Hannah
Christina
36”w x 48”h
Collage: acrylic, paper, photos, ink, charcoal, pencil
on cradled wood panel
I’ve been haunted by the face of my Great Grandmother. I discovered her family photo in one of the rabbit-hole dives into my geneology. There she was, a daughter of Mormon polygamist pioneers, with the stoic stare that everyone has in early photos. But there she also was with my hooded eyelids, and my father’s mouth, and a tomboy-style (as much as you can have in a Victorian dress) that I could identify with...
Then I found a copy of her death certificate. Cause of death: Carcinoma of the breast.
It’s been 11 years since the chemo treatment for my first diagnosis of breast cancer. And 6 years since the surgery for my second breast cancer. Is there a familial, genetic link? Maybe. Maybe not. But I felt a spiritual link. Our lives have been very, very different. But we both had the same horrible day with a doctor breaking the news. We both had the fear of the sinister cells dividing and subdividing under our skin. She lived to 67, but I plan on living a lot longer than that.
I decided to add my face to hers. A shared genetic makeup. A shared experience.
︎ cellular networks
I’ve been very inspired by the drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal. A neuroanatomist who lived from 1852 to 1934, and is considered the father of modern neuroscience.
His drawings not only brought revelations to the scientific world, they are beautiful and fascinating works of art.
︎detail
I added layers of cells, and figures made of painted paper and photos.
A genetic and familial web that makes up the fabric of her dress, and each one of us.
I added layers of cells, and figures made of painted paper and photos.
A genetic and familial web that makes up the fabric of her dress, and each one of us.
︎her-story
My Great Grandmother Hannah Christina was the daugher of Anders Jonsson (1834-1912) born in Asmundtorp, Sweden. (Hannah is at the upper right of the photo.) Her father Anders married Ingar Olsson (not shown here), and soon after, they converted to Mormonism. Many Mormon missionaries traveled to Europe to gain enough converts to help them establish a large population in Utah Territory.
Ingar’s parents were shocked with the news their 16-year-old daughter had joined a strange religion and was sailing to America. When Anders left the house one day, they came and took Ingar home with them. When officers interceded, she was allowed to go home to her husband.
With a flurry of emotions, Anders & Ingar left for America, bringing with them a friend, Hanna Schwartz (pictured next to Anders), to help them set up household in the New World. After a long voyage by ship, train, and ox-drawn wagons over the Plains and the Rocky Mountains, they settled in a valley north of Salt Lake City. It was a tough new life, living in dugouts, and guarding against (understandably) unhappy native Indians.
As they all settled in to their new life, Andrew embraced polygamy, and took Hanna as a plural wife. Ingar tragically died at the age of 25, leaving Hanna (my GGGrandmother) to take care of Andrew, and her and Ingar’s 8 children, all under 10 years of age.
Hanna’s eldest daughter Hannah Christina, later married my Great Grandfather, Charles John Windley. His family were also Mormon pioneers, immigrating from England.
They lived on a farm in St. Charles, Idaho.
Hannah Christina Jenson Windley 1866-1927
Working hard, and planting her new life.
My Great Grandmother Hannah Christina was the daugher of Anders Jonsson (1834-1912) born in Asmundtorp, Sweden. (Hannah is at the upper right of the photo.) Her father Anders married Ingar Olsson (not shown here), and soon after, they converted to Mormonism. Many Mormon missionaries traveled to Europe to gain enough converts to help them establish a large population in Utah Territory.
Ingar’s parents were shocked with the news their 16-year-old daughter had joined a strange religion and was sailing to America. When Anders left the house one day, they came and took Ingar home with them. When officers interceded, she was allowed to go home to her husband.
With a flurry of emotions, Anders & Ingar left for America, bringing with them a friend, Hanna Schwartz (pictured next to Anders), to help them set up household in the New World. After a long voyage by ship, train, and ox-drawn wagons over the Plains and the Rocky Mountains, they settled in a valley north of Salt Lake City. It was a tough new life, living in dugouts, and guarding against (understandably) unhappy native Indians.
As they all settled in to their new life, Andrew embraced polygamy, and took Hanna as a plural wife. Ingar tragically died at the age of 25, leaving Hanna (my GGGrandmother) to take care of Andrew, and her and Ingar’s 8 children, all under 10 years of age.
Hanna’s eldest daughter Hannah Christina, later married my Great Grandfather, Charles John Windley. His family were also Mormon pioneers, immigrating from England.
They lived on a farm in St. Charles, Idaho.
Hannah Christina Jenson Windley 1866-1927
Working hard, and planting her new life.