In Watermelons Are Not Strawberries, I portray my inner transformation and pursuit of self-awareness while navigating the challenges related to parenting. The black and white photographs blend conceptual and documentary photography that reveals the shapes and shadows of my love for motherhood as it merges with a lifetime of my personal anxiety.

Over six years, the work grew into a story of resilience, hope, and mutual support between my children and me. In this creative process, I found the strength to heal old wounds by examining universal feelings such as sadness, happiness, and love.

My two daughters were challenged with severe food allergies and learning differences in their early years. In helping them cope with their adversities, i was forced to delve into my dark places to confront the deeply entrenched fear, shame, and guilt that stem from my then-undiagnosed dyslexia.

I didn't want my girls to feel the constant neurotic need to fit into the social norms, as I did my whole life. So, we established our own “normal” way to live our lives, creating a sense of complicity and empathy among each other, building a stronger relationship.

While I was advocating for my daughters, I learned how to advocate for myself. While I was trying to understand them, I deeply understood myself.

PRINTS FROM WATERMELONS ARE NOT STRAWBERRIES ARE AVAILABLE IN TWO SIZES:

13 x 19 inch (33 x 48 cm) | ed. 7 + 2ap | archival pigment print

24 x 36 inch (61 x 91 cm) | ed. 7 + 2ap | archival pigment print

PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING FINE ART PRINTS.

THIS SERIES HAS BEEN SHOWN ON:

Solo Exhibition

2022

- Watermelons Are Not Strawberries - Concept Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA (Sept 10th - Oct.15th)

Two Person Exhibition

2020

- Disability Visibility - Irene Carlson Gallery of Photography, Curated by Shannon Benine. University of La Verne, CA (Apr. 03 - May 15)

Selected Group Exhibition

2021

- “Anthropology of Motherhood” - McDonough Museum of Art, curated by Amy Bowman-McElhone and Fran Flaherty

- “Creation | Creativity, a show about mothers” - Front Room Gallery, curated by Stephen Mallon, New York, NY, 2021 (May 1 - July 31)

2020

- Anthropology of Motherhood - Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival and Carlow University, co-curated by Fran Flaherty and Amy Bowman-McElhone, and curatorial assistant by Katie Winter, Pittsburgh, PA (Oct. 19 - Jan. 29/2020)

- Paraty em Foco 2020 - 16th International Photography Festival, Paraty, RJ, Brazil

- Mastermind: Accessibility - Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media. Juried by Pittsburgh Emerging Art Leaders network. Pittsburgh, PA

2019

- Com os olhos no Céu da Coca – Centro cultural Correios, curated by Sheila Oliveira, São Paulo, BR

- 25th Annual Juried Exhibition - Griffin Museum of Photography, Juried by Julie Grahame, Winchester, MA

- Intentional Spaces - Photo Place Gallery, juried by Laura Moya, Middlebury, VT

- Dive In - Don't Take Pictures, Juried by Kat Kiernan, online

- The curated fridge - spring 2019, Juried by Ashly Stohl and David Carol, Boston, MA

2017

- Stories - PH21 Gallery, Juried by Zsolt Bátori, Juror’s choice, Budapest, HU

- Surreal Photography exhibition – The Passaporte, Juried by Sarah Sudhoff, Honorable Mention, (online)

- Black/White - A Smith Gallery, Juried by Elizabeth Avedon, Johnson City, TX

- 35th Annual Juried Membership Exhibition - Houston Center for Photography, Juried by Rebecca Senf, Houston, TX

- Black + White - The Center for Fine Art Photography, Juried by Ann M. Jastrab, Fort Collins, CO;

- She – A Smith Gallery, Juried by Kat Kiernan, Johnson City, TX