About

When asked about my rationale for expressing myself through art, my usual answer includes a reference to the book entitled, I Know Why the Cagebird Sings, by Maya Angelou. I was inspired so much that I rediscovered that my life, my dreams, and aspirations are boundless and without time limitations. My vexed spirit was nurtured by news of national and international, senseless exploitation, death, and imprisonment of young men of color. I was ripe for a remedy to soothe my disquieted spirit. My calling had led me to preach a gospel of love, forgiveness, and tolerance all within a reality that promoted violence and retribution. In my meanderings, I remembered my maternal grandmother, Mary Magdalene Givens, whose bedtime stories had long ago taught and comforted me and served to ease my young and anxious spirit. Often, she warmed and comforted me as I rested on the small of her back. She quietly, but resolutely poured her fabulous stories into my awaiting spirit. My grandmother was so adept at storytelling that I can still respond to memories of vivid, colorful, and relevant descriptions of her own lived experiences. From those stories, I learned that often beauty, stories, art, and everything in life can be the genesis of transformation and healing for troubled spirits, such as mine had been. The desire to create transformation in others, as my grandmother had so ably provided for me, came through art. It was from my grandma’s hands that I received inspiration. It was from grandma’s hands that I named my enterprise, “Savannah Dare.”

           With each created canvas, I hope to impart and inspire a story, a visual narrative, a small part of my experiences, feelings, or at the very least, a small reminder that as you observe my work, you join me in my journey. As you observe any canvas, my hope is that it will speak to you in a pleasant and comforting way and inspire you to unleash your own written or visual expression of yourself.

           It has occurred to me that each of us, created in the image of God, can likewise create, and express that creative energy in works of art, poetry, story, or verse. I named my business, Savannah Dare, LLC, to express my firm belief that by overcoming fear, we can each dare believe in our abilities to make life a wee bit better for ourselves and others. If I can discover a new expressive self in my golden years, Seventy-four and counting, then others can too. Yet, it is not me, but the Christ within that has blessed me to try to bless you. My pen name is Savannah. If I can dare to reach beyond my apprehensions, fears, and doubts, what are you waiting to do?