More Than Kids

The Mothers have entered the building

When I first started exploring the world of tattoos, I had a suspicious mind. I questioned people's motives for marking their body. I wondered if tattoo artists impersonated real artists, much like the Elvis impersonator outside of Jay's shop filming a commercial.

The more time I spend with Jay Esparza at Resistance Tattoo Gallery, the more I realize that most people receive tattoos for significant reasons. On Saturday, members of the Mothers of an Angel Friendship Network visited Jay's shop. These women mark their bodies to remember their children who have died. 

Mothers at Resistance Gallery - Images by bryan farley

At the end of the session, Jay's daughter visited. Jay returned to Fresno to be near his daughter; Jay had been a successful art director in the video game industry... not the typical image of tattoo life.

In God's Hands - Logan at Resistance

Before I know it, 2010 will have become 2011... and I will still be writing about November. 

During Thanksgiving week, I visited Resistance Tattoo Gallery while Matt tattooed Logan. Logan is the son of Simone Ruiz who is from the Mothers of an Angel group. My friend Jay Esparza owns Resistance.

Below is a gallery of Matt, Logan, Jay, Simone and a few other people.

In Gods Hands - Images by bryan farley   (See Share Button!)

By the way, besides being an excellent artist, Matt can identify almost any type of designer eye glasses. He knew I wore Persol's before I did.

Mother of an Angel - 9 - Cheri Le

This was the second year that I photographed Cheri. Last year, I photographed her with her son, young daughter and husband. We met at the Clovis Cemetery. This year, I photographed Cheri in Martha Tessmer's backyard.

For this shoot, Cheri brought a rose in a plexi-glass box. Cheri's daughter Mairra gave it to Cheri just before Mairra died. Mairra insisted her mother keep it. Now, Cheri will treasure it forever. 

This year, the photo shoot was especially meaningful for me, because I have a daughter that is the same age that Mairra was when she died. For Mother's Day this year, my daughter gave her mother a gift similar to Mairra's rose. Emily wanted her mother to know she cared, and Emily has reached the developmental stage where she understands that symbols represent love.

Perhaps this explains how this photography project connects me and the mothers... the symbolism represents something greater than the individuals. Cheri connects with her past and with others. She is in the company of other mothers and other angels. Cheri connects to her daughter. I also connect to my daughter and to my parents.  

 

See larger photos Mothers of an Angel 9 Cheri - Images by bryan farley

When we started photographing, Cheri began crying. She wondered why this happened again. She wondered when it would stop. She mentioned that she knew she would have reached a new level of healing the year she did not cry. This reminded me of my post the day before I photographed her the previous year, when I wrote about my father's death.  There are sign posts to healing. For me, taking photographs helps with my healing. Being of service helps me. I am grateful to these families.

But there was another realization. If Cheri is going to use these photo sessions as a sign post, it might take several years.  So, I am guessing the mothers and families are going to let me hang out with them a little longer.

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