Autumn Spoke

2022, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper

42 x 28 inches 

Seasons of inspiration can be deeply sensed, like an internal shift. This artwork materialized during the distinct period—my journey through the long-covid.

It was created within a specific season, and its culmination coincided with the winter solstice, the year’s darkest and shortest day. During months of making—all of autumn to be exact—I found myself under the influence of a steadfast presence: my inner sister-self, a parallel existence within me, my Gemini twin, was there all the while, aiding my progress. Autumn Spoke embodies the narrative of my introspection during this phase where questioning my ability to nurture myself took center stage, a time when merely surviving each day felt like an insurmountable challenge. 

The figure portrayed in the drawing exists on both sides, a mirrored reflection, self-supporting the landscape of her own existence. Her necklace is not completely enclosed, because it doesn’t imprison her, and it doesn’t confine her to mere survival. There is a realm beyond her. The porcelain birds on her necklace symbolize her search for something beyond the present.

On the opposite side, her sister-self wears a ring carrying her hand across in a gesture to support her own shoulder with delicate, porcelain wings. The closeness between the two selves suggests the promise that she’ll find her way, that she’ll gather the strength needed to persevere, to show up for herself. Autumn Spoke encapsulates this transformative journey, an affirmation that within myself lies the capacity to be self-sufficient, resilient, and more than enough to weather my own storms.