Through the Veil | The Other Mary Project

The “Other Mary” Project: A Personal Journey of Faith, Survival, and Art

“She is always with me, even when I felt most alone.”

At 22 years old, I found myself homeless and pregnant, navigating an uncertain world with very little to hold onto—except for a Mother Mary bracelet. This simple token became my anchor. It was my daily companion, offering a strange but powerful sense of solace and connection as I moved through the hardest period of my life. “Other Mary” is a photography project born out of this deeply personal experience, a blend of religious symbolism, cultural heritage, and the raw, unfiltered emotions that define both motherhood and survival.

A Personal History of Faith

My upbringing was a kaleidoscope of spiritual experiences. Raised amidst the rituals of Catholic churches, Baptist sermons, the quiet sanctity of Mormon temples, and the peaceful meditation of Buddhist temples, I was exposed to different beliefs, each influencing how I viewed spirituality and the concept of protection. Mother Mary, the symbol of nurturing, sacrifice, and resilience, has always resonated with me deeply—especially during my pregnancy.

The “Other Mary” Concept

“Other Mary” explores the figure of Mother Mary in a nontraditional light, mixing elements from Catholic iconography, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and grunge makeup. In many ways, this project represents the intersection of faith, culture, and survival in ways that both honor and challenge conventional depictions of Mary.

Mother Mary: Icon of Faith and Resilience

To me, Mary is more than a religious figure. She embodies the trials and tribulations of motherhood—her quiet strength is what kept me going when I had nothing else. The project captures her in various forms, each representing a stage of struggle, endurance, and love.

Día de los Muertos: Honoring Ancestry and Spirit

The Day of the Dead influence in “Other Mary” is a nod to the celebration of life, death, and those who watch over us. It feels particularly resonant with my personal story of motherhood—honoring life even in moments of darkness. The project merges traditional face paint with symbolic Catholic elements, suggesting the merging of two worlds: the living and the spiritual.

Grunge Makeup: Raw Emotion and Unapologetic Expression

Grunge makeup speaks to the rawness of survival—smudged eyeliner, dark tones, and unfiltered emotions. It represents the side of Mary we rarely see: not just a saintly figure, but a woman who has been through her own trials. She is both holy and human. This reflects my own experience, standing at the intersection of hardship and hope.

A Tribute to Personal Survival

The “Other Mary” project isn’t just about art or religion—it’s about survival and the ways we find strength in the least expected places. That bracelet was my lifeline, a symbol of faith that grounded me when I was homeless and pregnant. The project reflects that feeling of being anchored by something larger, even when the world feels chaotic and uncertain.

Each image in this series tells a part of my story, but it’s also a broader story about how women—especially those who are struggling—find strength, resilience, and sometimes unexpected beauty in the hardest moments.

Closing Thoughts

Through “Other Mary,” I hope to challenge how we see faith, motherhood, and survival. The project is a blend of who I was, who I am, and the stories of countless other women who have found themselves navigating the margins but managing to endure, often with nothing more than faith and a symbol to hold on to. In this work, Mary is more than just a figure from religious texts—she is every woman who has fought her own battles, worn her scars proudly, and found solace in the beauty of her own journey.