Body of Work

Artwork by Cristina Rago, “Liberated”

This is the body that came to America and struggled in a lily white world. This is the body that contains the soul which carries residual trauma of her birth mother.

This is the body that feels language in her bones as memory and pain all at once.

This is the body that was district floor exercise champion and JV gymnast and swimmer at 12, professional skater at 17, ran college track and anchored the 4x800M relay, that has been known to throw a decent punch in a Street fight after the clubs or getting kicked out of a bar, was the only AAPI international principal soloist on tour by 27. This is the body that carried, nourished, gave birth to, nurtured, protected, and raises a beautiful baby boy. This is the body that survived a four car pile up being hit by a joy rider in a stolen SUV. This is the body that survived 5 years of IPV and is an advocate of resolute conviction.