We entered year two of the COVID-19 global pandemic hoping that we could return to normal. Our resilience tested, our dreams, projects, and traditional ways of creating art halted. It is in this reckoning of sorts that we have been confronted with our views of the world and how we contribute to the way it operates. We were called to do some in depth reflection of our lives and our aspirations. How can we steady ourselves when we have to let go of every single aspect of our lives? How in this chaotic and uncertain world can one remain steady and resilient? I have been thinking a lot about this and it is in community. 

Our latest cohort of artists in the Hear/d residency showed us how inclusive and safe spaces are the key to face the unthinkable. It is what makes a difference between surviving and thriving, between giving up and achieving a goal. I was delighted to see that, while the conditions tempted us to play small, we instead embodied resilience and grew as community and artists. 

The exhibition title is a reminder that healing and building resilience is a product of our daily choices to choose radical self-care and self-love. Radical (Latin radix-root) self-care and self-love involves digging deep at our roots and providing what our deep self needs. It involves nurturing the core of the soul and starting where we are without self-judgment and with a lot of self-compassion. Only when we have nurtured our roots and keep maintaining that radical self-care and self-love can we then show up fully to the world. I invite you to join us in this journey of maintaining your radical self-care and radical self-love as a way of true offering your gifts to the world. 

Rocio Graham
Hear/d Residency Coordinator