Courage Network

by Lyn Twyman

Tamara Ramos is a creative who is using her talent to raise awareness.  She is a professional photographic artist  who uses her gift to talk about and inspire others on a wide range of social issues and topics.  She will be hosting a fund raiser for Woman  Space, a non-profit in Trenton, NJ serving  the women and families impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault.  This fund raiser also marks the launch of her photography service that she has chosen to name Euphemia Photography.

What drives Tamara to support this cause is not just a love for photography and artistic creativity, but a chance to help other women and victims of domestic violence.  What also drives her is the memory of a strong and courageous woman who was tragically killed as a result of domestic violence, her own grandmother who was also named Euphemia.  Tamara never met her grandmother but was always told by family members that she looks just like her, causing some to weep when they see her because of the striking similarity.  Tamara never understood the reason for this deep display of sadness until one day, one of Tamara's aunts finally sat her down and told her about what caused her grandmother to die at such an early age.

Tamara's father grew up in Puerto Rico, one of 13 siblings born to Euphemia and her husband.  Tamara's father had a natural gift for painting; he was an artist.  He painted whatever he could but not without fear from his physically and sexually abusive, alcoholic father, a man who was of the cultural belief that men who painted or did any kind of work attributed to women must be gay and needed to do more manly things like labor  jobs.  So Tamara's grandfather would beat her dad and throw hot grease on him,  and he would also beat Euphemia  until she decided to hide the works of art so they wouldn't be discovered by her husband. 

Tamara's father continued painting in secret and whenever he was in school he let his creativity unleash.

One day one of his teachers was so impressed by his work that she sent a letter home to his family to commend the 14 year old's talent.  His father however, received the letter in the mail and in a drunken rage walked to his son's school, dragged the young man out of his classroom by the hair and arms, letting his shoeless feet  scrape and become bloodied by the dirt and gravel, until they reached home.  He was then severely beaten and then the rage shifted to Euphemia.  Her own husband violently beat her to death.

The police did nothing to the man whose hands had snuffed out the life of his precious wife.  They were unable to determine that he had actually killed her but more than likely  they simply  chose to ignore what at the time was considered a private family matter.  The children lived in silence and fear with the knowledge of the atrocious, abhorrent act their  father had committed.  Tamara's father gave up painting and one by one they left home as the years passed by, all bearing the nightmare of how their mother, Euphemia, had spent her last breath.

After Tamara heard this tragic recollection from her aunt she was terribly saddened but also became more aware of things that had happened in past years.  One of those was finally realizing where her artistic talent came from and another was why she was naturally passionate about those who suffered abuse and other social issues.  She immediately could feel her grandmother's presence surrounding her.

Tamara was later encouraged by her husband who had been around her photographic atristry for years to consider starting her own business.  Tamara had thought about it but had focused mostly on the shear love she had for photographic art.  He said she should name her business Euphemia Photography, after her grandmother.  Then, with a recommendation from another person she was told to hold a fundraiser for Woman Space as a launch event.  Once Tamara learned more about Woman Space, it all began to make perfect sense.

So Tamara will be joined by local fellow artists at this spectacular occasion to support a cause that serves abused women and also to realize several dreams, a dream to share her creative vision with the world, a dream to have her own business and a dream of a grandmother who gave her very life because she believed in the natural gift that was bestowed on a 14 year old young man, that would transcend to a beautiful young woman who would bear her image years later.

Special Guest artists

Kasso

Art has always been a huge part of my life. Growing up in inner city Trenton, art was an escape from many of the negative images that plagued my community. Seeing many of my friends fall victim to the streets, art become my peer and best friend. It was my way of expressing myself without being involved in the drama of the streets. As I matured, my work began to be more introspective. I lean more toward subject matter that involves my family and the way I grew up. Since the birth of my daughter, many of my pieces center on women and children. My current body of work is basically a visually diary from childhood to adulthood and everything in-between. I use my past to create pieces that focus on my present. In doing so, hopefully I will discover my future. Peace.

Han Koon Ooi

Han Koon Ooi, an artist that cultivates motivation and encouragement from his creativity, especially through his photography. His various cultural backgrounds have brought him to experience the richness of the art arena. Born and raised in Malaysia of Chinese heritage, he holds two bachelor degrees in architecture, an associate degree in radiography, and speaks 4 major languages. He also choreographs and performs Malaysian cultural dances and is a professional flower designer. He became interested in photography a little over a decade ago when taking photographs related to architecture, hard landscapes and soft landscapes. His photography has evolved into floral themes due to his passion of Mother Nature’s beauty; the vibrant color of flowers, the greenish of forest, and the crystal clean blue water. He has said that a flower is like a woman; beautiful, sexy, nurturing, sensitive, patient and full of life. To capture a beautiful flower in a photo is like celebrating a woman’s life. He always said, “Nothing is impossible, unless once make it impossible.”

	For more information about this event, click here. All photography is owned by their perspective artists.  All rights reserved.