Portraits of Austin’s Essential Women Workers

Sarah Wilson is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Please join me in honoring Austin's frontline women workers.

As the pandemic set in and our community was asked to shelter in place, I quarantined with my immediate family.

As a photographer , my work was not deemed essential, but something about the word ‘essential’ really spoke to me. I became especially grateful for the workers that were keeping our community safe and moving forward . I started to think about the women workers, many of whom were juggling responsibilities at home, while facing this public health crisis due to their 'essential' work. Inspired by these women, I felt an overwhelming need to recognize their courage — I'm sure you've felt something like this too.

This project, ESSENTIALS , is a community-facing, interactive public art project. After a call for nominations that yielded over 100 potential honorees, we selected 15 essential women workers. I met and photographed each of these inspiring women, in a safe and distanced outdoor photo shoot, to create earnest portraits that showcased these individuals and the work that they do. For the final step of the process, we create large-scale prints (up to 20 feet tall) of these powerful women and started exhibiting them publicly, on buildings throughout Austin.

Inspired by the work of Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Mary Ellen Mark and especially the artist, JR I intend for these large-scale portraits to reflect the enormity of my admiration for these women.

To date we have installed 5 ESSENTIALS portraits. We have 10 more to go — that's where I could use some help. I’m hoping to raise $6500 to support the installation of the remaining 10 portraits.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Here’s How You Can Help -

Every $650-raised, will cover the installation of one large-scale portrait:

- Printing costs

- Wheat-paste materials

- Ladder/lift rental fees

- Day rate for wheat-paster extraordinaire (great work, Matt!)

- Social media and web assistance (thanks Emma!)

- Insurance

- Tacos & Coffee

*And every dollar raised above our goal will allow for the expansion of the project. I started with 15 portraits in mind, but I'd be thrilled to continue beyond that.

All contributors will be credited and thanked on the ESSENTIALS website. If you have an interest in a strategic partnership or sponsorship thoughts, I'd love to talk.

And if you have a building in Austin, or Travis County, and you'd like to host one of these incredible women, I am still looking for canvases.

Visit the portraits that have already been posted at:

The future site of The Linden Residences -
most easily viewed from the Clay Pit Restaurant parking lot at
1601 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701.

and

501 Navasota St, Austin, TX 78702

ESSENTIALS began with the initial support of the Museums and Cultural Programs of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department and the Dougherty Arts Center. Through a juried process, I was selected to participate in their new programArtsResponders : Social Practice Responds to COVID-19 and received a grant that successfully funded the first 5 large-scale portraits. This project would not have come to fruition without this support, but now I want to continue this amazing journey!

There are already so many friends and supporters to thank (including Rebecca, Cile, Sean, John, Perry, Bailey, Montserrat, The Linden Austin, Mark, Symone, Piper, Haley, Nathen, Alyssa, Catherine, Whitney, Lindsay, Sara, Peter & Lauren, Vicky, Patrick, Austin, Jason, Larry, Martha, Selena, Lesley, Carol, Chris, Marilyn, Laura, and especially my little Theo and his dad, my partner in art and madness, Keith) and I hope you'll consider joining us on this project.

It's hard to ask for financial help when there is so much need in the world right now, but I hope you'll support this project and the spirit behind it. Give if you're able, and please help us spread the word by sharing this link.

And if you come across one of the ESSENTIALS portraits around town, drop me a line, or take a pic and tag it on instagram @essentialsatx or @swilsonfoto.

ESSENTIALS recognizes all women essential workers, including gender fluid/non-binary, and trans women.

Will you join me in honoring these women and highlighting their larger-than-life contributions to our community?

With Much Gratitude!

Sarah Wilson
Sarah Wilson Photography