JP Discovers his Artistic Side for LGBT Pink Bubbly Campaign
Last fall while visiting Roberta, a dear friend in Houston, Texas, we went to a wine and art night. After finding the event online, her interest was piqued–and I was terrified.
I’m an artistic person, but painting is not my forté.
The teacher re-created a painting, showing the group, in step-by-step instruction, how to make our own acrylic creations that we got to take home. I was surprised by the outcome. My landscape with two trees and a path leading to a lake and mountains in the distance had a strong Van Gogh influence; Roberta’s was more “Group of Seven”.
That excitement and uninhibitedness followed me into the spring of this year, when I spearheaded an art wall project on the empty lot next to The Old Courthouse Inn, constructing a space for locals of any capability to come express themselves without judgment.
Art by Inclusion Powell River clients, professional street artists, amateurs of all ages with a passion to express themselves and more filled the business and donated plasti-core sheets within a few weeks.
Watching parents and their two young kids paint together on the wall, creating for the fun of it, made me think of the art and wine night and how others in Powell River might enjoy doing it too.
After chatting about co-hosting the evening with Brenda Hetman, one of the owners of 40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery in Comox, she was on board and we set a date. The class sold out quickly.
Twenty of us were introduced to the winery, its practices and more importantly, six bottles of their best wine selection, as we created a sunset painting on the coast with local talented artist, Ursula Medley.
As the class finished up, Brenda and I strolled down the art walls, me telling her my vision, she mentioning that the winery was releasing a new plum-coloured sparkling wine called Leve Du Soleil Rosé, done in the traditional French method and how excited she was after two years of waiting.
It was an anti-bullying, LGBT initiative bubbly, she said, and we tossed around the idea of having a local artists’ competition art and wine night for the new wine’s label.
We both thought it was a great idea and planned to talk more soon. As she hurried for the last ferry back to Comox, I gave her a copy of Powell River Living’s May 2016 issue, with an article I wrote about growing up in Cranberry.
After posting photos on social media of the first wine and art night at Edie Rae’s Café, two more classes quickly sold out.
I called Brenda to see if she was interested in co-hosting again. She agreed whole-heartedly.
Then she said, “JP, I thought you were a great guy before, but after reading your story, I just love you! I got off the ferry, went straight home and read your story to my husband and my uncle and I want you to paint the label for the Leve Du Soleil Rosé!”
I was awestruck, surprised and silent (that’s a hard one for me), then graciously accepted the job. A month of mental torture and of questioning my self-worth ensued. ‘I’m not a painter,’ boomed in my head every time I stood in front of the white canvas.
Finally I broke through my creative slump by asking my eight-year-old nephew, Leo, to help me. I wanted him, as part of the new generation, to be a building block towards mutual understanding.
Kids are like blank canvases, their perceptions and biases formed by social, religious and familial influences. If we allowed them to make their own decisions the world would be a much more accepting one.
We set up our canvas and paints and chatted about LGBT issues and anti-bullying and what these phrases mean to him.
Leo was the ring bearer at mine and Kelly’s wedding last fall, and is a strong proponent of anti-bullying at school.
“I want to be a good friend, never lie, never tease other people and never hurt anyone,” he told me as we painted. I have been with Kelly, my now-husband, since before Leo was born, so he was raised that he has two uncles instead of an aunt and uncle. It’s normal to him.
Growing up in an era where LGBT people are more readily accepted was not my privilege. Leo’s classmates will hopefully have an easier time, some 40 years after I was their age. Love is Love. Hate is Hate. In today’s world, it is hard to fathom such ingrained biases towards people who choose to love someone of the same gender.
What makes some people so angry and afraid that they lash out with hurtful words and even violence?
As a people, we can move beyond discrimination, homophobia and hatred, toward a common goal of love, acceptance and camaraderie. Fill your soul with wonderment and curiosity of yourself and for others. You may not live the life of a LGBT person, and you can still find common ground as human beings of this beautiful sphere we call Earth. One people, one love.
Sounds simple, yet the fulfillment of this message is hard for many.
Change your perception and change your mind.
Be the message…be the change.
By JP Brosseau
Powell River Living Magazine
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