The Light of Freedom

In times of great crises, when our core beliefs are challenged by a vile and faceless foe, and our hearts are burdened by tragedy that seems too great to bear, it is incumbent on each of us to proclaim our pride and our faith in the most emphatic terms.

This is what I have attempted to do in "The Lights of Freedom".  Like all Americans, I watched the horrors of September 11 in shocked disbelief, feeling that the very foundations of my world were shattered with those monumental towers.  Then I turned once again to my faith in God, my love of my fellow man, and my pride in America and what we stand for.  I was determined to create my own image of inspiration to answer the destruction all around.

I secluded myself in my studio for days following the attack, working around the clock with a fervor I have never before felt, and emerged, exhausted, with "The Light of Freedom".  In my painting the three most definitive symbols of our national freedom - the proud golden eagle, the glorious banner of stars and stripes, and the majestic Statue of Liberty are linked together before a proudly lit New York City Skyline.  The billowy clouds in the heavens remind us that despite our challenges, God surely has shed His grace on this land.

~Thomas Kinkade