Insurrection in China

I asked, artist, Rick Rose to do a rendering with what I felt were significant events in China. Of course, many of you are familiar with Tiananmen Square and the events that happened there over thirty years ago. I want to draw you attention to the banner on the bridge in Beijing last year, 2022, in which a protester displayed the work in protest against the government. Rick did a wonderful rendering that includes my poem. I am hoping to display this artwork at Vista Visions Art Gallery in Flint Township, Michigan.

Due to the artwork being small here, I will once again share my poem that is on the artwork. 

Insurrection in China

By Madeleine Graham

If ever insurrection were correct, It’d be knockin’ at China’s door

Where little ones are dyin’ at Chinese hands And Communist philosophy still stands

While mothers cry, while mothers cry

And look at our American President Shakin’ the hands of dictatorship

How can this be, You tell me… Most favored nation, I don’t agree

If ever insurrection were correct, It’d be knockin’ at China’s door

Where little ones are dyin’ at Chinese hands And Communist philosophy still stands

While mothers cry, while mothers cry

Look at Tiananmen Square And the lives lost there

Most favored nation, I don’t agree…How can this be? You tell me

And who’s in the banking now? Reno tied the hands of Freeh

Now freedom parishes in the name of greed

If ever insurrection were correct, It’d be knockin’ at China’s door

Where little ones are dyin’ at Chinese hands And Communist philosophy still stands

While mothers cry, while mothers cry

So Clinton rules the American land And nods in favor of the Communist man

Where’s the American ideal? Sacrificed to the silver serpent

Woven in the red blanket of the babes who will never be…All in the name of greed

If ever insurrection were correct, It’d be knockin’ at China’s door

Where little ones are dyin’ at Chinese hands And Communist philosophy still stands

While mothers cry, while mothers cry

If we all believed as the Communist do That women can’t provide…So must die

Where the children deformed can’t breathe a breath

The Einstein’s would never have been

Beethoven would never have played

Woolf and Tolstoy would never have written

Michelangelo never painted

Churchill never calmed the seas

And this song would not be

If ever insurrection were correct

It’d be knockin’ at China’s door

Where little ones are dyin’ at Chinese hands 

And Communist philosophy still stands

While mothers cry, while mothers cry 

But go ahead and wear the RED…And don the blood that is shed

Believe in the Communist Philosophy

And cling to the RED FLAG

Immersed in the blood of babes

But I’ll believe in humanity and civil liberty

But I believe in the judgment day…So I’ll continue to pray

For insurrection in China

For babes who are dyin’

For mothers who are cryin’

And lives lost in Tiananmen Square

For the Communist in China

Who embrace the bloodbath of babes

The RED FLAG must fall 

For the freedom of all

And greed must be seen as the green

Silvery serpent slithering in our Garden of Eden

Robbing us of babes 

In the season of spring

Note: I believe in changing hearts and minds not warfare

St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Home for Children

St Vincent Sarah Fisher Home for Children is facing the wrecking ball, my residence for ten years.

Both of my parents suffered from mental illness. My dad was able to work most of the time and was the glue that held our family together.

He was a WWII veteran and was a lifelong member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

I am hoping when the new owners take charge of the orphanage that they do what they say and preserve the Chapel.

My father had us stop in the Chapel on Fridays when he picked us up and on Sundays when we returned to offer a prayer for our family.

I often asked my dad when we would be going to the Chapel, when will we be going home? His response was always the same, "In God's own time."

God's own time would be ten years, but my father had an unwavering faith. Struggles for me continue to this day as I have bipolar disorder, but I have been blessed with a loving community and the nuns who raised me, as I was two when I went to the orphanage, continue to play an important role in my life.

My Aunt Madeline, who recently passed away, was a true loving support along with my grandma.

All the years that I lived in the orphanage, I never learned why the other children were there. We just knew it was not home.

The nuns, the maids, kitchen staff, social workers, grandparents and volunteers all contributed to my upbringing and for that, I am grateful.

