It is a beautiful painting that seems at first serene, but as one looks upon it more deeply there is an undercurrent of stress. It is the jacket painting of Gina Neff. The title is “Under Pressure. “ I painted this painting under a deadline. I would be giving it to Gina at the Health Foo gathering in Boston that evening. I painted while listening to an NPR report an ever-widening lock down in Boston. There was a manhunt for the two fugitives who were believed to be behind the Boston Marathon bombing several days before.
Very soon each group set out walking. We were blessed to have 15-year-old Abigail Boone in our group. As her father Keith Boone was willing to let her walk with us while he was in the other group.
We came across the make shift memorial for the fallen MIT officer. As we stood there taking photos, Abigail drew a small picture and laid it as a gift upon the growing mound of flowers. Then we walked away.
This is the painting “The Open Door.”
One walker holds a transgender hula-hoop. A hula-hoop is toy that is only enjoyed while in constant motion. Always recalibrating to keep it up. I thought it a good metaphor for the constant frustrations of the transgender patient seeking medical care and respect.