The Border Women

Background

I started The Border Women project in 2018 as a visual prayer for women around the world who courageously cross borders — borders between nations, borders at home, borders of self-limitation — often at great personal risk.

My goal was simple: put a face on my invisible sisters whose stories were not being told but were pressing to be heard.

I asked myself, what borders would I be willing to cross for a better life? To support my children? To run from danger? What borders have I crossed to advocate for myself? My people? My communities?

WHAT BORDERS HAVE YOU CROSSED?

… was the only prompt I gave a few friends and studio mates when I invited them to collaborate on the mural with me.

Then I set out a supply of throwaway cardboard, recycled jewelry, and old make-up and watched the project come to life.

Since then I’ve hosted tables at Black Lives Matter events, at Toya Fernadez’ Hype2Breathe event for juvenile justice, at The Woman’s Club, in the arts community, and at my kitchen table.

Today we have more than 170 portraits and a growing demand from community groups to participate. It’s a peaceful and powerful approach to raising awareness and building relationships across differences.