This body of work is born from a statue of Mary in Pouch Cove, standing within a dense thicket of thorns. She extends her arms outward, offering herself without hesitation, an image of devotion and surrender. Yet the thorns press against her presence, piercing the stillness with menace. Their sharpness set against the softness of her hands called me to consider the weight of sacrifice — the servitude passed from mother to daughter, the quiet wounds carried across generations. In this simplified image, the thorns pierce not only the space around her but Mary herself, embodying the way suffering is sanctified, made virtuous, and revered in both sacred and ordinary life. This work is deeply personal as the residency allowed for a respite as caregiver for Heather’s elderly mother which fell solely on her shoulders.

The drawings are referenced from photos of the Heather and her mother as babies, her mother and herself, and her grandmother and mother. The depictions of Mary and thorns are taken from the Pouch Cove site, as well as the thorns on the bowl.