From Ashes to Art Shows

“You’ve got an Xbox?” he asked, “OK, let’s go!” I was both a little excited and concerned by how easy the kid was about changing households. After a few more visits, the real purpose was revealed, and he just shrugged it off like it was no big deal. He really did care more about getting an Xbox than the possibility of changing homes for a lifetime. What sort of life had he been through, that this was just the way Life was. How many promises were broken? How many people were called “Mom” and “Dad” before they sent him off...

When I first saw Oscar he was playing a video game (come to think of it, the last time I saw him he was playing a video game too). He just casually said “hi” when his foster dad introduced me. We left him at the game while we went outside to chat. I got the rundown about his family, about his struggles in school and how he’s got a whole team of people working hard to get him on track. I was warned that he was shy at first, especially around strangers, and to not expect much from this trip....

Before the Teen, there was "Tommy." Tommy was around the same age and was just the perfect foster kid. That's because he wasn't real. Tommy was a figment of my imagination. A "placeholder" to hold all my dreams and expectations. "Tommy and I are going to do this" or "we're going to go there" or "Tommy's going to love that!" It was more about preparing myself for the next chapter, even if it wasn't real. Then one day, sitting on my sofa, the social worker got all excited. "There's this boy!" she began. Flipping through her phone she started to...

The last time I was in London was Thanksgiving 2015. The Brits aren’t particularly keen on that holiday, although there were many more American restaurants than there were when I went to school there (things change in 30+ years). After a lovely day at the Tower of London with some friends, we travelled all over the city in search of anything remotely close to a Thanksgiving dinner. Nearly about to give up, we chanced upon a pub that advertised their special Christmas Dinner. Other than Yorkshire Pudding, this dish had it all… turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce… with some very...

I love when children come to my art shows. They stare in wonder as their parents points out "look at the owls!" I hand them one of my Stu Rosen Art pens, exclaiming, " this is a MAGICAL pen!" As they take it I explain, "you'll be able to draw all these wonderful animals yourself!" With a smile and a wink from the parents I go on, "I couldn't draw these animals until I used these pens. Use it very wisely." "What do you say?" "Thank you!" comes the tiny voice. "I hope to see all your animals here next...