Marianna
Pathways commissioned Marianna to paint a scene for our Pathways to Wine Silent Auction that reflected what Pathways meant to her.
Her Story:
Marianna studies Fine Arts at Nipissing University. When working on canvas, she likes to use an intuitive approach where symbolism and the use of color play important roles in the overall presentation of her pieces. Her paintings are very expressive and often reflect her life experiences, as well as social issues.
“Pathways” reflects Marianna’s experiences living in a residential group home facility for at risk and homeless youth, ran by the organization Pathways. The theme of this painting is community and the importance of social work. The earth displays a map of Canada and is the universal symbol of multiculturalism, peace and harmony. The map is meant to reflect a bird’s eye view of Canada, as if the viewer is looking down at a lighted land from a plane in the night’s sky. These lights, accompanied by a series of outlined roads (or pathways) symbolize a nation’s ability to prevent social issues that directly effect at risk and homeless youth, as every lighted household has the ability to make a difference in their community.
The boldly and expressive use of stars in this painting symbolize that every individual has an important mark to make in the universe and that it is a communal effort to ensure that every citizen has the chance to become a successful contribution to their community. The subtly painted stars on the right side of the planet resemble finger prints, reinforcing the presence of individuality as well as the different cultural and childhood experiences that affect a person’s life. The splashes of stars also closely resemble snow as it drifts peacefully below to the neighborhood scene in the foreground of the painting. The presence of the closely situated neighborhood reinforces the theme of community and the importance of being active in the effort to protect at risk and homeless youth in the attempt to see them become successful,
self-sufficient members of society. There are only a few lights on in the homes of the neighborhood, which reflects how Pathways makes a conscious effort to protect at risk and homeless youth in a vulnerable and impressionable point in their lives.
