That’s Just the Way Things Are, is an outcry against complacency. Whether I feel inhibited by my mental illness or am daunted by social issues within my community, I cling to a hope that I am growing towards change. Inspired by protest banners, this piece is a vision to actualize a different reality. Stitched and painted second-hand fabrics depict the unveiled growth of a tomato plant amidst a brick surrounding. I pass unintentionally planted tomato stalks in unexpected places throughout Boston, poking out along sidewalks, entwined with front yard weeds, and rooted far beyond communal gardens in public parks. Their existence symbolizes a resistance to regulated harvest and reminder that we can grow beyond our accepted expectations.