TRIGGER WARNING! 

Today my girl turns 21
And as much as I want
To post the chronology
Of her from infancy,
I am honoring
Both her wish
And her accomplishment:
The completion of the first
And largest component
Of the sculpture
She has been creating
For over two years

“But I Misunderstood:
[6 houses and a porch]”
Is part of an ongoing piece
That includes much more
Called “Gratified Bulimia”

The structures you see
In these images
Are made of a porch 
And six two-story houses
(Most of them damaged
by fire)

She tore each one down
By herself
By hand
With a crowbar
Every inch 
Of what you see
Has been touched
Reconfigured
Destroyed
Rebuilt

While she battled
Local criticism 
And her own inner demons,
Traumatic memories
Manifested as anger
And disappointment
At her body’s unwillingness
To meet her idea
Of the perfect sculpture

“Nevertheless she persisted”
With a dogged spirit
Protecting her art
(At times at the expense
of her spirit)

She loves this small town
Where she creates
But it has not always 
Loved her back
It, too, is a place 
Of disappointment
Run rampant
Turned inward
On itself
Neighbor against neighbor
“We don’t neighbor well here”
Someone said

In a brighter moment
My daughter smiled 
And said
“I have invited 
The question
‘What is Art?’
Into the ‘Ville. 
Who knew?!
Art 101.”

This whole project
Reminds me of an line
We hear in parenting:
Having a child means 
“Forever to have your heart
Walking around outside your body”*

When I photograph her work
This is how I feel—
The size and scope
Intensity of subject
Vulnerability of voice
Labor of heart
Integrity, bravery, strength
All packed into her little body

I could go on—
I cherish her
I admire her
I am in awe of her
I fear for her
I love her

Godspeed into adulthood, little bird
I hope you are seen,
Heard, and received
Even a fraction
Of the amount
That you perceive,
Express, and pour
Into this troubled world

(And I hope you see
hear, receive 
and love yourself
even a fraction 
of the amount
that I do)

~ your mama

* quote attributed to Elizabeth Stone