In anticipation of an art exhibition, I wrote a short story about each painting, as if written by the person in the painting. These are all real people, and the stories are based on experience, observation, and representative/factual information typical of someone from that region/profession. Some of these paintings are still available, so if you are interested in purchasing one, please contact me.
Every week I take my basket of vegetables to sell at a small market outside of Kampong Phuk. I look forward to this time, when I can gossip with my other friends who also spread out their goods to sell. It helps me forget, at least for a little while, all the terrible things I saw and experienced as a young woman when the Khmer Rouge extended their reign of terror over my homeland. It is nice to see smiles once again on the faces of children, who can play games and go to school instead of slaving away and seeing loved ones being killed. The money I make from my little garden isn’t much, but it’s enough for me to buy rice, fish, and a little oil. Today my sales were even better, enough for me to buy some chicken and even a Hello Kitty pouch for my granddaughter. I am happy again.
See more artworks on www.melissaenderle.com.
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