Artist's Statement

I chose Anne Frank and Malala Yousafzai for my inspiration for "Strong Voices." Anne Frank's voice is heard in the diary she left behind when she and her family were discovered in hiding by the Nazis. She wrote about the persecution and prejudice they encountered which led to them going into hiding. Anne also described her hopes and dreams as a teenager. Her voice, through her diary, lives on; read by many generations. Malala Yousafzai raises her voice today to speak out against the education bans imposed by the Taliban on girls in Pakistan. She survived being shot in the head for speaking out. Malala became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate. She continues to raise her voice against the prejudice the Taliban impose on women.