Join me and my fellow artists of the Feminist Image Group for a powerful and timely exhibition titled In the Land of…The exhibition’s theme examines the many faces of censorship—past and present—and celebrates the vital role libraries play in protecting intellectual freedom. This provocative exhibition brings together visual works that confront banned books, silenced histories, and the ongoing fight for free expression. The show is in the San Diego Central Library in downtown and runs from June 21 until October 15, 2025.
Opening Reception Saturday, June 21, 2025 from noon to 2 p.m.
San Diego Central Library
The House That Was was made from the top five banned children’s books in the United States. For this work, I chose titles that have been labeled as the most controversial, despite their age-appropriate content and affirming messages. These books include: Draw Me a Star written and illustrated by Eric Carle; Julian is a Mermaid written and illustrated by Jessica Love; The Family Book written and illustrated by Todd Parr; And Tango Makes Three written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole; and When Aidan Became a Brother written by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita. All were written for children ages 3–7.
These beautifully illustrated stories present contemporary families and identities with honesty, warmth, and care—qualities that, alarmingly, have become politicized. My sculpture responds to this climate, emphasizing that shielding young readers from the diverse realities of our world does more harm than good. Acceptance, empathy, and representation are not radical ideas—they are the foundation of a healthy and inclusive society.
There’s a UPC-style code that visitors can scan to hear a voice softly “shushing” and urging them to “be quiet.” This act becomes a metaphor for censorship—symbolizing how these authors are being silenced, their stories unheard in places where their books are banned.
