Now... before I continue... if you're looking for an article about whether or not Oprah Winfrey should run for president in 2020, keep on scrolling. This is not about that.
This IS about finding inspiration in her words. If you missed it, you should definitely search it out and watch the video. If that isn't an option, here is an excerpt from the transcript:
"In my career, what I've always tried my best to do, whether on television or through film, is to say something about how men and women really behave. To say how we experience shame, how we love, and how we rage, how we fail, how we retreat, persevere, and how we overcome. I've interviewed and portrayed people who have withstood some of the ugliest things life can throw at you, but the one quality all of them seem to share is an ability to maintain hope for a brighter morning, even during our darkest nights. So I want all the girls watching here and now to know that a new day is on the horizon... and, when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody every has to say Me Too again."
I watched the speech several times, allowing the rhythm of her words and the cadence of her voice stink in. We live in a very exciting and scary time, a time when silenced voices are finally being heard. The conversations aren't always easy. Sometimes they're acutely difficult, rehashing some of the most traumatic experiences a person has carried with them. Some may argue with my usage of the word "exciting", but if you've ever been told to sit down and shut up, being able to finally speak your truth is very exciting. Allowing your voice to be heard is empowering and cathartic.
After I let the speech soak in, I was inspired to create something. I believe in the power of creativity and how we can craft better lives for ourselves through the things we make and how we express ourselves. Again, it goes back to allowing your voice to be heard, even if it's spoken in the language of images and adornment. I made this polymer clay coin pendant with a quote from her speech. I carved the mold, pressed each one out, and then finished them with coats of paint and protective sealer. In the design, I wanted the daybreak to peak up over a jagged horizon, a symbolic mountain range, because we as a society have certainly had insurmountable obstacles in the past that were once thought to be unscalable. The light still comes and the clouds depart. Hope persists. #timesup
If you're interested in acquiring one of these as a personal talisman for yourself or for someone you love, they will be added to the Allegory Gallery Etsy shop soon. So keep your eyes peeled for them to debut.
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