Shannon Peck, a conceptual artist, shares her story. Adopted at 11 days old, she had an “idyllic childhood” and yet something was amiss in her life. In her forties, Shannon discovered attachment theory and began to realize the loss she had first experienced at birth. “Your Daughter is in Good Hands” is an exhibit documenting Shannon’s “search for her true identity.”

Cover photo and title provided by Shannon Peck

Show Notes

Topics We Discussed

Shannon discovering attachment theory and realizing adoption did have an impact on her life, even though she had an ‘idyllic childhood’
Nicholas Pearce art class
Finding out her birthmother had veto’d her records; later requesting them again and finding out some more information
Reaching out to her birthmother, secondary rejection
Shannon’s preparation for her exhibit, “Your Daughter is in Good Hands”
How stitching and creative work help Shannon process emotions
Finding her father through DNA testing

Recommended Resources

Shannon Peck’s exhibit catalog full of photos is now available here, Your Daughter is in Good Hands
Shannon’s website with gallery and media coverage
Ann Fessler’s book, The Girls Who Went Away, and her documentary, A Girl Like Her
Nancy Verrier’s books: Primal Wound and Coming Home to Self
Gone to an Aunt’s: Remembering Canada’s Homes for Unwed Mothers by Anne Petrie
Documentary: In Utero