"Sisters By My Side"
Oil Pastel on Canvas
24"x28"
Original image courtesy of Jen Q.
Upon first seeing the original image, I just fell in love. It had to be included in my new series. I loved everyone's hands helping the baby. I deliberated about whether to include her husband in the image or to just change him to a woman. It seemed it didn't flow with my theme of women teaching/helping women and girls. But then I realized that the women are helping the men, too. Surely the midwives were directing the husband where to put his hands, how to comfort his wife, and how to support her. And in a picture like this (and others I have) some husbands are integral to the birth process. I know mine was. Men in our country especially need to learn a better view of women's bodies as more than just objects of lust that sell cigarettes and beer well. And we have to teach them. We are life giving forces, that partake in God's creative story by bringing forth and nourishing life. In one word: beautiful.
