Circle of Roses

By Naimah Thomas

A registered art therapist, Naimah Thomas created her breathtaking artist book Circle of Roses as a response to a loved one’s incarceration and the powerful stories of those she worked with in a healing group. By encouraging reflection and introspection alongside curating artistic and cultural activities for participants, Thomas was able to interweave the experiences recounted throughout the group’s time together into a compiled volume. According to Thomas, “Circle of Roses provides a space for individuals impacted by the intersections of mass incarceration and mental illness to process their feelings of grief, loss, resistance, and resilience through creativity.”