Sheros: Portraits by April Waters

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself”
Joseph Campbell

This exhibit, by artist April Waters, consists of six large-scale portraits of larger-than-life women. The paintings of Vandana Shiva, Wangari Maathai, Malalai Joya, Helen Caldicott, Amy Goodman and Maude Barlow are of women who have bravely raised the flame for humanitarian and environmental justice. They have taken a stand to protect people and/or resources. Most of the women have made contributions to the equitable sharing and protection of clean water.
Over a five-year period, April Waters traveled throughout the US to meet each woman and study their work. Friends of the artist who traveled to India, Africa, and Afghanistan brought back stories and images that were woven into these works.
Waters’ major work has focused on rivers, creeks, and oceans. Like strong rivers that converge and flow together to bring life to the world, these women move our world toward greater justice, peace, and a more equitable sharing of nature's resources.
Waters holds a BFA degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder and did further study at the Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles, UCLA and California State University, Fullerton. She has been featured in numerous one person and group exhibitions over the past twenty years including a one person show in the office of Oregon’s Governor. Her work is included in public and private collections throughout the United States and Mexico including Oregon State University in Corvallis, Salem Hospital, Mt. Angel Abbey, among many others.