In many ways, this piece is a testament to the women who have made me who I am. Growing up, I was raised by four women from vastly different cultures, church traditions, and artistic styles who were united by their common sisterhood in Christ. Their love for Jesus and one another allowed the diversity of their worldviews to spur one another on in their faith and art; in turn, that diversity formed me.

For this piece, I asked each of them to recreate part of a childhood photo of me in their preferred medium, and I finished it by embroidering “her hands shaped my heart” in Hebrew, Swedish, German, and Spanish, representing each woman’s heart language. Every believer has spiritual family who have guided them in their walk with God; every artist has mentors who have influenced their work. Suzi, Cheryl, Sue, and my mom have been mine.