What is a painting worth? What is the life of the prophet worth who speaks the truth; truth we do not want to hear? We often kill the prophet, because of his message. However, there will be a new generation, who will restore and declare the prophet's right and erect monuments in memory of the dead prophets. I think of Vincent, the dutch painter. A Preacher and painter of life, the suffering servant, who embodies Isaiah's Man of Sorrows. I look at my junk mail. A credit card offer, where I can select Vincent's Starry Night as the optional design. A painting from the window of the asylum. The life of the artist.

Indeed, I see the life of the artist as a prophetic call. Even if I have to face with a crowd, who does not want to listen. But why am I seeking recognition and a value attached to my work? Why am I upset when I walk into the gallery where my work is exhibited and realize that someone replaced my prices with a value tag of one dollar. Does it matter? The gallery owner apologized, stating that some teenager got in and they were playing around.

The one dollar painting. I am searching for meaning. What is a painting worth? Does it really matter? To me painting is almost a bodily function, a wink of the eye, an act of walking, a movement of my cells, etc. It is my words, my way of expressing who I am. What kind of value is attached to it?

I know. We live in a world where our life is in symbiosis with money. We measure most of the things with money. When I describe a painting to a group of adults, talking about the beauty of shapes and colors, they stare at me in great misunderstanding. But if I tell them that this is a painting worth ten million dollars, they are all excited and they are greatly moved by it.

I few months ago, I decided to create a new body of work to support people affected by cancer. I listened to survivors, stories of healing and hope and I created out of the experience, giving shapes and colors to pain, struggle, healing and hope.

I offered a proceed of my exhibit to The Wellness Community that provides free support for people affected by cancer. To be honest, no paintings were sold, so we decided to put up all the works for a silent auction. Well at least we have some one dollar bids on the paintings. What is the meaning behind all this? How should an artist feel about the group of teenagers who marked their one dollar price on the auction list? Someone told me, there is no market for paintings that deal with the subject of cancer. So there is no need for art that deals with issues of life and death?

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