Not So Delicate Flowers
Mixed Media Painting on Museum Grade Canvas
20” x 20” x 2.25”
2026

Artist Statement for Women’s Hall of Fame:

This image is silent, though filled with voices. A thick crowd had amassed on that cold, windy day in 2018. We didn’t feel unsafe. We listened to speakers who delivered warnings of what would come if we gave up the fight. Someone asked to take our photo, and a few hours later, we learned that we had become the faces of National Geographic for the Women’s March.

We exercised the empowerment of our triad, utilized our rights to speak up against hate, and with the help of a friendly stranger, our message made its way to southern Haiti within hours.

Our signs were shaped with intention, and filled with love to remind those who saw them that above all, we can live our lives without identifiers - except family. We represent what love look like, no matter where we were born, no matter what our language is. We don’t look like one another, and we find that to be beautiful. We laugh together. We argue together. We work together, lending more hands to lighten the load. This piece is a reminder to dare to hope. To look fear in the eye and conquer hatred.

We have seen what fear and hatred can do - tear people and things apart. Love and hope can do so much more.

We give our thanks to photographer Lynne Johnson for providing the rights to use her image, though this painting is an original of my own creation, and differs greatly Lynne Johnson's work. Please look into Lynne's incredible work on IG: @ljohnphoto