T-shirt Spotlights

I’m privileged to share with you some of the wisdom that has come out of the brilliant minds I’ve collaborated with on See Me Bearing. Take a look at the way that Shyana, Danielle, Juweria, Keira, Angelica, Dora, and Jocelyn have chosen to express childbearing.

“IT’S LIKE A LOTUS AT NIGHT” Shyana’s direct yet layered symbol harnesses an ancient image, while a very unique and indomitable spirit blazes through. Her symbol has opened before my eyes an explicit playbook for resilience. When I feel frustration, inadequacy and despair, I know to stay tender, keep my heart close to the beauty around me, and keep going.

“IT’S LIKE A PATCHED JACKET” Danielle’s original and conceptually deep symbol tells a story that resonates intellectually, spiritually and practically for me. It has helped me open up to what artmaking needs to look like now, as a parent, hiccups and mess and all—weaving my daughter into my practice moment by moment, stitch by stitch.

“IT’S LIKE A QUEEN BEE AND HER HONEYCOMB” Juweria’s thoughtful and joyful symbol conveys a really empowering and inspiring message. It has helped me view myself as one small part of a whole network, to lean on others for support more than I’m normally comfortable with, and to truly appreciate the strength my family gives me.

“IT’S LIKE BITING A LEMON” Keira’s unexpected and profound symbol conveys an arresting idea that will really stick with you. It has brought me a sense of solidarity and belonging as I face my anxiety throughout the artmaking process; some days my spirit may ‘pucker’ in fear, but now I can truly see that this is part of a rich and beautiful life.

“IT’S LIKE A PET TURTLE” Angelica’s creative and poignant symbol has so many layers from daily life to ancient mythology. It has given me the courage in tense moments to take deep breaths, to be patient with the artmaking process, to relinquish control of each little moment, and to rest in the big picture of why I want to do this work.

“IT’S LIKE A MORIR Y VIVIR PLANT” Dora’s elegant and complex symbol is such a sweet and firm teacher from nature itself. Sometimes I don’t even want to step away from the canvases for lunch, but her symbol has helped me to understand that tending to my needs—food, rest, time with loved ones—makes the whole thing worthwhile.

“IT’S LIKE A POURED COCONUT’ Jocelyn’s intuitive yet rigorous symbol operates on a level of poetic imagery. It has completely changed the way I see the challenges of mothering while trying to juggle “my own” project—sometimes my bandwidth can feel drained, but I’ve been able to surrender to the fruitful magic of this, rather than just feeling pulled in a million directions.