While attending a summer program at Duke, I often found myself studying in the Terrace Café at Duke Gardens. Surrounded by plants of all colors and the peaceful sound of nearby water, I felt an unexpected sense of calmness—even as I prepared a speech on the Syrian refugee crisis for my “Truth and Post-Reconciliation” Duke summer class. The scene was so captivating that when I returned home, I was inspired to paint the café and its surrounding nature.
