‘I’m a mature lady with three adult children and seven grandchildren. I have been a company director, which enabled me to travel extensively for my business. My relationship with Jesus Christ has carried me forward to where I am today. My homelessness crisis came about because of a very acrimonious divorce and separation, whereby I was locked out of my home and belongings. At 59 years of age, I had to move from friends, family and shared accommodation for four years. This was an almost catastrophic life-changing wrench, one of which I thought would never happen to me, as do so many other women, young and old…
– Victoria Blessed
- Title: A journey to Reclaim Myself
- Artist: Victoria
- Year: 2024
- Medium: Acrylic, stencils, crochet and mixed media on canvas
I divided my canvas into three sections, the top section representing my earlier life as a child and as a young mum raising my family. As my thoughts evolved, I decided to write ‘life is like a box of chocolates..,’ hailing the turmoil and tumultuous times ahead; and because we truly do not know what lies ahead of us. So the middle section depicts these years when I felt tossed and tangled amongst the waves of ups and downs in my life, the constant moving from place to place, and the legal challenges I was facing. The bottom section, with flowers and butterflies, family and fun is a reflection of my newfound freedoms to go out, enjoy and explore all that life now offers me, since I no longer have to worry about housing security and keeping a roof over my head. The central golden stream signifies the column of strength and support that I found in my relationship with family, friends and Jesus. It is this that enabled me to keep walking forward on the days when I felt I could not go on.
Creating my piece of artwork was a way I could convey the importance of safe, secure housing for all women who have come upon very hard times. During the weeks I spent developing this project and seeing it come to fruition, I have felt a wonderful sense of accomplishment, that has also ignited a creative spark in me. My prayer is that all women are treated with dignity, love and compassion; and will never have to experience years of darkness and extreme hardship, because they have been made homeless. Thank you for engaging in this Unseen Project and let us all be advocates for women.’
– Victoria Blessed