The Names, Jess at After Iris

In honor of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, I asked Jess to share her spoken project today. She asked people to email or write a comment with their baby(ies)'s names and she read the list. I am unable to host mp3s on this blog, so I am asking you to follow this link to hear her incredibly moving list. And please please consider leaving a comment there telling her what you thought of this project. Her work moves me beyond words, and I hope you find it as powerful as I do. Thank you, Jess.


I Remember.

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about the contributor.
Jess lives in Birmingham, United Kingdom, with her husband David and children Ava and Moe. Jess' second daughter Iris was stillborn May 2008. For work, Jess creates and facilitates drama-based communication and cultural programmes for large organisations. She also owns a family business with her husband: an artisan cheese shop and deli called Capeling and Co. She maintains a blog called After Iris. Jess has begun a blog, After Iris Reads Aloud, where she makes voice recordings of a favorite poem or meaningful piece of writing in the memory of a loved one.

Travel Journal, Jess from After Iris

Travel Journal.
Jess from After Iris.
Mixed Media.

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about this piece.
Jess' piece was done for the still life 365 traveling journal, a journal making its way around the world and still life 365 community.


about the artist.
Jess lives in Birmingham, United Kingdom, with her husband David and children Ava and Moe. Jess' second daughter Iris was stillborn May 2008. For work, Jess creates and facilitates drama-based communication and cultural programmes for large organisations. She also owns a family business with her husband: an artisan cheese shop and deli called Capeling and Co. She maintains a blog called After Iris.

Comfort, Jess from After Iris

Comfort. 
Jess from After Iris
Watercolor and ink.

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about the piece.
In Jess' words, "I drank many, many bottles of red wine in those first weeks after Iris died. I’d touch my cheek and it would feel like someone else’s face sometimes. There was comfort in that. I tried to replicate red wine stains with watercolours then wrote the names of my other comforters around the circles: dead baby mothers, real life friends, family. "

about the artist.
Jess lives in Birmingham, United Kingdom, with her husband David and children Ava and Moe. Jess' second daughter Iris was stillborn May 2008. For work, Jess creates and facilitates drama-based communication and cultural programmes for large organisations. She also owns a family business with her husband: an artisan cheese shop and deli called Capeling and Co. She maintains a blog called After Iris.