I am the swan, struggling with the overwhelming fear of entrapment, terrified and helpless trying to protect my family from threatening fires, rising water, and disease.

We live in rural Sonoma County in California. In the last two years, we have been evacuated from bushfires twice, stranded for several days by flooded roads and have been placed under strict quarantine after our son contracted COVID-19.

Women all over the world are struggling with the impact of the pandemic with its devastating social and economic impacts, but I believe women are also the backbone of our nation's recovery. This project has given me both renewed determination and hope.

"The Protector" is inspired by "The Threatened Swan" by Jan Asselijn, painted in 1650-52.