"'Til death do us part” is a vow millions of us have whole-heartedly pledged. I spoke my vows on August 23, 2003. After more than 10 years and two children together, our marriage was dead, but I survived. No one tells you what to do with all the artifacts documenting those years together. Those artifacts, even smells, mercilessly take you back to your past, always without your permission. When I get there, I see that girl, my former self. In the beginning, and sometimes still, I want to slap her, shake her, and scream to her, “Wake up! Don’t you see the red flags? Stand up for yourself! What are you doing?”. I do my very best to remind myself that she did the best she could do. Based on what she knew and believed about life and people, she made all the right decisions, there are no regrets. I place my hand over my heart and whisper, “She was brave. She is a fighter. She got me here.”

My work fuses my artifacts including wedding photos, dress, and even divorce documents to create a visualization of my journey. The twelve photos layered on top show my engagement ring and the twelve words that summarize the terrain I’ve traveled: Disconnect, Unseen, Unloved, Despair, Ashes, Courage, Strength, Phoenix, Vulnerability, Safety, Whole-Hearted, and Thrive.