Bossa do Anjinho, Julio Santillán and Francisca Almeida.

Bossa do Anjinho.
Julio and Francisca.
Film, music and art.

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about the piece.
Julio wrote this song the day his friends’ twins were born, right after he came back from the hospital. He imagined they were the little friends of his stillborn son, Alejandro. Part of the inspiration came from Chico Buarque, a Brazilian songwriter who often writes as a woman. The watercolors were painted by Francisca, Alejandro’s mother, as a healing activity. About half of the paintings are reproductions of (or inspired by) watercolors from the book The Tao of Watercolor, by Jeanne Carbonneti. Julio took pictures of the watercolors, recorded the song (with an amazing singer and friend, Ana Rossi), and made the video while Francisca was away in a business trip to make her a surprise gift. Here is an approximate English translation of the lyrics:

Bossa of the little angel

I forgot to feel all the pain
that was left by the illusion you were bringing

I forgot to cry, to understand
that you are not here and are only a remembrance

I was deprived to offer you the warmth
of this voice that names you

I’ll keep for another time
my advices and motherly fears

They will grow up and one day will know them,
the ones that are and will be your friends

It is difficult to understand what justice decided
to take you away forever



about the artists.
Julio Santillán, Argentine, 37, is a professional musician now based in Barcelona. Francisca Almeida, Brazilian, 35, is a scientist. They met in NYC where their first and only child, Alejandro, was stillborn at exactly 40 weeks, on December 30th 2008. Ale had been planned and the pregnancy was mostly healthy except for a few bleeding episodes between weeks 14 and 16. Despite tens of tests and an autopsy the doctors couldn’t explain Ale’s death. Julio has contributed to Still Life 365 before with an instrumental piece, Piedrita de rio.

still life 365 year-end wrap up

If tomorrow you wake up and miss still life 365, submit something and keep this project going. With much love and gratitude, Angie

i'm sorry i forgot you, Angie

I'm sorry I forgot you.
Angie.
Watercolor, poetry and filmmaking.

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about this piece.
This year, I decided to participate in the sketchbook project, which is a collection, like a traveling art show, of art journals. You select a theme and sketch, paint, collage a book about it. I selected the theme, "I'm sorry I forgot you." I wrote a poem about Lucia and what this grief journey has been like for me around that theme. I rebound the entire book, then began sketching this poem. This film is stills of each page of the sketchbook with me reading my poem. You can view the sketchbook at the Brooklyn Museum of Art Library, after it goes around the country on tour. I did love the idea of this project, and finding inspiration for writing about my baby in the oddest places. Today would have been Lucy's second birthday. --Angie

about the contributor.
Angie is the editor of still life 365. Her second daughter Lucia was stillborn after 38 weeks of pregnancy on December 22, 2008. She died on winter solstice. She writes about her experience with grief and mothering at still life with circles.

For Leta Blue, Megan

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about the contributor and this piece.
Megan's daughter Leta Blue was stillborn at 20 weeks on February 21, 2010. This is Megan's tribute to her.

Film for Eva, Audrey

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about the piece
Audrey talks about the film she made for her daughter, "When I started this piece, I had intended to finish it for the second anniversary of Eva's day but I struggled to face these images. Eventually, it got easier and I finally finished it for the third. Bringing this piece to fruition brought me more comfort than I expected."

about the contributor.
Audrey is the mother of three. She is raising two and writes at Glutton Button.