This portrait is of my 9 year old daughter. At her age, she delights in the wonder and beauty of her body, and I do too. But when I think of the future of her body, all I can see is the darkness that surrounds her. She is an indigenous female, and the prevalence of violence and sexual abuse against native women is outrageously high. As a woman, I don’t want her to relive my experiences. And as a mother, I don’t see progress being made on this issue and so raising daughters is scary. I can’t protect them from every experience and sexual abuse and violence almost feel inevitable. There is a silent epidemic in the U.S. and Canada of missing and murdered indigenous women. It feels like no one is paying attention. Even though these issues are so prevalent in my mind as I raise her, this child of mine is confident and strong, and this portrait is a call to action so that we can hope for a better future for our daughters, so that more people will be the light in the darkness.

Please consider watching the video I created about this portrait. It is a piece of artwork all on it’s own.

Exhibitions:

September 1-4. 2022 “Boom” Focus Art Fair Invitational, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris France

March 30 - April 30, 2022 ”Rebellion” Invitational @ Gallery Azur, Madrid, Spain

May 28- July 1, 2021 “Up Close and Personal” Juried Exhibition: The Art Effect Poukeepsie, New York

February 28th -May 30, 2021 “Faces and Figures” National Juried Exhibition, Flagler County Art League, Flagler County, Florida

January 28, - March 5, 2021 “Staying Connected” National Juried Exhibition, Art Center Sarasota,  Sarasota, Florida

January 22- May 5, 2021 Invitational, "Kromatic@Art International Exhibition" M.A.D.S Milano Gallery Milan, Italy

Sept. 10 - 12th, 2021 Invitational Exhibition,“International Contemporary Art Fair: Art3 Paris Expo Paris, France

Fabric and Thread

33”H, 39”W

2020