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"Together We Rise" - A Painting, A Mystery, and a First Showing!

Together We Rise, Oil Painting by Kathy Lindert, 18"x24"

The Painting: The scene depicted in “Together We Rise” first caught my eye during the Women’s March because of the sign citing the poem by Maya Angelou, which has been a favorite since my youth.   Spending 500+ hours over 9 months painting this scene brought an even deeper connection to the scene.  I found myself captivated by the interaction of each individual portrait with the collective experience of the group and the painting as a whole.  Indirect painting methods allowed for a meaningful process of building up the nuanced layers of each person, their mixed emotions, and the almost mystical experience we shared that day.  Coincidentally, I completed the painting the weekend of October 27-28, while listening to the live streaming of speeches at the Women's March Convention.  It was so moving to reflect on the powerful messages of the Convention and the March itself just as I was laying on the final brush strokes in the painting.  

The Mystery:  After so many months of painting, connecting with the real people behind the portraits and hearing about their memories of the March would be quite meaningful.  As such, help searching for the “muses” would be very welcome!  Please message me if you recognize any of the main characters in “Together We Rise” – or if you can help identify the creator of the sign “But Still Like Dust We Rise, who was wearing a green jacket, but remained elusively hidden in the hundreds of photos I took that day.   Positive ID with verified photos from the March will get them a free Fine Art Print of the painting, digitally reproduced by the amazing professionals at Old Town Editions in Alexandria, Virginia! 

And the First Showing:  Please come see the first showing of the final painting “Together We Rise” in person in Studio 8 at Artists & Makers Studios for our monthly “First Friday” exhibits on December 1, from 6-9 pm at 11810 Parklawn Drive, Rockville MD 20852.   Bring your own “March Stories” to share – or just come enjoy the art!