Strawberry Hearts - Samantha Schieberl

I was inspired to make this piece by my own journey with opening up to others. I’ve always been sensitive, not just within myself but to what others feel. Life happened, and my sensitive nature and trauma collided. Walls were slowly built as I grew up, and throughout my 20’s I dealt with a lot of shame, loneliness, and feeling “othered”. For a long time I would struggle to ask for help, even with just the essentials. It wasn’t until I reached my 30’s that I grew to see what community could look like. Shelter, warmth, connection, and food—these are examples of love in its rawest form. No expectations, just humanity. The strawberry was the first food to come to mind, it’s organic form being similar to a heart.