"Buttons"
20"x24"
acrylic on canvas

Alice Walker's Pulitzer prize winning book, "A Color Purple", has been censored and banned for sexual content, violence and racism. 

Dana Ellyn's painting, "Buttons", was inspired by a moment in the book where Shug helps Celie discover her sexuality.  She encourages Celie to familiarize herself with her body and learn how to push her own 'buttons'.  The red and purple color scheme of the painting is also symbolic. Shug tells Celie that "God does little things for people, like creating the color purple, just to make people happy and give them pleasure in their lives".  The flowers on the wallpaper are a reminder to take time to smell the roses.