My Original Story

My journey into the world of Art is closely connected with my quaint village of Saligao, Goa. I had always nurtured a wish to clear up the Saligao cemetery of its constant thick undergrowth especially during the monsoon season. After the death of my son Craig, who passed away tragically in his sleep due to an undiagnosed heart ailment in December 2011, this urge grew deeper.

I had begun painting in 2009 to ease the ‘empty nest’ syndrome as both my sons had left home for further studies. Although I was a nurse/midwife by profession, I decided to go back to my childhood hobby of painting. Soon family and friends were my first ‘clients’. I was happy to paint if I covered costs!

In 2012, I decided to use my talent to raise funds for the purpose of cleaning up the cemetery on a regular basis and was helped by Mel De Souza (Saligao/Canada). I replicated his illustrations on canvas like ‘Saligao Foxes’, ‘Feast of Names’ etc and soon these prints were bought from our village people settled in the diaspora.

With a group of dedicated friends, we started a group SHALOME, and began the massive cleanup project, using daily wage labourers. I continued to experiment with paints and developed my style. With sales from my original work, I began adding much to this fund.

Eventually, the village people started contributing themselves and participating. The Church did not have a ‘Cemetery Fund’. It was a policy they followed. So, I would pay for the work done and a donor would then clear the exact amount on the bill. This way it became a community project. Prior written permission was always obtained from the Church Fabrica.

We re landscaped the garden, fitted new pipes, cleaned the water well and well for Bones. We spent on labourers, weedicide, grass cutting etc. We also began creating awareness with our local ward members to help us through their respective small Christian communities. Eventually in 2020, due to the world-wide pandemic of the Corona virus disease, and lockdown that followed, we dismantled our group as we could not venture outdoors. Lack of labourers, other costs, began to skyrocket. The Church restarted the work along with the Small Christian Communities.

I moved on, becoming a full-time professional artist in the process and have had many solo and group exhibitions. I write, document heritage stories through visuals and by chance, I have become a social motivator.
Art has come as a breath of fresh air for it helped me cope with my own health issues I carry, allowing me to live a fulfilling life.

I would like to quote Mexican painter Frida Kahlo…

“I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy to be alive as long as I can paint”

This is true for me too!
 

Making light of a grave situation!

(A few pictures of the cemetery cleanup in these past 3 years)