As a mom to two white boys in a predominantly white neighborhood, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to make them aware of their privilege, how to raise them to be inclusive of everyone and how to help them grow up anti-racist. Most of the time, I feel totally overwhelmed by where to begin. I don’t always know the right thing to say. I don’t feel prepared to answer my 3.5 year old’s questions on race. And I’m reminded every day that I have so much to learn. Which is one of the reasons I’m so grateful to have Nadia to lead the way through her art and her activism.
Watch + Listen to the whole conversation:
Though Nadia’s passion has always been art and film, she took a 15 year hiatus from creating to pursue a career in law. However, when Nadia’s daughter Aria was born, she was reinspired to pick back up and make art her career as a powerful way to raise awareness and spark change. Nadia creates vivid, powerful art that centers people of color and messages of social justice, resistance and hope.
How did you make the transition from law to being an artist?
I stopped working at the law firm when I was 8 months pregnant and decided to just stay home with my daughter.
I was focused on her and wanted to give her all of my attention. I’m sure other mothers go through it, but as wonderful as it was, I also felt like I was losing a little part of myself. I felt like I didn’t know who I was anymore because I put everybody else first as a mom. Being a mom is wonderful, but I didn’t want to just be a mom. I wanted to be Nadia too. It took a couple of years to dive back into it and figure it out. I started by returning to my art.
Where do you find your inspiration and how do you create your art?
I do a lot of my art on an ipad using an app called procreate. I draw the outline on paper first because that’s where I’m more comfortable. Then I take a picture and color it in on the iPad.
My inspiration is that I try to address an issue. I put the message on the person’s t-shirt or somewhere on the canvas. I draw mostly women of color because I want to normalize seeing women of color in art. I want women of color to look at my art and be able to see themselves also.
Are you interested in applying your art in different ways?
Yes, I would love to be an illustrator and ultimately, write my own book someday. I have Illustrated a book for an author. We’re still finishing it up and I’m working on another book now for someone else. I just want to be able to tell stories and inspire kids.
Bridget Garsh
Co-founder & COO
Bridget is mom to two little boys, Hudson and Brooks, and a champion of working moms everywhere. NeighborSchools itself was borne out of Bridget’s challenge to find high-quality yet affordable child care, and the realization that so many parents struggle with these same issues every day.
Read more from Bridget, follow her on IG, and check out her new series, Work Like a Mother.
