In the Gallery

Why little boys? In a atmosphere filled with women’s rights and ‘girl power’ with clouds of non-binary, gender fluidity mixed in, our boys are being lost. Unsure of where they stand on the importance scale, they flounder. Today, they are less inclined to attend higher education than our girls. And while I applaud the feminist movement and the incredible achievements of our daughters I wonder what will happen if we continue to tell our boys that their natural tendencies to curiousity and adventure are in fact naughty. We challenge our daughters to be go be go-getters, be tough and true to themselves, while only encouraging our boys to be compliant and complacent. Teachers are often frustrated by, and with, the wild nature of our boys. They are sent to principal offices and told they must sit still, focus and stay tidy. Creativity is often brushed aside being seen as too messy instead of innovative. (Think mud pies and sand pits filled with Tonka Trucks, dinosaurs and a teddy-bear as the Excavator driver)
I want to draw our boys in a much more positive light. I want to show how their inquisitiveness is pure — with their wide-eyes open and hearts ready to accept all the tenderness they deserve. That they are creatures of innocence that still need tending and praise. How their messes lead to discoveries. How they, as boys, are nurturing in a quieter less noticeable way. That their intelligence is not held by how they performed on a standardized test, but rather can be seen in how they navigate the world. Lastly, I want them to know they are of equal importance no matter where they stand on the gender binary. Our little boys deserve to be seen as wonders too. And so, this series is dedicated to all the little boys with scrapped elbows, paper airplane dreams, open-hearts, and muddy knees. May you all know how incredible and important you are too.
** side note ** I do realize these all can and do apply to our girls but this series is for our boys. Don’t fret - our girls will get their turn.