This is my arpillera and it's about broken family bonds. I personally have to deal with this, and as the black sheep of my family, I constantly feel like I'm being crushed. I tried to show this in my arpillera by sewing barriers that are needed to feel remotely okay. There are many elements in my piece, including a broken variant of my family's crest. Some pieces are separated but made of the same fabric. Other pieces are still together but made from different cloth, to represent that all you are is a piece of the puzzle, even if you belong within a completely different set. That's certainly where I stand.

There are also some phrases on the artwork. An example is, “find new kin,” like I have done to the best of my abilities. I may live with my mother but that's because at this point in time, I can't leave. However, I shut her out of my life and I am continuing to make a whole new family of friends.

Never stop fighting because there is always someone else worth fighting for. I know it may seem like there ain't much here, but if you have experienced what I have, you will know how difficult this all is. Just remember, you can seal yourself off from your family. Don't let them make you think that you're the one in the wrong. Don't let them dig your grave. You can pull yourself up and out and things can get better.

An arpillera that my art can connect with is number two, by Hunter Drown-Mansfield. Their artwork is about sexuality and gender expression and being free to be yourself. The way that our two artworks connect is that in some families, parents will disown and kick out their children for even saying they might be bisexual. Also, some people refuse to come out to their families because they don't trust them with their personal life and expressing who they really are.