Unity + Love

Kamika proudly stands beside her commissioned artwork, displaying a bold and dynamic design, at an event honoring victims in South Bend, Indiana.

The National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims is a day many prefer not to recall, as the memories are frequently painful and traumatic. Yet, it is through remembering that the drive for change can emerge. Mama's Against Violence, a local organization, is dedicated to fostering this change. For their 2021 event, they aimed to make these memories tangible. This led city officials to contact abstract artist Kamika Perry to create a piece that would resonate with those impacted by gun violence. 

Kamika Perry, newly emerged as a public artist, initially doubted her suitability for the role. "As an abstract artist, I employ shapes, color, and texture to symbolize various concepts. However, this was my first experience representing something beyond myself," Mrs. Perry explains.

Despite the challenge, Kamika embarked on a journey to craft something that embodied both her artistic touch and the message.

Captured here is the process of creating the clear resin coat.

Kamika explains that the shapes in the center of the canvas act as the focal point, which is why all the other shapes are connected to them. This symbolizes the concept that experiencing events like gun violence is never an isolated occurrence—it impacts more than just one individual. Initially, the reds might be linked to "violence," but in color psychology, red is actually a color symbolizing the most intense emotions, which we recognize as LOVE.

While National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims originated from sorrow, the most powerful emotion Kamika observed at the event that day was, in fact, LOVE.

Kroc Center - Live Paint 2021

Kamika Perry on stage at the Kroc Center, 2021

"An Evening at the Kroc Center" is an annual virtual fundraiser designed to generate funds to support the Kroc Center's operations and numerous services. Due to the 2020-2021 pandemic, the event was conducted virtually. Kamika Perry was invited to paint live on stage, and the completed artwork was auctioned during a 3-day silent auction from September 23-26th, 2021.

The proceeds from the auction were utilized to sustain the remarkable work carried out by the center. See more below:

Kamika Perry adds a clear resin coat to the live painting, 2021

Art Beat 2021

Kamika Perry accepts the award

Art Beat is one of the oldest art festivals in the South Bend, IN area. Over the years, it has gained popularity, and after the COVID restrictions were lifted, people eagerly returned to outdoor events. In August 2021, Art Beat attracted a record-breaking 20,000 attendees. Kamika Perry decided to take a bold step she had always been hesitant about: showcasing her art collections to the public. Encouraged by her husband, who may or may not have grown weary of the numerous canvases scattered around the garage, she applied to the fine arts juried show at Art Beat 2021.

Kamika Perry posing with the trophy

The only obstacle she faced was herself, and by choosing to overcome it, she mustered the courage to apply. After recently losing her father and learning of her mother's brain cancer diagnosis, her life seemed to be unraveling rapidly. As always, art was her refuge, second only to her faith in Jesus. This was a significant step for her to do alone. But to her astonishment, taking this leap brought an unexpected reward: Kamika returned home with the "Best in Fine Art" award!

Award winners from Art Beat 2021 featured on the Downtown South Bend website, showcasing achievements in Fine Arts, Culinary Arts, Booth Display, and Most Spirited categories.