When I first heard the music of Billie Holiday I was in High School. I was in a life model class and the models name was Moyra she wore vintage clothing, had ivory black hair and alizarine crimson lips. She played a tape of the most soulful music I had ever heard. I did not know at the time that the artist was Black just that the entire experience was life altering.. I decided to attend art school, become a professional artist, developed a love for vintage items and kept a place in my heart for Billie. This past summer during the Covid pandemic I spent a lot of time painting and listening to music. I did many of what I called "art therapy" paintings. I felt so much emotion and yet at a loss for direction. When the race riots took place, I was desperate to find a muse. This painting evolved as the juxtaposition of Beauty and Violence. The background of this painting is abstracted scenes of riots and the woman painted intentionally void of much color is Billie. Gershwin’s “Summertime” seemed like the perfect title.