Brian Keith says his inspiration was clear and its arrival long overdue, yet when he looks at the finished form of his latest sculpture, he admits he still worries.

“I always hope that my latest piece will be my best, but when I look at this one I think: how can I tell this story with the appropriate meaning and respect,” said Keith. “How do I show the subtle nuances of innocence and strength?”

The Discovery Bay sculptor is understandably daunted given the serious subject matter – slavery and prostitution – but in his latest work Keith has melded the spirit, resilience and unwavering grace of a segment of India’s most destitute population and created a tribute to the human spirit.

It’s called “Reign of Grace,” a bronze sculpture depicting a young East Indian woman engaged in a childlike dance – lifting with one hand the flowing folds of her skirt as if in mid-twirl while holding in the other a parasol sheltering her from the rain and symbolically moving her into the reign of grace.

“This is woman is dancing in an effort to restore her childhood and her innocence despite all that she has been through,” said Keith of the sculpture. “I tried to capture the essence of her hope, beauty and joy; her transformation into grace.”

Keith’s own journey of grace began five years ago, just after the tsunami struck some of the poorest regions of India. Embarking on a ministry with his brother and sister-in-law’s church in Southern California, and accompanied by his wife Lanisa, Keith’s group was invited to fellowship with a group of women who had been sold into sex slavery and were living as prostitutes in the country’s red-light district. Moved by the plight of women forced into a life of poverty and desperation, Keith’s sister-in-law Shannon founded the International Princess Project, a nonprofit organization working to free these enslaved women and support them on the path to a new life.

“It’s hard for us (in the United States) to believe that the sex-slave trade is real, but it is,” said Keith. “These women are forced into horrific situations not by choice and with no way out. We spoke with many of these women who attended our ministry with their pimps, if you can believe that, and it just tugged at my heart, all of our hearts, to see their situation. ‘Reign of Grace’ is just a small part of the whole movement.”

But it’s a movement with a purpose. With the first of the sculptures nearly complete (there will be a limited edition series of 500 sculptures), Keith will be donating 50 percent of the proceeds back to the International Princess Project. The money will be used to liberate and re-acclimate the women into a safe and productive life.

“While we were there (in 2005) we actually met with the pimps and asked them how much it would cost to buy these women out of slavery,” said Keith. “And their number was $1,000 a person. So we rounded up enough money while we were there to buy 11 women and get them to safety and a facility where they could live and be safe and restore their dignity.

“The problem is that in India, the families of these women don’t always welcome them back, even though they were taken against their will,” said Keith. “So the Princess Project, with the help of other organizations, works to give them the opportunity to make a new life, a new start.”

And one way they are given a new start is through Punjammies. Handmade by women who have been rescued from the slave trade, Punjammies are soft cotton, woven pajamas crafted in bright colors and for sale around the world. All proceeds from the sale of Punjammies are used to support the women who made them.

“It’s understandable that it (the number of enslaved women in India) could be overwhelming if you look at the numbers,” said Keith. “But anytime you can bring awareness of something with a heart of understanding, it makes a difference. If just one person’s life is changed by our help and the help of others, it has been worth it.”

For purchase information on the “Reign of Grace” limited-edition series, call Keith at 925-516-0631. For information on the International Princess Project and Punjammies products, www.intlprincess.org.