In June of 2020 after spending 45 days alone (apart from my kids partner), I spent 8 hours painting a mural with 30 ER Doctors who had been treating COVID patients in the early days of the pandemic. In the previous weeks I’d zoomed with the doctors on several occasions to plan the message of community care they wanted to share with the world. I’d spent hours and hours drawing the design (which follows the way care is passed between a string of 4 people- allowing them to better show up for one another). For several evenings in a row, I stayed up long past bedtimes prepping the mural panels, paint, and supplies.
The feeling of being in community with these doctors painting, and transforming the dilapidated boarded up windows of Zuni cafe in San Francisco, was a feeling of pure elation. I wrote more about it here.
2 months later the mural was tagged and I spent an additional 8 hours repainting the it with the Zuni restaurant dishwashers and staff who volunteered to help. It was an unexpected day filled with connection and humanity that will long stay with me. Read more here)
The entire process of the mural was enveloped with care. After many requests, I finally took the mural design, tweaked it, and turned it into a print and cards which are now available for order.
It’s not easy to care in 2023.
It’s not easy financially to care. Caring is expensive.
It’s not easy logistically to care. Caring takes time.
It not easy emotionally to stand fiercely or quietly next to the person aging, or struggling, or just trying to exist in the world against all odds. It’s not easy to hold the pain and loss of those far away close to your heart and go about your day.
So here’s to showing up for one another. Here’s to caring despite all the other things to do. May these images inspire you to spread care far and wide and appreciate others doing the same.
Be well all,
Jen
p.s. If you’re in the Bay Area this weekend- come check out the Radici Studios booth at the Telegraph Holiday Street Fair and say hello!
p.p.s. My shop will be quiet December 22nd-January 5th (meaning orders after the 22nd will not be sent out until January 8th) so get orders in soon.
p.p.s Show care by continuing to call for a Ceasefire. I like the 5 calls app as it takes me 3 minutes a day and directs me to all the phone numbers I need.
p.p.p.s. I changed the title of the piece from How We Care Shapes Who We Are —> to The Care We Give Shapes Who We Become- because I love tweaking my old designs- what do you think of the new title? I love hearing your feedback