Petals

This annual event raises awareness of domestic abuse through survivor stories interpreted by local artists, and features live performances, art, and community connection.

“Petals” is a visual narrative reflecting the delicate journey of endurance in the face of trauma. Based on the concept of being “planted not buried”, this acrylic and gouache painting on raw linen portrays a concept that emerged during my own personal healing work – a visualization that came during a painful time of a beautiful flower carelessly being trampled underfoot. Yet I realized that in spite of this, seeds remained and became planted in the earth. The painting embodies a spirit of survival, framing trauma not as an ending, but as a beginning – a planting that allows for new growth and roots to form. This piece serves not just as a tribute to those who have faced domestic violence, but as a display of hope and perseverance—out of something painful can come something beautiful. And it’s often that the dots connect in the end—when you see you were being planted and not buried all along.