After the Umpqua shooting last month, I was feeling very depressed, feeling voiceless and helpless. It then occurred to me that I have a voice with my paintings, and I belong to a talented group of women painters and challenged them to paint the theme of "gun" for this month. It understandably was not embraced fully by everyone, but some felt it was important and were glad for the opportunity to say something through their art. The loss of life, innocence, and peace is impacting us all, and we must take time to examine our values, individually, and as a society.
