Dare to Love: a study of trauma and resilience

Artist Statement:

Trauma is very complex, so much that we only have scientific theories of understanding how it affects children and adults. As an artist, I am attempting to bring a visual perspective of complex trauma. Through art, I hope to facilitate a deeper understanding of abuse, addiction, mental health, resilience, and foster care experiences that will lead to meaningful conversations and community awareness. To achieve this, I must embody transparency and vulnerability, giving the viewer insight into confidential documents, memories, and personal stories of traumatic experiences. I examine two worlds, one I experienced and another that was extensively documented by others. I explore subjects with an array of questions to reach a deep level of understanding that I am hoping could be transferable to the viewer. My audience is invited to interact with my pieces not only visually but philosophically; to be informed and gain awareness on an array of subjects or experiences. My art relies on hope as a navigator to create compelling imagery encompassing clues and messages telling a story of pain and resilience through abstract words, vivid colors, and overarching symbols.

Artist Bio:

Juba is a self-taught artist and graphic designer from Dallas, Texas. His journey with art started in his early teenage years sketching cartoons. After graduating high school, he became interested in pursuing a career in graphic design and took some courses in art and graphics communication. Juba began to explore using both skills to create and draw abstract portraits and figures. His art techniques and subjects quickly changed after taking a child development course, which influenced him to take a closer look at cognitive development in children and his childhood trauma. Juba grew up in the foster care system. “The canvas has been a haven to extract those difficult memories. I needed to face some of the atrocities that I had experienced and art was a gateway. I see this type of vulnerability as hope, not only for myself but for others too.” Juba took on abstract expression as a means to explore and see trauma and resilience visually.

Juba received a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Social Work and now works with children in foster care who have experienced some of the same traumas as him. “Advocacy can be transferable in everything you do, even in visual arts.” It is Juba’s goal to be a voice in visual art while exploring these subjects in hopes to create individual and community awareness.