Solace
Alania Osborne- Currie Author/ Visual Artist
Trees I think that I shall never see A poem as lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain, Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree. Joyce Kilmer. 1886– 1918
Artist Statement
Art, next to child birth, is one of the closest things to God. To create with our hands and minds is supernatural and a divine gift from The Creator. Joyce Kilmer says it best in her poem, “Trees”, my Grandfather’s favorite. When I create, for that moment I rise above all of the perils and challenges of this life. I am free to see the world through rose colored glasses…holding on to the things that are beautiful -while erasing the pain and sadness. Other times I utilize my work as a means of expression. But most of all, my art is a gift from me to others-with hopes that something I have said or done creates a positive change within them. -Alania Osborne-Currie-
“Gonna Find Me an Angel” sets in North Carolina, and ends in Grambling, Louisiana. Desiree Harris, a young AfricanAmerican woman, escapes her dysfunctional upbringing by achieving a college education and moving away from her family to pursue a career in the fast pace world of record business. After a long roller coaster relationship - she vows never to be hurt again. That suddenly changes when she lands a job at Jam Records only to find herself head over heels for her boss. The extremely handsome Kenta Lafrance sweeps her off her feet. Later things become grim when she returns home to visit her family at Christmas only to learn that the sexual abuse that she escaped is still in full force and tearing her family into pieces. Her brother reveals that he was molested all throughout childhood, and she also learns of her stepfather and teenage sister’s affair- which resulted in pregnancy. Desiree fights to salvage what’s left of her family by revealing their dark and dirty secrets. Her mother has a difficult time accepting it all, but later learns to cope with her codependency issues and takes charge of her house. After working closely together- Pete Gill, Desiree’s co-worker, will stop at nothing to get her for himself. He cleverly spins a vicious web of confusion that ultimately destroys Desiree’s relationship with Kenta- and slyly pits everyone (including his cousin, Antoinette Jean-Batiste- a new hire to the company) against one another. Desiree, struggling to get passed her feelings for Kenta, finds herself in a very compromising position that sends her spiraling into a place she never thought she’d go. She comes face to face with the same “demon” she dreaded in her past relationship, and help comes from who she least expects. Eventually the entire scheme comes to light… and when Kenta thinks that he has the remedy for getting rid of Pete Gill for good- he is definitely mistaken, and Desiree finds her life resting dangerously in Pete’s hands. “Gonna Find Me an Angel” can be purchased at www.iuniverse.com -or your local Barnes and Noble bookstore can place an order for you. The novel sells for $14.95 + Tax. (Shipping and Handling is an additional charge). Get your copy today.
About Alania:
Presently Alania is a Mental Health Therapist in Shreveport, Louisiana. She has been in pursuit of a PhD in Clinical Psychology for the last four years. Many of the ideas in her novel have been generated from her work experiences in the fields of counseling and substance abuse, as well as personal experiences and those of individuals she has come in contact with throughout the years. She has written and illustrated 4 children books and 2 poetry books. She is also a visual artist and the owner of The Little Shanty Folk Art Gallery located at 7102 Line Avenue in Shreveport, Louisiana where she represents her work as well as the work of 25 additional artists. She is the mother of handsome 5 year old, Matthew Currie, and together she and her husband, Robert Currie, work toward building a bright future for their family.
About The Little Shanty:
The Shanty Vision: Folk Art…Folky Atmosphere
As soon as you enter the old rusty gate- the story begins. The Little Shanty is a house of Southern Folk Art that provides it’s patrons with an entire experience of the Deep South and all its distinct treasures. This place was a vision of many yesterdays…It all started long before Alania Currie and her husband, Robert Currie, realized what was even being given to her. As the years have gone by, with each milestone accomplished, each piece of rusty tin hammered onto the Cattle panel fence, and with each mustard seed that was planted- a true Southern fantasy began to unfold. All of the hard work and sweat led to the birth of this extraordinary special place that has come to be known and loved as The Shanty. It is a place that represents all of the themes of Louisiana culture…from having incredible works of art- to being a scenic backdrop for exciting cultural events. The Shanty offers a taste of Creole nostalgia within the boundaries of a metropolitan area. The Shanty evolved from a dilapidated structure to the sweet spirited Shanty where pieces of folk art have come to find a home. The art exemplifies the personal thoughts and ideas of both the artists
who have created them as well as the viewers who come to experience their wonders. “Art is an expression of self… and when I am creating my pieces- I feel I am in the very presence of God himself. There’s no other way for me to possibly give feeling and attitude to a blank piece of canvas other than through a divine source” says artist and gallery owner -Alania Currie. “We’d like to think of the Shanty as our version of the House of the Rising Sun with a positive twist because it welcomes a wide variety of Southern folk art,” says Currie. The Little Shanty provides collectors a unique inventory of art that will add value to their current collections as the artists progress in their careers. This provides collectors an opportunity to acquire artwork at early stages of the artists’ careers. This is also a vital venue for philanthropists who are seeking to support individuals with extraordinary talents. Some buyers are seeking vibrant expressive artwork solely with an aesthetic purpose in mind as decoration for their homes and,etc. The Shanty offers those buyers the added feature of getting to know
about the artist and their source of inspiration for their pieces- which makes the work much more valuable to the buyer. In many cases the buyer will get the opportunity to actually meet and talk with the artist- which heightens the entire experience for the purchaser even more. The Shanty has a tourist base of customers who come here to obtain traditional Louisiana art in raw forms such as: paintings on various surfaces (i.e. skillet and washboard paintings), primitive wooden sculptures, clay-works, handmade jewelry, wearable primitive art, whimsical art, as well as very valuable folk pieces on canvas. A tourist will get a warm experience that they are able to take back to their prospective homes to remember our soulful Southern hospitality and rich Creole culture. Everyone is always welcomed, and we encourage you to help yourself to a coke or lemonade from our
antique “icebox” each and every time you stop in for a visit.
My Art “Blue Heron”
“Swing Low”
“Ta-Ta”
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“ Soul Angel”
“ Mosai-Cock”
“Egghausted”
“Jazz Set”
“Inter-racial”
“My Liberty”
“The Barbershop”
Contact Us: Alania Osborne- Currie 1046 Prospect Street Shreveport, LA 71104 (318) 424-6466H (318) 210-2204C
or Visit Our Gallery The Little Shanty Folk Art Gallery 7102 Line Ave Shreveport, LA 71106 (318) 861-3308 Gallery alaniaos@bellsouth.net www.littlshanty.com