Mary's Portfolio

A powerful narrative painting depicting the history of the slave passage to Trinidad through the voices of two calypso performers - the Griot or storyteller

A call to worship by Spiritual Baptists, depicting the rich religious traditions that blend Christian practices with African customs in Caribbean culture

A little Muslim girl fastens her sandals as she leaves a prayer meeting at a mosque. This painting addressed the dialog about immigration and detainment of children at the US border. The painting shows the innocence of a child, who is not responsible and bears no blame for her origins, her religion, or the location of her home.

During a walk on Ocean Beach, San Diego I saw an elderly woman digging in a garbage can for food scraps. She came prepared with gloves and a pair of tongs, she rooted around in discarded food cartons and when she found food, she would toss it out. She was immediately engulfed by an assortment of quarreling birds eager to take part in the feast.

An elderly woman picking callaloo bush to make lunch but she has been interrupted by a phone call. In the background a man works at planting. Callaloo is a thick chowder-like soup made with okra, coconut milk, salted pork or crab and often served with white rice. In Trinidad it is a staple for Sunday lunch.

This painting reflects a memory of my mother who made superb crochet. She often sat on the porch working on something until the sun went down to catch the waning light.

One highlight of the annual Trinidad Carnival is the Panorama steel orchestra, a competition where all steel bands vie for championship. The steel pan was invented in Trinidad, it has multiple musical moods. There are arrangements of classical music to jazz developed specifically for the pan. I have tried to show through color and lighting a jazzy overtone to the composition.

A mother plays with her baby, each delighting in the play of tickling and being tickled.

Beautiful white hostas blooming against a vibrant blue sky, celebrating the natural beauty found in everyday gardens

A vibrant market scene capturing the freshness and authenticity of Caribbean fish vendors, where the catch comes straight from the sea

Traditional Caribbean architecture nestled in lush tropical landscape, representing the warmth and beauty of island living

The Trinidad Carnival masks are derived from many cultures. The Moko Jumbie is one that has its roots in West Africa.

Considered a common weed in Trinidad, Peperomia pellucida grows in clumps, thriving in loose, humid soils. Its local name is Shining Bush probably from its very shiny leaves. Bush Tea comments on how herbal medicine comes from the ways local remedies become the thing of fact. Shining bush is used as an herbal tea for a variety of ailments and conditions.

A stylized ceremonial figure rendered in traditional artistic style, celebrating ancestral heritage and cultural identity.

A luminous floral composition featuring tropical blooms rendered in soft, impressionistic brushstrokes that capture the ethereal beauty of island flowers.

The calypso has African roots in terms of music, structure, and function. Its traditions of improvised songs of self-praise and scorn for others remains in the art form as does the storytelling aspect of the genre. Many years ago, I saw a griot, an African storyteller perform with a shekere (a gourd instrument)- that experience remains with me. Griots in West Africa used them in storytelling. I thought it appropriate to pair the shekere and the calypsonian as griot, and storyteller.