My Truth

• Art is for Everybody. Everyone deserves original, authentic, high quality, accessible art in their life. Art is nourishment for our souls and like other nourishment is essential, not a luxury.

• The art I create can only be created by me. The same is true of each of us. I could not create a Picasso, but it is equally true that Picasso could not create a Wanda Oliver. If the art (of whatever form) we each hold within us is not given life, it is lost forever.

• Any community, or society, must honor and celebrate the role of the arts in our lives to be truly healthy, truly whole.

These core beliefs are what drive me. It is important to me to create, to support others in their own creativity, to teach and share, to hold a space within my community for artists to gather and to work, and to use my work to give back to my community.

When I lay down my sword for my final rest, I can only hope that our ancient grandmother, first to dip her hand in ochre and press it against the cave wall, smiles in acknowledgment of my efforts.