Writing is putting one word after another to make meaning—but the words on these pages are made more meaningful by the beautiful artwork of Gian Wong. 

When I began to imagine how Get Free might look and feel in readers’ hands, I knew I wanted the visual elements to reflect who I am just as much as my words did. I first encountered Gian’s work on Instagram and then on his website (gianwong.com). While I loved the creative ways he brought colors and shapes together, it was the way he integrated Filipino culture throughout his art that resonated with me. Growing up, I didn’t always feel like school was a place where I could share my Filipino heritage. To have that part of my identity reflected in these pages means something, everything. 

Philippine history may be marked by colonization, but it is also one that has inspired resilience and liberation. On the cover, the ribbon element bearing the subtitle symbolizes freedom, the “ability to let loose and be liberated” (Wong) as does the bursting, contrasting typography of the title. Indeed, every element on the cover is a nod to Filipino culture: the red, blue, and yellow colors of the Philippine flag; three stars representing the three major island regions of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the waves evoking Philippine beaches; the modern rendering of the Sampaguita, national flower of the Philippines; and, of course, Maya birds, indigenous birds to the Philippines, breaking free in flight. 

Likewise, interwoven throughout the book are patterns and imagery inspired by traditional ethnic textiles and Filipino culture, and the central theme of each chapter is mirrored in Gian’s corresponding artwork. I am so grateful for Gian’s time, talents, and understanding. May the words and images that come together in these pages remind us of the beauty that is possible whenever we come together in community.

To learn more about the artwork opening each chapter, check out the Get Free Study Guide.