There are some people who come into your life in some way and you are never the same.
In the fall of 2020, exhausted from so many months of juggling small children, and work, a pandemic and grief over a major family loss, I started reading See No Stranger by Valarie Kaur, a renowned civil rights leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, educator, innovator, and best-selling author. I first learned of her in early 2017 in watching in awe as she reframed an entire political moment in a 6 min. speech asking “Is this the darkness of the tomb – or the darkness of the womb? What if America is not dead, but a country still waiting to be born?”
I had high hopes for the book but did not realize what a deep impact it would have. I read the entire thing in 3 days between the hours of 9 pm when my kids fell asleep and 2 am when I finally relented to my tired eyes. I smiled and cried and felt so many hidden parts of myself rise to the surface as I read Valarie’s story. The book expanded so many questions I held close to my heart on how light and rage can co-exist inside us, how pain and love are intertwined, and how grieving is an essential part of how we connect. It felt like a compass guiding me forward to find my own version of showing up in the world and has deeply inspired the work we are doing at Radci Studios.
I created the piece above, Night Sky as a gift to Valarie in gratitude for her inspirational work. I am beyond honored to share that in collaboration with Valarie and her team it is now available to order. 100% of proceeds from the print will go to Valarie’s organization- The Revolutionary Love Project which produces educational tools, training courses, artwork, films, music, and mass mobilizations that center the voices of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities and inspires and equips people to build beloved community where they are. I hope Valarie Kaur’s work touches and inspires you all as much as it has for me.
I’ll leave you with Valarie’s beautiful words, a blessing for us all….
“May we look up at that night sky. May we let joy in. For we will be someone’s ancestors one day. If we do this right, they will inherit not our fear but bravery born of joy.”
With love (the revolutionary kind),
Jen
p.s. These prints make great mother’s day presents. Order by tomorrow (5/3) for guaranteed delivery.
p.p.s. If you don’t already know about it, The Revolutionary Love Project has an incredible Learning Hub for readers of the book and educators- check out all their incredible resources!
p.p.s. Valarie also has a beautiful TED talk I highly recommend, if you haven’t seen it already.