Black Joe

Acrylic and Chalk on Canvas

2023

My dad was known in the community as "Black Joe." He had such a positive outlook on life and was incredibly patient. There are lessons he taught me that I’m still making sense of as I get older and come to truly understand the meaning of life. A couple of his favorite sayings were: “Everything happens for a reason” and “Every disappointment is a blessing in disguise.” As I grow, I see more and more of the depth in those words. I made this piece soon after he passed, as I was trying to process my grief. He had such a bright spirit and an infectious laugh. He was our glue.

I miss having him around, but I know the experiences I pursue and the goals I achieve are in his honor. He raised me to be a motivated individual who always found a way to see things through with grit and determination. In many ways, this website wouldn’t have been possible without his lessons. He taught me to embrace every challenge and view it as an opportunity to practice and grow. I honestly didn’t know how I was going to pull this website off, but I did. And I thank him for that. May he continue to rest in peace and watch over his children and grandchildren.