Martyrs in Monochrome: the Witness of Women, Christian Resilience, and Photopoetry

On exhibit from June 1 at John Richard Allison Library’s Art in the Stacks at Regent College, Vancouver, BC.

Forthcoming book from this project: Water in Her Tender Leaves

People’s stories fascinate me.

As a child, I lost myself in profile stories from my dad’s yellow-outlined National Geographic magazine collection. Reading them, I often felt like I was bearing witness to holy truth-telling between the writer, photographer, and subject. As I read the accounts of early Christian martyrs like Perpetua, Felicitas, and Blandina, I experienced that same connection. I wondered how I could preserve such powerful, formational stories and translate them artistically for a modern audience.

During this project, I had the immense privilege of listening to stories of nine incredibly resilient women. I chose to tell their stories through black and white portraiture because I could turn up the contrast (quite literally) while coming in close. My own style of poetry is rather meditative and gutsy, so I used that to weave together elements of tragedy, beauty, and wisdom.

I came away from this project in awe of the women’s generosity and vulnerability and affirmed in my belief that we all carry hidden resilience within our bodies.

“Martyrs in Monochrome: the Witness of Women, Christian Resilience, and Photopoetry” is an Integrative Project in Theology and the Arts (IPIAT) created to fulfill my Master’s in Theology and the Arts at Regent College (Vancouver, BC).

Water in Her Tender Leaves is the photopoetry book created from this project.

A limited edition of the book is currently available in Canada through the Regent College Bookstore. Please call 604-228-1820 or email bookstore@regent-college.edu for ordering info.

U.S. pre-orders available mid-May! Sign up below to get notified.

Black and white image of a woman in a sweater with blurred background, including a fireplace.
Black and white portrait of a person with a neutral expression, wearing a light-colored shirt. The background has large floral patterns and the text 'Christina Hubbard' is repeatedly overlaid on the image.
Black and white portrait of a person touching their hair, looking to the side.
Black and white image of hands resting on a thick, textured blanket with intertwined yarn strands, showcasing a knit pattern. The person is wearing a watch and a ring.
Older woman in a striped sweater seated in front of a window, wearing glasses and smiling in a wheelchair.
A smiling person with short hair, wearing a plaid scarf and a dark cardigan, stands outdoors in an urban environment with buildings in the background.
Black and white image of a person operating a control panel with a joystick, showing an LCD screen displaying 'indoor slow' and '0.0 mph.'
Black and white portrait of a woman wearing glasses and earrings.
Black and white photo of a woman standing near a tree trunk in a wooded area.
Black and white photo of a female aerial silk artist performing, hanging from silks with arms and legs outstretched.
Black and white photo of a person holding an origami paper crane on a patterned surface.