this season

It’s hard to know where to begin. The season we’re in is one of the hardest we’ve experienced as a family. Besides what the whole world is dealing with, a deadly pandemic. Besides the tragedies of our country with racial injustice and political disunity. Besides our marriage and our personal struggles. This season is uniquely difficult as we’re navigating finding help for out three and a half year old with special needs.

I had a vision for an abstract collection of art. I had even begun a few pieces, but I was wrestling with how the collection fit in with the rest of my body of work. I couldn’t understand it’s clear story. There was a missing piece to the puzzle. As I tossed and turned in a hospital bed during a sleep study for my boy, it finally hit me. Teddy was the missing piece. His heart, his mind, his story, his struggles, his HANDS.

The “season” I’m in, at least the aspect of it that I’m referring to, is my exploration of him. Teddy is a sweet, playful, cuddly, brilliant little boy. But, there are significant moments he’s hard to see. Who he is becomes clouded by his inability to process sensory stimulus the same way most of the rest of us to. This results in meltdown. In shut down. In no sleep. At times in violence. But even when we can’t connect with him, we know he’s there. He’s struggling, but he’s there.

Together, we’re creating a calming collection of mixed media pieces. Exploring the different mediums through his eyes has been beautiful. Playing together, charcoal in hand, with his intense creativity at my side, there is truly nothing like it. This collection is full of more emotion than I can put into words, but you’ll see it for yourself in every piece February 10, 2021.