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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 8, No. 42
Innocence, strength in bronze by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Brian Keith
Brian Keith’s latest sculpture, “Reign of Grace,” depicts the plight of Indian women who have been sold into India’s sex-slave trade.
Brian Keith says his inspiration was clear and its arrival long overdue, yet when he looks at the finished form of his latest sculpture, he admits he still worries. “I always hope that my latest piece will be my best, but when I look at this one I think: how can I tell this story with the appropriate meaning and respect,” said Keith. “How do I show the subtle nuances of innocence and strength?” The Discovery Bay sculptor is understandably daunted given the serious subject matter – slavery and prostitution – but in his latest work Keith has melded the spirit, resilience and unwavering grace of a segment of India’s most destitute population and created a tribute to the human spirit. It’s called “Reign of Grace,” a bronze sculpture depicting a young East Indian woman engaged in a childlike dance – lifting with one hand the flowing folds of her skirt as if in mid-twirl while holding in the other a parasol sheltering her from the rain and symbolically moving her into the reign of grace. “This is woman is dancing in an effort to restore her childhood and her innocence despite all that she has been through,” said Keith of the sculpture. “I tried to capture the essence of her hope, beauty and joy; her
transformation into grace.” Keith’s own journey of grace began five years ago, just after the tsunami struck some of the poorest regions of India. Embarking on a ministry with his brother and sister-inlaw’s church in Southern California, and accompanied by his wife Lanisa, Keith’s group was invited to fellowship with a group of women who had been sold into sex slavery and were living as prostitutes in the country’s red-light district. Moved by the plight of women forced into a life of poverty and desperation, Keith’s sister-in-law Shannon founded the International Princess Project, a nonprofit organization working to free these enslaved women and support them on the path to a new life. “It’s hard for us (in the United States) to believe that the sex-slave trade is real, but it is,” said Keith. “These women are forced into horrific situations not by choice and with no way out. We spoke with many of these women who attended our ministry with their pimps, if you can believe that, and it just tugged at my heart, all of our hearts, to see their situation. ‘Reign of Grace’ is just a small part of the whole movement.” But it’s a movement with a purpose. With the first of the sculptures nearly complete (there will be a limited edition series of
by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Eight candidates have applied for a seat on the Byron-BrentwoodKnightsen Cemetery Board, a usually inconspicuous position that has become a political football. The cemetery board application process was reopened last month when it was discovered the position had not been properly advertised by the office of the clerk of the Board of Supervisors. By the time the filing period ended this week, eight candidates had applied for the position: Patrick McHenry, D. Bailey Neff, Robin Pastor, David Piepho, John Quinn, Vickey Rinehart, Johnny Staton and Mar-
Online Now!
see Cemetery page 22A
www.thepress.net Your Hometown Web Site
October 15, 2010
This Week Low-key leadership
The Byron school district’s new superintendent is a master of quiet motivation. Page 8A
Voices for good choice When their families provide structure, kids are less likely to join gangs. Page 3A
Gridiron set to sizzle
see Bronze page 22A
Eight apply for cemetery board seat tin Young. Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor had applied for the seat but withdrew after discovering there would be a conflict of interest between the cemetery board and his city seat. The controversy over the empty cemetery board seat began last month when David Piepho, husband of Supervisor Mary Piepho, applied for the seat along with Brentwood resident Quinn. Piepho currently serves on the county’s powerful Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which oversees land boundaries and annexation issues. Piepho also sits on the Discovery Bay Community
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The BVAL football championship is at stake as local teams head into the home stretch. Page 1B
Plus:
Photo by Ruth Roberts
Eight residents have applied for a seat on the ByronBrentwood-Knightsen Cemetery District board. The appointment will eventually be decided by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.
Canine casket
go to news/WebExtras! One of life’s tragedies is that we sometimes outlive our best friends.
Bucks for buyers go to news/press releases
Meritage Homes’ 25th anniversary bash puts $25K in the pockets of 25 homebuyers.
Business .............................21A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 16B Cop Logs ............................17A Entertainment ................. 10B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Milestones ........................ 14B Opinion ..............................16A Outdoors ............................. 6A Sports ................................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Flea market
go to multimedia/videos The Brentwood Lions Club raised money for high school scholarships.