Julia Wertz Explores Motherhood's Body Horror in New Graphic Memoir
Cartoonist Julia Wertz discusses her new graphic memoir, "Bury Me Already (It’s Nice Down Here)," which humorously and candidly addresses the physical and emotional realities of pregnancy and parenthood. The book serves as a natural progression from her previous works, such as "Impossible People," shifting focus from recovery and addiction to the isolation, guilt, and bodily changes associated with raising a child. Wertz reflects on how becoming a mother has amplified her artistic perspective, blending the chaos of parenting with her signature self-deprecating style. The narrative also covers significant life transitions, including her illegal eviction from a Brooklyn studio after ten years, which forced her return to Northern California. There, she reconnected with her partner, Oliver, and navigated complex personal challenges, including miscarriage, abortion, and her brother’s mental health struggles, all amidst the pandemic. Despite missing New York, Wertz embraces this new chapter, using her art to process the thin line between love and fear in family life. The interview highlights her resilience and ability to find humor in the messy, often overwhelming experience of being both an artist and a parent.
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Julia Wertz Explores Motherhood's Body Horror in New Graphic Memoir
Cartoonist Julia Wertz discusses her new graphic memoir, "Bury Me Already (It’s Nice Down Here)," which humorously and candidly addresses the physical and emotional realities of pregnancy and parenthood. The book serves as a natural progression from her previous works, such as "Impossible People," shifting focus from recovery and addiction to the isolation, guilt, and bodily changes associated with raising a child. Wertz reflects on how becoming a mother has amplified her artistic perspective, blending the chaos of parenting with her signature self-deprecating style. The narrative also covers significant life transitions, including her illegal eviction from a Brooklyn studio after ten years, which forced her return to Northern California. There, she reconnected with her partner, Oliver, and navigated complex personal challenges, including miscarriage, abortion, and her brother’s mental health struggles, all amidst the pandemic. Despite missing New York, Wertz embraces this new chapter, using her art to process the thin line between love and fear in family life. The interview highlights her resilience and ability to find humor in the messy, often overwhelming experience of being both an artist and a parent.
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