Medium:
Reused Fabric, Dowel Rod, Stuffing, Thread, Dried Flowers, Marker, Poetry, & Embroidery
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Dimensions:
35" x 25" x 2.25"
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Year Completed:
2026
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Description:
Chosen Hugs portrays my neighbor and chosen family member, John — someone whose presence has been a light through some of my profound grief. Over the few years, John has shown me that strength can exist within softness, that being fragile can also mean healing. In moments of panic and darkness, he has offered consistency and a deep, grounding breath, reminding me that going through strife doesn’t have to happen alone.
This illuminated portrait captures the way John’s hugs have become a safe space — a moment where warmth returns, even in the heaviest of times. The work was created like a pillow in order to create an atmosphere of warmth, love, and happiness through the act of being soft. Bright fabrics reflect his gentle energy, while tangled threads, dried flowers, and ink marks within his beard allude to the layered complexities of masculinity and the quiet strength found in tenderness. Torn pages from my poetry books, veiled with black tulle, speak to the grief I’ve carried, while the embroidered word HUG anchors the composition as a symbol of comfort freely given. On the flip side of the piece the viewer can find up-cycled fabric which incorporate hands--just like when someone wraps there arms around you and lay their hands on your back in the act of comforting. 
 
Through painting, textiles, and found materials, Chosen Hugs explores the glow of connection, the safety of chosen family, and the healing warmth that allows us to move through the tough times together.