Stitched Up, Texas Blues: A Call for Stories & Portraits

I am seeking participants to contribute to an art project titled Stitched Up, Texas Blues, a mixed-media series exploring the intersections of reproductive rights and religious trauma in Texas. The project uses cyanotype photography, embroidery, and layered imagery to reflect on the ways bodies, particularly those of women and marginalized genders, are politicized, controlled, and sanctified in the name of religion and often tradition.

If you have experienced the impacts of religious environments, reproductive legislation, or the tension between bodily autonomy and faith, your voice matters. Contributions may include:

• Personal stories or memories
• Symbolic imagery (objects, text, photographs, or drawings)
• Reflections on resilience, shame, protest, or reclamation

As part of the project, I would like to create a photographic portrait of each participant. This can be either:

• A direct portrait of you, or
• A portrait of symbolic imagery you choose to represent yourself (such as a meaningful object, piece of clothing, or personal item).

Participation is voluntary, and you may choose to remain anonymous if you prefer. Portraits and shared contributions will be used to inspire and shape artworks that honor lived experiences and create dialogue around resilience, memory, and body sovereignty. If you are interested in participating or learning more, please contact me.