I was informed this is Van Gogh's birthday and he was posthumously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and today, March 30, is bipolar disorder day.

I am grateful I had the opportunity to know my mom as in those days, they didn't really have the best medicines.

I hope others will be inspired to share their personal story by me sharing part of my story. I wrote this in a private section on Facebook that is reserved for the children and staff of the orphanage.

 

 

A Visionary Artist With Many Passions

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BSLL_x6hgKe7XcL5Mg88WslMQs0HCnwT3PpLRgVDMrg/edit?usp=sharing

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview artist, Rick Rose. Please see the article here and comment.

A Visionary Artist With Many Passions

 By Madeleine Graham  

In a home situated just outside the heart of Vernon, Michigan, lives Rick Rose, artist, along with his mate Wendy Durecki. Rose indicated that he has been working on his home for over twenty years, as the house is nearly two hundred years old. 

At one time, his estate was rumored to have a vein of gold discovered by a Native American, but alas it appears that was only a tale as Rose explains, but certainly something for fodder.   A reminder of the past includes original wooden siding that he plans to restore along with making a wine cellar for the wine variety vines they own. Rose’s main passion; however, is producing many works of art. 

 

Rose graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in art. Certainly his father has had a positive influence on Rick, as his dad's love of woodworking also shows a creative flair. At age 8, Rose did a painting of a ship, and his dad knew then his son had a gift.

Rose has dabbled in many mediums including, charcoal, pencil, oils and acrylics. In 2006, palette knife painting in oils was favored by Rose. As a Christmas present for the family, he published his Knife Painting book containing many dogs, fish and other works through lulu.com publisher.

He has produced more than 200 artworks, of which several were commissioned works that people liked and purchased from Rose.

He went through a period of political renderings including painting portraits of Senators Hiliary Clinton, John McCain and former President Barack Obama. He also produced a White House painting.

Additionally, Rose has done some wire sculptures. He worked primarily in oils in his early years and later began to work in acrylic. 

Recently, he began working on landscapes. Rose hopes to create a collection of perhaps 40 or 50 for a solo show. He has dabbled in photoshop and used art filters as well as AI generators. Previously, to capture a particular time of a setting, he used a camera.

Of course, like most artists, Rose has many ideas that he creates in his head using graphite pencils and by using his love of charcoal.

Rose enjoys expressionism and impressionism. Many years ago, he worked with Target Industries in production printing by hand, in which every cover was different while also working in silk screen.

Some of Rose’s passions include scuba diving and swimming. Another is working as a personal trainer though with Covid, that was placed on hold as so many restrictions were being placed on trainers. He earned certificates in training and nutrition. He is particularly pleased with his nutrition endorsement from Wagenigan. Displayed here are a few of Rose’s artworks for critiquing. To see more artwork https://www.instagram.com/rick48476

 

Social Media Reveals Signs of Mental Health

In my opinion, laws need to be enacted so parents can manage a mental health crisis before an incident. Are you aware social media can show an individual's state of mind, but social media cannot be used to get help from the police or mental health workers? I am seeking real input that will effect change. Think of how many times social media gives the first signs of a problem.

Taking A Stand Guitar in Hand

You know, there was a bright side in 2011. I had never performed in public before. No, it was not the best performance as I only finished the song the night before and had to have the words in front of me to perform. 

It was July 3,2011 when I sang; however, my community of the Village of Fowlerville, Michigan had some truly prejudiced people, I am sad to say, and I was somewhat apprehensive about singing. In fact, when President Obama was running for office, someone actually painted on a very long and large piece of wood, which they attached to their home right across from the park where I was to play that "Barack Hussein Obama was the antichrist."

My song, which I no longer have the words to, was an historical statement about what my dad fought for in World War II. I explained that I had black friends, and that the Navajo were heroes in the war because the Nazi's could not figure out the code. My father was in communications. 

