Painting: Oil on Canvas, 80 by 60 inches

April Waters (USA), November 30, 2009

I met Malalai Joya when she was being interviewed by Amy Goodman at the Democracy Now Studio in New York. I had just painted a portrait of "Peace Mom", Cindy Sheehan, to protest the Iraq war and to share the cause for peace from a mother's point of view. I was so fortunate to meet Malalai and have the opportunity to paint her portrait to help tell the story of the Afghan Woman's struggle to survive amidst war and oppression. Malalai inspires so many by her courage to teach girls to read, provide them medical care, speak out for women's rights and her fierce truth telling. My hope is that all the women of Afghanistan and the world will have equal rights, quality education and a healthy environment to thrive in.

The river in the painting represents clean free water for all and the sleeping boy in the mother's arms represents the possibility of a better future, the hope that young men will be educated to respect women and values of truth, justice and peace.

The show that this portrait will be in this year also includes portraits of Dr. Vandana Shiva, Amy Goodman, Dr. Wangari Maathai, Dr. Helen Caldicott and Cindy Sheehan, all peace and environmental activists. Each of them lead the way for global justice, whether it be for keeping water clean and in the "commons", equal rights and a safety for women, speaking truth to power, and creating a more peaceful world.

The painting will be on display at The Rogers Performing Art Center at Willamette University, Salem, Oregon, USA from Feb. 21 to May 16, 2010. The price is $20,000 and $10,000 will be donated to the peace and environmental work of each woman.