I learned very early on in my childhood that girls could be mean. Because I was such a tomboy, I was different. I didn’t have much in common with other little girls who cared about their hair, loved to play dress-up, didn’t like bugs, climbing trees, collecting rocks and sticks, or who got their hands dirty……ever! Because of this, I spent much of my time, alone, absorbed in whatever magical adventure, I had crafted. I developed a very keen sense of self, that wasn’t determined by external people or circumstances. I was content to pursue what made me excited about life, for the most part, alone.

 As I entered puberty, I developed an absolute destain for ” girl games”. The relentless competition, gossiping, backbiting, manipulating, and popularity campaigning that came with being part of any girlfriend group. 

There were only a few girls I thought I was safe to laugh, cry and share with, that I opened up enough to confide in and trusted with the most vulnerable parts of my heart.   Sadly, that trust was eventually betrayed, and my evaluation of females, in general, was further tarnished. As a teenager, all my friends were boys that I could just be myself around, with shared interests and without expectations, judgments…. or games!

This is when I started to dive deeper into my interests, in creating, singing, and writing. I had mastered the art of content isolation, where I was emotionally safe and secure. My pursuits brought me joy and fulfillment and that was enough.

While the “girl games”  can continue to creep into adult female relationships, and even though some girls never grow out of the ” mean girl” stage, I have discovered that there is much depth, dimension, capacity, beauty, goodness, and ability to love in ALL women. No matter their interests, talents, or hobbies, the color of their skin, the place of their birth, or the individual circumstances of where their life has taken them. Because I was so quick to say,” I don’t like women”, as a protection mechanism, I missed out on the added richness that could have blessed my life and expanded me as a human being. I missed out on all the best parts of what deep and lasting girlfriend relationships had to offer. 

While I still relish being a tomboy, I have discovered, that women are powerful, compassionate, insightful, intuitive, tenacious, leaders that are essential to a healthy balanced society. What they offer to the world is singular and infinite. It is precious and rare, It is why now I can see good and even greatness in all women.

 I am happy to report that now I have many, deep, and rewarding friendships with women that teach me every day and that make me want to be a better friend, daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. I have discovered that when people ( men or women) are in pain, they inflict pain on others. As I have put forth an effort to find and understand the pain being manifest by those that come into my sphere, it has helped me to heal my own.

This “HER” series is dedicated to every woman who has and ever will live. There are no two alike. Each one has a beautiful and unique singularity. Ironically, at the core of each sculpture, there is a Barbie Doll That represents the societal stereotypes that are placed on women. The beautiful and unique silhouettes that are sculpted on top of that substrate, represent the universal and remarkable characteristics of all women that develop as their true nature is cultured.

The series will continue to be added to until every country in the world is represented by at least one sculpture.

Enjoy