Barbara Pope, a local artist and
member of the Ottawa Baha’i Community, was profiled in a recent issue
of Capital
Woman magazine. Barbara is a visual artist who works with
vibrant tones in watercolours and ink. She is also a photographer and a
published poet.
In an inspiring profile for the magazine’s “Ordinary Women,
Extraordinary Lives” feature, Sherri Yazdani interviewed Barbara and
they talked about the connections between her art, her spiritual
journey and her struggles with cancer.
A series of health problems in
her 20s caused Barbara to reflect on her
life and increased her desire to “engage in meaningful activities, to
effect change” and to embark upon “a spiritual search.” The article
explained that in joining the Baha’i community, Barbara found the
wealth of living “in the act of sacrifice, and in service to others.”
She has used her art to support the work of local organizations such as
Harmony House and the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) of Ottawa.
Despite the fact that Barbara has faced four distinct bouts of cancer,
she does not self-identify as a “cancer survivor.” As she states in the
article, “I’m living, just as you are. Surviving connotes the continued
carrying of a burden. I like to travel a little lighter.” You can read
this inspiring profile in its entirety here.
