Franklin Fernando stays positive after being sent a racist email and photos of his painting being destroyed.
On Tuesday, Fernando woke up to a message with photos of a destroyed painting and racist remarks. The message came from a previously-friendly customer who had purchased Fernando's painting from Creative Manitoba, who had been displaying his work this summer.
do's work but the buyer did not reply to Fernando's invitation to meet for coffee. A couple of months later the buyer sent the photos and a hateful message to Fernando. The Winnipeg-born artist received the message while in Sri Lanka for a family emergency.
Maybe if I could give him a hug that would change his heart.
"Initially I was really angry when I saw the message," Fernando says. "I was ready to be angry myself but for some reason, something held me back."
Fernando says people have been encouraging him to take action against the customer, but Fernando decided to take a different approach. "I don't think his hate would be resolved by putting a person in jail."
"I feel like I should be more forgiving," says Fernando. "Maybe if I could give him a hug that would change his heart."
The artist then reached out, asking him for coffee, in an attempt to connect with the buyer, but has not heard back.
This incident is the first time anyone has attacked Fernando using his art but the artist's positive attitude has not affected.
"Love is natural and hate is too much of a burden to carry," he says.
Fernando's work can be seen through murals such as the Forklarama 50 mural on Notre Dame Street and has had his oil paintings on display across the city.
Fri, May 3, 5:00 PM
Manufacturing, Skilled Trades, Full-time
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