Lisette

EYE OF THE TIGER:I am a free and gentle flower growing wild. An inquisitive mind who enjoys the journey called life with the ups and downs, highs and lows always going with the flow leaving my foot prints behind one step at the time. I like to feel the feel and keep it real because anybody can make things complicated but in the end it takes a genius to keep it simple. I grew up in Surinam a small country in South America with hopes and dreams of becoming an actress after my first stage performance in a Christmas school play and going to the movies as a past time activity, but some where along the way that process was derailed by the many games that people play. In 1975 a series of events led to the collapse of the social order in Surinam which displaced me to the Netherlands 5 years later. Over there it was a different ball game and things got very complicated, before I knew it I was caught up in the ultimate struggle for survival. Going against the grain I stood my ground against all odds and survived the avalanche of hurdles and barriers blocking my steps, thanks to the music of Phil Collins, Sting, Tina Tuner because it was feeding my soul. Inspired by my daughter I resumed my love for activity and creativity and got into the world of fashion. Fascinated by the works of many European designers I attended the private fashion Academy Vogue in Amsterdam to study fashion design and illustration, with the focus of establishing myself as a designer/illustrator. During this period I was introduced to the whole world of fine arts. Inspired by painters such as Pablo Picasso and Henry Matisse I developed a great love for color and form as well as a passion for everything having to do with movement, freedom and expression. The 1987 Def-Jam soul songs tour in Amsterdam with Tashan’s Chasin’ a Dream live on earth rocked my world. It was the catalyst for me to break free from the social confinement and politricks that was squeezing the life out of me. This chance encounter forever changed my life. It was a rendezvous with my destiny and it taught me a valuable lesson: stay true to you, hold on, and never give up because dreams come true all in Gods time. When I moved to New York in 1988 I worked as designer-colorist for different companies and as a stylist for Audrey Smaltz and learned many other things on the way which turned on my entrepreneurial spirit to start selling my own hand-made goods. In the 90’s I came at the cross-roads where I had to make a choice between career and motherhood. I choose the one thing that I am most proud of being a creator, mother and nurturer. I went back to Amsterdam in the summer of 1992 but to my surprise I was right back where I started. This time I didn’t think twice but took the bull by the horn as I had learned from beating the streets of New York and took things all the way up to the highest echelons of power challenging the attacks on my person and right to self determination. Around this time I got involved in the political landscape and started painting. I came back to New York in 1999 and became very active in the community as a socio-political commentator in cyberspace and on the ground. I participated in numerous Art Exhibits and had many of my letters to the Editor published in The Journal News and the Martinelli Publications. I recently incorporated LENI Enterprises to put my talents back on the market. The battle is not over but I am alive and I keep it pushin’, going for glory my way!
Tashan - "Save The Family"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R44LNDPi5io

FAMILY:That's What Life Is All About.