As many of you might know, my oldest daughter was diagnosed in July 2022 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was just 4 years old. Needless to say, this diagnosis has impacted our family in so many different ways. For me, it has been my worst fear realized. I've lost many close family members to cancer and it has always terrified me, so to hear those words in the emergency room was absolutely surreal. There are full chunks of time that are completely blocked from my memory as my brain has tried to keep me "safe."
Because of this, I've used my art practice to capture feelings, emotions, and experiences in order to help myself cope throughout this experience. This new body of work has been in process for over a year and is not fully complete. I will be adding pieces as our journey continues and I hope that they move you the way they have moved me.
The first part of this collection will be released on February 1, 2024. All pieces will be available for purchase on my website, jenareif.com. Additionally, each day I will be featuring a single piece and the inspiration behind it here on my blog. I hope that they resonate with you and if you are going through something similar, know that you are not alone.
Comments