This project is for anyone with a body.

I want to reimagine the healthcare space, any space, as a love letter to the body…

Where upon entry, people feel seen, safe, and a sense of security in knowing they will be listened to and partnered with in what ever brought them through those doors.

Origin.

The Body is Good began as a health equity project. We go to healthcare spaces to seek help and in that, we trust them with our bodies. These are the places we often learn that something has changed. We learn the names for the way our bodies are from the moment we are born until the moment we die. 

Ten years ago, I spent an intense stretch of time assisting my family members navigate the medical system.  At times, I was able to find respite in hospitals’ artwork. Upon returning to my own medical team, I noticed a pattern. Their art was bland and annoying and did nothing to balance the weight of the information on the walls; repeating over and over again that we are only problems to fix, with no baseline recognition that our bodies are good.

The central question then became: “if the walls and halls of healthcare facilities were a love letter to the body, to all bodies, could we improve health equity outcomes?”

My project is dedicated to exploring health equity and addressing health disparities through art that honors the complexity and diversity of the body. In order for this to be effective, the artwork must reflect and serve the expansive range of patients, staff and community.

The Body is Good has grown to encompass all spaces. ALL bodies have value, ALL bodies have a place in the spaces we share, and ALL bodies are good!

This endeavor is meant to be collaborative and interactive.

Workshops and Classes

Jessica has designed a variety of workshops around The Body is Good for youth, adults, and corporate groups.

The Body is Good | Artwork Galleries

Action.

This project invites people to reimagine space as a love letter to the body.

The project begins by asking these questions:

  • How do you move?

  • What fills you up?  

  • What is your favoritte thing about the way the body works? 

  • What do you need to remember about your body, what is true?

  • What do you wish you could remember about your body as you work?

It is a great honor and pleasure for my first installation to be with People’s heART with Massachusetts General Hospital.  Their fine work has so informed this project. See the full exhibition on their website, and stay tuned for information on events surrounding the show.

The People’s heART Exhibition

at Massachusetts General Hospital

Note the reads, "Acceptance of persons with disabilities fully participating in all aspects of society."

“My body doesn't need fixing, I am complete. My disability does not determine my health.”

Own the Art

Thinking of Access Pendant Feminine profile silhouette stencil

Reinforce the message in every space you occupy. The Body is Good photography is available as pendants, accessories, and as ready-to-hang high quality reproductions.

  • "I can only imagine how different my life would be if I had been told by the medical establishment, society, my peers, other authority figures, that my body was good as opposed to something that needed to be fixed."

    Alex Dixon

  • “Respect all bodies! All space should respect all bodies."

    Lamont Price

  • "Jessica is an extraordinary arts leader. She was indispensable as an accessibility lead, co-producer, and dramaturg during a new play reading of mine at The Kennedy Center. Her approach to creative and community-based work is deeply rooted in our good bodies - bodies that are wise, bodies that should be celebrated and included. These ideas were valuable reminders as I wrote and rewrote my play, weaving in moments of disabled joy and respect for bodies and brains just as they are.”

    Amy Claussen

  • "Let’s say you were planning for a performance or gathering, and you wanted it to be incredibly moving, artful, accessible, and inclusive. And you wanted it to be well documented with excellent photos and interviews. You wanted to include a stunning diversity of presenters, stakeholders and collaborators to be a part of the project from the beginning. You can find a slew of people, or you can call Jessica. She has been an incredible collaborator with Majestic and The Art of Mass Gatherings. She masterfully balances infusing her indelible spirit while bringing out the best in others and draws from deep knowledge across several disciplines and her beloved network."

    Matthew Kowal, Majestic Collaborations/The Art of Mass Gatherings