07/07/2026
Having Our Say: A Visual Reflection
Inspired by the remarkable lives of the Delaney sisters and the East Lynne Theater Company’s production of Having Our Say, this mixed-media portrait explores the inheritance that cannot be measured—strength, truth, faith, resilience, and love.
Rather than illustrating a single moment from their lives, the painting reflects the echoes of generations. Layers of handwritten text, stitched elements, torn linen, and weathered surfaces symbolize both the wounds and wisdom carried through family histories. The portrait reminds us that while the body remembers hardship, the soul also remembers hope.
The Delaney sisters taught us that history is not only found in books, but in conversations around kitchen tables, in the stories passed from mother to daughter, and in the courage to keep speaking one’s truth.
This work is an invitation to listen.
To honor those whose voices shaped us.
To recognize that every generation carries something forward.
And to remember that legacy is not simply what we leave behind—it is what we choose to carry.
— Sydnei SmithJordan
See this the show and painting at East Lynne Theater tomorrow night… 7-8-2026
