Fragility and vulnerability, two things we never really like to show the world. Parts of ourselves that we try to push down and suppress, yet, the parts that truly remind us that we are only human. As of late, anytime I find myself in a fragile state or vulnerable situation, I look at it as a test of my own faith and perseverance. The doubts became opportunities to prove myself wrong. The insecurities became avenues of myself to explore and conquer. The questions slowly turned from “am I capable?”, to “how do I make this happen?” But the biggest test of all was to give myself grace and space to allow these feelings to have their moment. Sailing into uncharted territory will always come with a sense of vulnerability. Will I ever truly feel ready? Maybe not. But one thing I know for sure is that I will never stop moving forward until I complete the journey. Rough seas only make the arrival to your destination that much more fulfilling. Diving into these floral creations is no different for me. Every single one of them come with their own storms to navigate through, which makes each so satisfying to complete. These Yellow Ginger blooms (hedychium flavescens) are a perfect example, another flower I’ve seen my entire life, yet never worked with because of their very short life span. Inspired by the intricate pattern of the Micronesian style ginger lei, I set off creating as quickly as possible. This one was more like a 1/2 mile sprint in canoe paddling race (iykyk) and less of a leisurely sail, but as always an amazing experience with another incredible species. Read more about my art and the process of making this mask in the new @maui_times_news article, “The Divergent Lives of Lei,” beautifully written by @violajgaskell . Link in bio ✨