Copper, Steel
43" x 33.5"
At some point in my life I looked in the mirror and all I saw was exhaustion. I recognized that I had been showing up for everyone except myself. For so many years I had tried to be perfect and failed time and time again. Wear designer, watch what I said, dilute who I was to make it palatable for others. I did it until I couldn’t any longer. The mascara ran, the heels hurt, and I couldn’t sit still. I was a dandelion growing among the roses. Overlooked and out of place. So I decided to grow my own way. I strengthened my roots of who I was and allowed myself to let go of everything that held me back. I no longer looked in the mirror and saw someone else. I saw me, blooming into something I recognized, something I admired.

This piece helped me take a look at what has created me. A dandelion, one of the more overlooked flowers except for the few that cherish it. The first and last food for our pollinators. The earth mover for when the soil is too compact for more delicate roots. The celebration of misfit, the misunderstood, the unassumingly strong.

Created by hand without computer assistance or colored paint.