" that I mentioned in my blog so you can see how close your vision is.