This specific mural at The Art Docks features our daughter, Lola, who is a Texas native, wearing a traditional Korean inspired dress. A tiger painted in folk Korean art style, is wrapped around her and Native American patterns surround her. This mural is the bridging of two families, multiple cultures and ultimately reflects the people of our country. My husband, Shay Haas, is a mix of different ethnic backgrounds including Cherokee, and I am Korean born in Hawaii. Our family's joining is more than just culture, it includes the merging of our values, ethics, and sense of security, home and love. Maybe someone passing by will stop at our mural and take in the different elements, perhaps some familiar, some brand new. I hope that they see beauty in the mix and can feel the love. 

Painting a giant figure was the anchor to this piece. Choosing to paint Lola was an easy decision as she is so pretty and who doesn’t like painting beautiful people? Korean folk art called “minhwa” was painted by the everyday people back in Old Korea. Instead of the classical literati painting at the time which was only available for the rich, “minhwa” became the commoner’s version, and a movement in itself.  The tiger is the national animal of Korea and the peach, which is on Lola’s head, represents longevity. I emphasize the femininity with it linking femininity with longevity, creating the divine feminine.  The triangles in Native American culture represents cosmic order, the three realms and sacred geometry.  And finally, the dress was loosely based off of a Korean Shaman outfit. Korean shamans were usually women and were highly oppressed back in the day, however a lot of Koreans rich culture and rituals have shamanistic roots, and I think it’s important to preserve a lot of those teachings. 

This is the largest mural we’ve done to date, so the size was definitely challenging but a fun challenge!

If someone were to see this mural ten years from now, I would want them to appreciate and feel the love put in to it!