“Growing Peace Down By The River” is a tribute to my family members who migrated to escape religious persecution so they could build peaceful lives for their children. Strong matriarchs have governed our family throughout several generations and this piece honors these feminists who have shaped my life.

Created in December of 2013. Collage #310. Collage of linoleum block prints, woodblock prints, spray paint, and handwritten history notes from my 103 year old cousin Fannie Simonowsky. 22.5” x 30.”

“Another Migration For Wary Wanderers”  is a tribute to my family members who migrated to escape religious persecution so they could build peaceful lives for their children. Strong matriarchs have governed our family throughout several generations and this piece honors these feminists who have shaped my life.

Created in December of 2013. Collage #309. Collage of linoleum block prints, woodblock prints, spray paint, coffee and ink staining, and handwritten history notes from my 103 year old cousin Fannie Simonowsky.22.5” x 30.”

“Stating The Obvious” is a tribute to the writing done by bell hooks in her book “Feminism is for Everybody.” Her definition of feminism as “a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression” remains the most useful framework for working towards gender equality.

Created in January of 2014. Collage #316. Collage of linoleum block prints, woodblock prints, spray paint, and handwritten history notes from my 103 year old cousin Fannie Simonowsky. 22.5” x 30.”

 “Through The Looking Glass Ceiling” explores the trope of the “Manic Pixie Dream Girl.” This film character is typically white, quirky, traditionally feminine, and serves to assist a male character (also typically white) in his quest to discover happiness and success. Much like Alice in Wonderland, she looks at the world with whimsy and naiveté. A glass ceiling hovers darkly above her as she never achieves her own enlightenment or success. This ceiling also prevents her from being the main protagonist and relegates her to being a supporting role. Instead she is presented as a simplistic character solely needing validation through her relationship with the male character. Her trajectory is mitigated by the male protagonist’s desire and journey.

Created in January of 2014. Collage #315. Collage of linoleum block prints, woodblock prints, spray paint, and handwritten history notes from my 103 year old cousin Fannie Simonowsky.. 22.5” x 30.”

“Eve Was From Africa” serves as a counter narrative to an extreme racist discourse aiming to whitewash the ethnicity and cultural diversity of iconic legendary figures. Jesus was a Galilean Jew –defined by contemporary land boundaries, he would be described as Middle Eastern. Saint Nicolas, the man who inspired the Santa Claus myth, was a 4^th Century Greek Bishop of Myra (which is part of modern day Turkey). Geneticists have determined that all living modern humans can be traced back to two people who lived between 100,000 – 200,000 years ago on the continent of Africa. Our original mother, referred to as “Mitochondrial Eve,” was what we would today describe as a woman of color. While evidence demonstrates all of these people had dark skin, these figures are currently portrayed in the mainstream culture as light skinned, thus promoting white supremacy. This demonstrates purposeful and institutional racism within the religious and secular realms of our society. Such choices display a purposeful ignorance of the reality that all humans belong to one singular human race, as well as a diminishment of the important diverse cultural heritage of the myths and legends we find solace in. In this piece flora and fauna surround “Eve” as she sews the fabric of a quilt meant to represent the beautiful diversity of our cultural ancestry.

Created in January 2014. Collage #314. Collage of linoleum block prints, woodblock prints, spray paint, coffee and ink staining, and handwritten history notes from my 103 year old cousin Fannie Simonowsky. 22.5” x 30.”

“The Four Elements Converging at the Soul of the Universe.” This collage represents an other- worldly creature or God who signifies creation. This gender- neutral creature represents the forces that bind all of us together, and the combining of the four main elements which we find useful in life on earth.

Created in December of 2013. Collage #307. Collage of linoleum block prints, woodblock prints, spray paint, coffee and ink staining, and handwritten history notes from my 103 year old cousin Fannie Simonowsky. 22.5” x 30.”