The Irreverent Widow Project premiere : Silver Crayon Studios, 2007

“I don’t get this whole exhibit thing. Who would even want this?  Why don’t you just write?”    Source of quote:  Ex (the word “ex” being notable) boyfriend.

NO NO NO.  The words aren’t enough!

I’m a visual artist, trained in illustration.  I tell my stories via my ART and my WORDS. The Irreverent Widow Project was conceptualized from the very start as a touring exhibit…a public art project that would provide as many people as possible the opportunity to experience my stories in a way that would allow them to connect, heal and become inspired. The exhibit is it’s core.

I love to make my words really BIG.  It’s my way of shouting at people, without actually raising my blood pressure:  ”Hey you…yes, you!  Wake up!  Don’t you know you could be dead tomorrow?  I’ve seen it happen.  Learn from my loss.  Live your life.  Follow your heart.  Trust yourself.  Dance and sing and stop worrying about what the rest of the world thinks of you. Follow your bliss!”

I am using this project to explore public vs. private grief. My goal is to make you feel, think and question. The way we grieve or express emotion becomes something different in a public setting.  When my words are on the pages of a book…they whisper. When they are towering above you on 8 foot tall panels they do something more.  They say it’s okay to laugh and cry and express emotion in front of a stranger.

We all want to hide in our beds under the duvet and curl up with our little book and cry ourselves to sleep sometimes.  Where no one can hear us. That’s part of the grieving process. Part of human nature.  But the way we truly heal  is when we show our humanity and allow ourselves to connect with others.  To share ourselves and our personal experiences…. to help one another to heal.

I created this exhibit to help me heal from my own loss and to help facilitate that healing within others.   Through art and words…laughter and tears.

Please WRITE TO ME , or call me directly at 617.851.2257.  I may not answer if I am off doing something fascinating and/or irreverent (or if I’m being held hostage by my children)…but I promise to return your call as soon as I possibly can.