Patricia Brintle
Companions
8"x 8"Canvas Print
$95
When I was invited to participate in this project, “companionship” quickly captured my attention. I was taken to a particular day at my church when shawls were being blessed. Each was different; they were created by a group of ladies who prayed over each shawl as it was being made. These “prayer shawls” were destined for people with various illnesses. The hope was that as they wore the soft, cuddly shawls, they would be helped into feeling calm, secure, and safe should they become worried or nervous. The Haitian earthquake of 2010 highlighted a need for mental health recovery and healing—a subject that was stigmatized in Haiti in the past. Now, anxiety and depression are recognized and treated as commonly as any other health condition. My artwork shows two women in a lush Haitian setting, companions for each other, tied together in a healing shawl. They gaze at each other with an unspoken bond; hearts as one, comfort, security, familiarity… companionship.
The works of self-taught Haitian-American Patricia Brintle are vibrant and remind the viewer of Haiti. Brintle’s rich culture serves as her creative muse, inspiring her to capture her homeland’s story through artwork. Some paintings are infused with complex symbolism that seems simple at first glance, but which reveals itself on further examination. She favours bright, vivid colours as she explores the universality of human emotions in her work. Many of her works address complex issues such as nuclear disarmament, the Holocaust, and the Haitian earthquake of 2010; many are religious in nature and explore sensitive subjects. Several are featured in movies and grace the covers of books and magazines. Brintle is an inductee in the 1804 List of Haitian-American Changemakers.