Colors of Compassion by Bhavna Misra – is the collection of paintings that the artist created over the years.

For a while, Bhavna has been exploring the subject of compassion and ways to apply her artistic contribution to cultivate it across the community. Her inclination, however, was not always focused around this subject. In fact, her art-career began as a portraitist where she painted oil portraits for a living.

A steady stream of commissioned portraits occupied most of her studio practice but she had this nagging feeling of not really making a difference beyond delighting the smaller circle of people she painted. She wanted to extend her artistic support towards the causes that were close to her heart – wildlife conservation, a war-free planet, education for all, compassionate inclusive community, and a better future for our children. This led to a journey of self-exploration towards the work that would be a mix of expression towards the issues that demanded the need for action. One of them was climate change.

Climate change turned out to be more than a troubling issue, it is an unavoidable necessity. Climate change or global warming today is taking place at least ten times faster than it did at the end of the last ice age, and at the end of those glaciations that preceded it, as per the award-winning book Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert. In the context of climate variation, human activities are the main reason to affect the climate and the saddest part is that it is “largely irreversible”. As much as this offers a depressing picture there is still hope. But it calls for serious effort because the window of opportunity is rapidly closing.

Bhavna knew she had to dedicate her efforts to raise awareness towards this issue. Upon further research, she linked a direct connection between this and compassionate lifestyle. A compassion towards nature, wildlife, and eco-system that sustains it all, needs a joint action. A collective effort in the direction of understanding the urgency and necessity to act.

It’s about time we slowed down; develop empathy and make necessary changes so as to show our appreciation and respect towards generosity of mother nature. Let’s do what we still can. This green blue planet is home to all of us. Let’s be more conscious and proactive towards a collective effort to save our home.

Bhavna hopes through her work she can bring a meaningful conversation to the table. We have enormous task ahead of us and we might feel discouraged having a tiny voice but compassion has the welcoming warmth to connect everyone. When we all come together, it is certain to make a dent.

She worked on a series “Circle of Compassion that was selected to be displayed on Muni buses for the year 2019 – 2020.

Bhavna has since steered her artistic energy towards the compassion themed landscape work. Her body of work developed into “Local Scenes” – landscapes of the region covering valleys, mountains, deserts, and coasts. A selected part of this series has been accepted by Olive Hyde Art Gallery and will be on display during the month of February and March.

Show Dates are Feb 22 to Mar 21, 2020

Opening Reception will be held on Friday, February 28, 2020 (7 – 9pm)

Address: Olive Hyde Art Gallery, 123 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539

Contact (510) 791-4357 (gallery) or (510) 862 4169 (artist)

The exhibition is free and open to public. Kids are welcome.

Hours are Thursday through Sunday, Noon – 5pm

 

Please plan to attend it. It will be an honor to see you there!