On Mother’s Day, Stand up for Choices.
Mother’s Day is complicated, for complicated reasons.
For Volume 3 of our Mother’s Day Project, we explore another classic Mother’s Day trope: brunch!
At brunch, everyone wants eggs their way (scrambled or fried, over easy, poached, on ice in Alabama) just like everyone wants control over their own body and the right to make their own decisions about their health. .
As in previous years, all proceeds from this project will be split between Reproductive Health Impact (formerly NBEC) which envisions a world where Black communities can achieve their full potential for reproductive health, wellbeing, safety, and joy, and Planned Parenthood, which ensures all people have access to the care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures.
My 8 year old son and I collaborated on the theme and artwork this year, and I’m tickled that he did the product copy on his own.
Mother's Day Projects
In 2022, I started the Mother’s Day Project.
In 2019, after the death of my daughter, I realized how complicated and painful Mother’s Day is for so many people…people trying for a baby, people who’ve lost pregnancies, babies, children, mothers, those that have complicated relationships with mothers, going through IVF or adoption processes, wanted to have kids but didn’t, uncertain about kids, birthing people who aren’t mothers, as women all over the world fight to not complete unwanted pregnancies, and while women of color are more likely to die while pre and post natal.
I wanted to try to make it a more positive day for others, and less triggering for me, by doing something positive to support people’s reproductive rights and choices.
Below are our past projects.
In 2023, my son and I designed these floral pieces for our Mother’s Day Project Vol. 2.
Poppies appear in Superblooms after rain in California. In our family, poppies and Superblooms symbolize hope and the beauty of all life’s experiences. Calendulas are a symbol of endurance, joy, rememberance and grief. Calendulas can also be used to induce a menstrual period. We raised $2779.62 in 2023.
In 2022, I made handmade pearl and vintage bead necklaces for the first Mother’s Day Project. Pearls are oysters way of dealing with a trauma….they make something beautiful out of it. In the same way, I started trying to make this day more positive for more people.
The necklaces were “modeled” (without permission but with respect) by images by Cindy Sherman, Annie Lebowitz, Deana Lawson, Rineke Dijstra, Yoko Ono, Yayoi Kusama, Jordan Casteel, Frida Kahlo and other Greats.
