Artist: Michelle Watkins
Title: All I See Is You
Media: Original Medium Format Film
Size: 8.5x11 in. (16x20 in.)
Artist Statement: 
In the moments of motherhood when I feel most alone—isolated, invisible, erased—I think of Her. She, too, has known what it means to be veiled, unseen, and misunderstood. Praised and placed on a pedestal, yet kept hidden and quiet, without a voice. I was deeply shaken by a church calling that made it clear my voice carried less weight than those of the men in leadership. I was allowed to speak, but not to decide—even in matters that fell within my stewardship. In those moments, I returned to thoughts of Her: not as submissive, but as strong and wise. I wondered how She might move forward after being disregarded or misunderstood. How She would feel knowing She did not hold the power to make decisions. How She would use Her voice and Her gifts. While the ideal is often framed as serving within one’s ward or stake, there are other ways to serve and to lift. After sharing these experiences with another woman, she offered counsel that has stayed with me—that she has found her talents are sometimes used more meaningfully elsewhere, and that this, too, is sacred work. Though I may no longer feel that church is a safe space for my voice or my gifts, I have found space through my art. Through image and word, I am able to connect with and lift women—to help them feel seen and heard. My work gives women a voice, and offers space for them to tell their own stories.