The Chronic Market is excited to welcome Cynthia Uribe of Weed Patch Studio to its tribe of creatives, and have her fun, inspired creature cards available for purchase through our platform.
In her words: “Thirteen years ago, or thereabouts, I became very ill with a mystery flu. A mystery because nobody else in the community seemed to have a virus. And my husband, living in close quarters with me, never got ill. And then, I didn’t seem to quite recover. Not knowing better, I pushed myself. And pushed again. And then got bedbound for the most part for 3 years. When I finally understood what ailed me, I decided I needed to find a way to live life again.
I’ve been an artist first since childhood. And I also loved gardening, baking and cooking. When I became ill, I’d been a market gardener for some years while also making jewelry. Formerly, I’d been a handweaver and handspinner and dyer and felter. So, I kept a very active body. None of that felt possible anymore. But I knew I had paint and canvasses in the art studio in the basement. So, one day I dragged myself down there and began a painting. I didn’t have the strength to fetch water, I had old tubes of acrylic paints and not great brushes. My hands shook from fatigue. And my mind was in a fog. I painted the most cheerful painting I could
summon, a group of smiling sunflowers. And that began my life again. I again tried jewelry, but I’d been left with a slight tremor, and just not enough energy. So I made a rule that I would only do projects that could be completed in one session. And but for the occasional stray, I’ve stuck with that. I also eventually got a garden going. I found some help that took me from the severe category to moderate. And I was able to learn how to cook and bake with my new life abilities, garden, and play in my art studio.
Then 4 years ago, my husband, best friend, part time caregiver was diagnosed with a fatal illness. We were heartbroken. And I couldn’t bear it, so, as always, I turned to my creativity.
We’d just moved into a new house, in a new town, I had no friends, so I made some. They came to me as birds, I call them Berds. They seemed a gift. They cheered us, distracted us, connected us, and got us through a time of great loss. I wasn’t sure they’d stay around after my husband left this life. And they were gone for a time. But they came back. And seemed
more precious yet. A divine gift to me. So I started drawing again and then one day I decided they should be shared. These drawings just seem to come to me, or through me, they are not mine. So I reached out to the ME community and offered holiday cards and drawings. This is my third year. My quietest yet. Last year there were over 50 recipients. This year there’s half that. But I know it’ll grow again. Maybe this is a gift because this year I’ve expanded to sell more. And it’s quite a challenge for me. I sell to pay for the gifts I give to both the ME community and other charities.
I produce greeting cards and original drawings. I make booklets of my drawings. I do “portraits” using Berds to characterize family members. Much of my work depicts commonalities and differences between between friends and families. But I also have fun creating Berds and Bugz and made up Flowerz inspired by other artists work in jewelry, pottery,
glasswork, and sculptures.
I live and play in San Diego county with my cat Molly in a tiny mobile home I’m surrounding with gardens. Having EDS, ME, Dysautonomia, and a histamine disorder along with turning 73 in just days, I’m pretty challenged. But I’m making it work. And I have my Sunflower painting hanging over my workbench to remind me of miracles and fortitude and blessings.”
Click here to shop Cynthia’s store.