THE 40 OVER 40 PROJECT - Feat. Maisha Winn
Proud to introduce Dr. Maisha Winn, 48 and fabulous!! She is a wife, mother, professor, scholar and on top of being one of the kindest and thoughtful person I’ve met, she is absolutely gorgeous and funny and I loved photographing her. She is part of the 40 OVER 40 PROJECT, the biggest portrait project of my studio. In this blog post Maisha shares about her motivations to join the project and why this experience was more than a photoshoot to her.
“I am a mother of two amazing sons ages 11 and 8 as well as the wife and partner in all things to Torry Winn. I am a professor at UC Davis where I co-founded and co-direct (with Torry) the Transformative Justice in Education Center. We conduct equity-oriented research and care deeply about designing opportunities for multiply marginalized children and their families to thrive across several domains including education and overall well-being”.
-Maisha
Why did you want to participate in this project? My dear friend, Dr. Morgan. Harris, shared her experience with Mayumi and I was curious and inspired. When I saw Morgan's photos I was arrested. There was music and beauty radiating from the inside out that I had not seen captured in photos in quite this way. Once I met Mayumi and heard more about her vision to invite women to take up space I thought this would be a really good exercise for me especially emerging from the pandemic.
What were you personally hoping to gain from this experience? This is a good question. I actually think it was one of the few times that I allowed myself to not anticipate but to be completely immersed in the experience and opportunity. I am typically facilitating, organizing, determining what happens next in both my personal and professional life. I loved being carried by Mayumi's artful direction and vision. I trusted her and what I gained was one of the most beautiful, compelling experiences in my life where I put myself first without looking at my watch and worrying about what was next.
What are you feeling now about being photographed? What was your favorite part about this process? Now that I have had this experience I really appreciate being seen through fresh eyes. For example, I would have not chosen certain dresses to wear but I loved that Mayumi saw something different for me. I think it is telling that my favorite photos are the ones taken in the gold dress that I would not have had the nerve to select. I loved just showing up and trusting the process.
What would you tell other women over 40 about doing something outside their comfort zone? This is a must. I encouraged my dear friend and sister, Dr. Vajra Watson, to take photos too and love that we both had this experience. I would say to the women over 40 who have competing demands on their time and energy that it is really okay to stop and do this from themselves.
What piece of advice you would like to give to your child or any young person that you wish someone would've given you? Everything in love will work out the way it is supposed to. My husband and I married when I was 36 and I didn't have my first son until I was 37 and my second son at 40. You are not in charge of the timing of things so just sit back and enjoy the ride.
If you had a super power what would it be? I would love to be able to touch someone in a moment that they might be angry or making a bad decision to hurt another and have a spell of profound peace wash over them.
What would you say your most notable accomplishment has been? I am most proud of the family I have co-created.
Do you have a favorite quote, by you or someone else?
