Growing up in rural France allowed me to appreciate all aspects of nature. Then moving to a medium-sized city to study, we were taught about the World's various cultures, national and regionals, and the diversity of inhabitants in appearances. When I turned 18, I moved to London to study and work various hotel jobs to finance my 2 years stay. In London, I realized (in 1968-1969) that some of the cultures I had studied were represented in the London city and suburbs. This was an eye opener that triggered my curiosity about other cultures. Moving forward, I made sure I got jobs that allowed me to discover many cultures while traveling.

I agree with this quote from Colman Domingo in Essence Magazine "That’s when I discovered that artistic expression does not care how much money you have or where you live. It’s all around us in many different forms and spaces. Art offers a pathway to see yourself and others while learning, transforming, and healing"

Over the last 5 decades, I have visited a large number of Museums in many countries to inhale Art diversity and learn about the Artists and their background.
Art is a unifier and Art education is an extraordinary tool to help erase Racism and other forms of social injustice that may have been instilled in our minds by judgemental members in our families, religions, or politics.

I have supported the Arts when I could especially encouraging unknown talented Artists to believe in themselves and remain free to create. When I lived in Boston, I got involved with the Boston Arts Academy; an extraordinary school that prepares its students for life, with an artistic, open minded vision about others no matter if their future will include a career in the Artistic field or not. Art heals! Gerard