'Generational Healing'. (2023). 16"x20" acrylic on gallery wrapped heavy duty canvas.

I was intentional with the colors and geometric abstractions I chose because I wanted to incorporate elements of a ladybug opening up to show three bodies coming together in an embrace. Lady bugs represent protection, healing, good fortune, and grace. Rebirth. ✨

I may not be able to control the things that happen for me, the symptoms I experience regarding my mental health, or the behaviors of others — but what I can control is the people I surround myself with, and I don’t know if I would still be here today if it wasn’t for the unwavering love & support from friends, family, and lovers. Community care has played such a significant role in buffering any harm this vessel & mind has endured in this lifetime — and although I could’ve highlighted specific disorders or other elements of healing like self care/love for this show’s theme, I really wanted to highlight a protective factor we don’t often give flowers to. And of course there’s so many obvious individualistic benefits to healing, but I also heal to show a new possibility for my siblings & other generations.

Making the choice to hold myself accountable and heal gives me peace of mind and allows me to engage with who I am— not the trauma that is carried throughout my lineage. Slavery, colonization, war, natural disasters, addictions, poverty, food insecurity, violence & abuse… I don’t want to carry on unresolved grief, anger, isolation, hyper-vigilance, memory loss, nightmares, fear, and emotional numbing. I want more for myself and my bloodline.