This piece explores the concept of gender roles. We often live in binaries in our society. It helps to organize the complexity of our identities. As a child, I was told I could be “pink” or “blue” — a boy or girl.
I was taught that kissing girls was “shameful”. I quite literally kissed a girl in my closet as a child. As a pansexual woman, I firmly believe in the importance of embracing the expansiveness of our beings. This means looking beyond the binaries — removing judgment. This piece illustrates the liberatory power of embracing your sexuality without shame.
This piece speaks to my childhood, and to evoke these memories, I intuitively painted with my hands—intentionally limiting myself to using blue and pink acrylic paints. While painting within the confines of these colors, I allowed my body to experience the expansiveness of transforming the feeling of constraint into a sense of freedom.
While we often live in complex times that do not provide a safe space for folks to exist, there is a power in cultivating this freedom within your own body. When the world feels unsafe, there can always be safety within—in the slowing of your breath, a hand on your heart, or the simple strength of feeling your feet in the soil.
*18% of the profits from this piece will be donated to the Lambert House, a Seattle organization dedicated to helping at-risk lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.
sarah@artisportal.com
This piece explores the concept of gender roles. We often live in binaries in our society. It helps to organize the complexity of our identities. As a child, I was told I could be “pink” or “blue” — a boy or girl.
I was taught that kissing girls was “shameful”. I quite literally kissed a girl in my closet as a child. As a pansexual woman, I firmly believe in the importance of embracing the expansiveness of our beings. This means looking beyond the binaries — removing judgment. This piece illustrates the liberatory power of embracing your sexuality without shame.
This piece speaks to my childhood, and to evoke these memories, I intuitively painted with my hands—intentionally limiting myself to using blue and pink acrylic paints. While painting within the confines of these colors, I allowed my body to experience the expansiveness of transforming the feeling of constraint into a sense of freedom.
While we often live in complex times that do not provide a safe space for folks to exist, there is a power in cultivating this freedom within your own body. When the world feels unsafe, there can always be safety within—in the slowing of your breath, a hand on your heart, or the simple strength of feeling your feet in the soil.
*18% of the profits from this piece will be donated to the Lambert House, a Seattle organization dedicated to helping at-risk lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.
sarah@artisportal.com