Singing for my community in public, was exhilarating. There were three different categories, and I was in the adult group. It was for Hometown Idol. The funny thing was there were only three of us singing that day in the adult category, but I enjoyed the day. I came in second winning a trophy, $25.00 and a t-shirt. A young lady who performed a Taylor Swift song came in first. I was happy for her because I knew her dad and when he was having a tough time with cancer, she was about 5, I took her around the roller rink with me. 

As I mentioned before, my father was a lifelong member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). When I left the orphanage, St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Home for Children, in 1975 and went home, I made many trips to the Veteran's Hospital in Allen Park. 

more to come....

Among the Homeless

I took this photo in Flint Township, Michigan. The tent and buggy belong to a homeless person who is actually comparatively well off. As we come to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, I find myself reflecting on how I became homeless, but thank God not for long. My hope is you will think of this person and their dwelling.

You see, I have mental illness and my fate was sealed by DNA. My parents both had mental illness.  This story will focus on me though it is very convoluted. 

In 2011, I found myself going through a divorce. I never knew how much the monthly mortgage payments were or the electric bills, let alone, the water bill. Let this be a guide for everyone. When you are married, this information needs to be shared. I was working part-time in transitional employment. I had worked part-time all my life substitute teaching in the schools or working for newspapers as a reporter, or other part-time positions. I always had health insurance through my husband. My jobs made it possible for me to be on the kids' schedule. I am glad I could be there for my children.

What I learned; however, is what became a very serious problem by not knowing our finances. I was on the phone with Detroit Edison trying to get the electric bill in my name, believe me, no easy task. The mortgage I simply knew I could not pay, but I was not even aware how much was left to pay. The water bill I paid, along with the phone bill. When I got Detroit Edison straightened out, I paid that as well. I did not attempt to pay the taxes.

I was a member of a clubhouse for mental health (psychosocial rehabilitation facility) in Fowlerville, Michigan, known as Genesis House. This offered me stability. It was there I knew Sunshine (name changed). Sunshine came to my aid when he knew I would be homeless and offered his apartment with a spare room that I could sublet. It was July 2011, when I lost the house. I could not bring my dog or cat with me. My cat had leapt out of my arms, and I never saw her again. I had to put my dog (Goldie) down as I could not bring him to the apartment and he had bit someone in the past, so I knew what the humane society would do. I decided to take Goldie to the vet as I wanted to be there when he was put down.

In November, Sunshine was able to celebrate Thanksgiving with each of his parents as they were divorced. Sunshine,38, had two children. Thanksgiving could be hard for me as I lost my dad around that time. The unspeakable happened when I awoke to a noise. It was Sunshine's left leg, I assumed that had fallen off the bed. I felt his pulse, he was dead.

I called my aunt who was older, and asked her what to do and she said, "do nothing." I actually was overwhelmed and went to bed until I realized, I should call the police. The coroner came and the police. I was grateful I knew where Sunshine kept his address book. The police were able to reach his mom. Prior to Sunshine passing away, I gave him a dresser from my home and all my father's suits. I was pleased when his mom asked me if I thought the suit, she selected would be good. I knew in my heart my dad would be pleased. He was a lifelong member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) serving in WWII.

I was rattled by this time as when July came 2011, I was actually contemplating living in a park. What disheartened me was that Livingston County Community Mental Health was going to allow it. Sunshine had rescued me. Now he was gone.

I may have been able to get a roommate as I had already paid for December, but my brothers not knowing I was working part-time in the school system arranged for me to go to a group home. By December 2012, I felt I had no alternative but to run-away as I was being yelled at by the owner for calling the health department about bed bugs. He was mad because it was costing $6,000.

I will share more of this story when I am ready. Just know there are a lot of talented homeless people out there.

 

 I recently had the opportunity to write for East Village Magazine, while sharing a story about Vista Visions Art Gallery. Here is the following link. https://wp.me/p6Ue43-6UH