I painted “Breathe Free” as my own personal way to address my frustrations and disappointment over the recent legislation on immigration. I felt there was little I could do to help the state of our country, but I wanted to try.
As a first-generation American, I am grateful for the liberties this country extended to my parents when they arrived as immigrants in the ’60s. Prior to that, the United States welcomed more of my family members who arrived in the early 1900s, fleeing war-torn countries. My life would not be the same were it not for the freedoms given to my entire family. Indeed, life would look very different. It’s hard to imagine. It’s hard to imagine our country halting its tradition of welcoming people of any race or religion who are seeking shelter from the storm of persecution.