Sonja Hellmann

I came into this world with the fear of my mother that I could "have a shadow". The doctors told her my head was smaller than normal. I'm so happy I have a shadow! Aren't you? (and isn't a smaller head lighter to birth?) <br...

In Memory of Mati Vargas-Gibson

I grew up in Mexico in a family where gatherings were attended by dozens of people. Being in a crowd is a comfortable place; in my culture, people touch, hug, and connect intimately easily. In fact, it’s expected that everyone should. I moved to the USA...

I grew up in Mexico in a family where gatherings were attended by dozens of people. Being in a crowd is a comfortable place; in my culture, people touch, hug, and connect intimately easily. In fact, it’s expected that everyone should. I moved to the USA as a teenager and remember how my body experienced a culture where personal space was more defined; where people didn’t shake hands or greet with a kiss. I recall censoring my impulse to connect physically in order to belong. I also lived in Europe where these two extremes seemed to find a middle ground.