The Full Story
About
"My Half Orange" has been my nickname since aged nine, a name for myself to remember the incident that took place during an classroom luncheon. Inside my lunchbox, my mom prepared my favorite orange for me - peeled and whole. I anticipated that nobody would take away my food as I stepped out to wash my hands. I swear. I was only away for two minutes. I immediately discovered that half of my orange was stolen by this girl classmate sitting four feet away from me. No one dared to talk to this girl who talked to no one but herself. I was not sure where I suddenly got this courage to walk up in front of her, carrying my remaining half orange. I didn't know what I would do until I saw the dirt on her face, and her desk missing a lunchbox. I suddenly remembered hearing story about her dad lost a job. Right away, I gave her my remaining half orange for her lunch. She looked so ha
It was an ordinary lunch time in the classroom, where everyone opened up their lunch boxes at the same time, displaying
"My Half Orange"
"My Half Orange" is my childhood story and reminds myself to be pure and kind no matter how much was taken from or given to me. I especially need this reminder during this chapter of my life. If you have seen me and my crooked fingers, you may have noticed that I have lost more than half an orange. My name is Catherine Chan. I was born in Hong Kong and raised in Toronto. I inherited my father’s crafty hands for architectural model building, paper crafting and leatherworking. Yet, my crafty hands hit a big stonewall in 2016 when a sudden medical condition permanently disabled my fingers to have any strength. My legs then followed the same fate. I have since taken the backseat in life coping with my new body and trying to revitalize my spirit and soul. Although this detour has put my ability, endurance, patience and self-confidence into serious testing, it has also taken me to new art forms: Chinese Calligraphy and Acrylic Painting. I'm thankful that my fingers can hold a paintbrush, allowing painting to become my sanctuary where I can turn off my brain and quietly communicate with my heart and emotions. I hope my viewers find strength and peace through my paintings, and sense my laughter, tears and struggles underneath each paint stroke.
"My Half Orange" is my childhood story and reminds myself to be pure and kind no matter how much was taken from or given to me. I especially need this reminder during this chapter of my life. If you have seen me and my crooked fingers, you may have noticed that I have lost more than half an orange. My name is Catherine Chan. I was born in Hong Kong and raised in Toronto. I inherited my father’s crafty hands for architectural model building, paper crafting and leatherworking. Yet, my crafty