Help Help HELP (peacock)

A peacock calls out, its beauty masking a cry for help.

A peacock stands vivid and commanding, its feathers layered in rich blues, greens, and golds that draw the eye immediately. The background carries depth and texture, amplifying the contrast between brilliance and distress. As a child, I remember hearing peacocks cry and thinking they sounded like they were calling “Help, Help, HELP!” Their beauty ensures attention — admiration, fascination, applause. But for children carrying severe emotional trauma, cries for help are rarely met with admiration. This piece was created in support of Intermountain, a nationally accredited nonprofit serving children in Montana. The original painting was auctioned at the Festival of Trees as part of a large avian Christmas installation designed around this work. It speaks to the difference between being seen and being understood — and the urgent need to truly hear distress when it is voiced.