ARYANA FARSAI

Through these fanciful artistic renditions, the viewer is allowed into the depths of the individual psyche and thought processes of the artists. Flowers at the feet of the figures in many of the paintings point to the vigorous affirmation of abundant life.

For many of the women practicing this art, it is a form of a living supplication to the divine, such as for Dulari Devi, from the Rhanti village in Bihar, who appears in another video in the exhibit. She speaks directly to the camera, stating, 'Ever since I started painting, I treat it like worship.' This sincere delight in doing what embodies the strength of love of life can be seen throughout the paintings in the exhibit.

My model for positive change in one's life is a tree. A tree will always concentrate on growing it's own roots for a strong foundation, before branching out to touch neighboring trees. This is what I think each person needs to do in order to have a healthy forest (world). Healthy change moves at a roots pace.

However, even when I was learning about a more linear and mechanical perspective, even then I was looking into the man made materials to see the natural world. I saw how these materials can mirror the natural environment and eventually become part of if allowed to rust away and decompose back into an organic appearing non-regular form.

Taylor grew up in the Bay Area, and entrepreneurship runs in her family. A robust local economy is extremely important for her. She quoted a client which captured her 'a-ha!' moment: 'Having the capital to run my business from the very first day, to have that money in the bank — it allowed me to make better decisions.'

Taylor further explained that MSL specifically funds restaurants — especially minority-owned or ones serving low-to-moderate income customers — because traditionally such restaurants have a hard time getting funding.