XOJO STUDIOS

Stories Hold Our Cure

Inspired by an incredibly moving and surprising stand up performance by comedian Hannah Gadsby, I'm creating an art piece. To do so, I want to include stories about your life experiences and struggles, specifically folks who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Doesn't have to be long (a paragraph or two is fine!) and it doesn't have to be perfect (stream of thought is great.) My intention is to use your words as part of my artwork but also include your full submission (with permission and with or without credit per your wishes) as an accompaniment to the artwork.

Thank you for curing the world, one story at a time.

To participate, please fill out the form below. Your submission is not a guarantee that it will be used but your story and privacy will always be honored.

And if you haven't watched Hannah Gadsby's Netflix special "Nanette"... grab some tissues. This special is part stand up comedy and part heart-wrenching truths and raw emotions.

WARNING: "Nanette" contains sensitive subject material about violence (both sexual and physical) and hatred against LGBTQIA+ folks.

The only requirements for this form are 1) to tell your story the way you need to tell it and 2) give consent to use it as part of an art piece. Your story can be structured any way you want, it just needs to be at least a few sentences long. You can remain as anonymous as you'd like, no other personal information is required but I'm happy to include author credit and additional information if requested on the form.

Stories Hold Our Cure Story Submission

My Story(Required)

Is there a song, poem, book, quote or other piece of writing that speaks to you and your story?

Yes

No

Title - Author/Artist

Name

Pronouns

Phone

Email

Gender Identity

Sexual Orientation

I give my permission to:(Required)

include my submission (in part and at the artist's discretion) into an art piece by Laura Honsinger

include my full submission into a literary compilation created by Laura Honsinger

include my name as submitted to the literary compilation as part of my author credit

include my pronouns as submitted to the literary compilation as part of my author credit

include my gender identity as submitted to the literary compilation as part of my author credit

include my sexual orientation as submitted to the literary compilation as part of my author credit

Please check all that apply.

Do you want to see images of the final product?

Yes

No

Please share images via:

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

About the Existing Art:
"Stories Hold Our Cure - Caitlin's Story" is the first piece of this series, submitted to the Remixed 8 Vinyl Album Art Show.
Hosted by PONSHOP in downtown Fredericksburg, VA.Caitlin's (she/her) story opens up about a woman's experience with being bisexual and features snippets of her submission weaved into the pink purple and blue of the bisexual pride flag. Atop is a handcrafted sunflower, its petals constructed from the transcript of Hannah Gadsby's "Nanette" while the stem and back of the flower is crocheted acrylic yarn. The seeds in the center of the piece are quilling (rolled paper strips) stained with watercolor.

"Stories hold our cure. Laughter is just the honey that sweetens the bitter medicine. I don’t want to unite you with laughter or anger. I just needed my story heard, my story felt and understood by individuals with minds of their own. Because, like it or not, your story… is my story. And my story… is your story. I just don’t have the strength to take care of my story anymore. I don’t want my story defined by anger. All I can ask is just please help me take care of my story. Do you know why we have the sunflowers? It’s not because Vincent van Gogh suffered. It’s because Vincent van Gogh had a brother who loved him. Through all the pain, he had a tether, a connection to the world. And that… is the focus of the story we need. Connection." - Hannah Gadsby: Nanette (2018)

Where to Find This Piece:
712 Caroline Street.
ponshopstudio.com
Show runs June 2 - July 29 2023.
From their Instagram post: "PONSHOP Studio is excited to announce our “Remixed” exhibition for June 2023. We’ve rescued stacks of old 12” vinyl records, wiped the dust off and, with the artists help, will turn them into something that people will continue to enjoy—a fun and original work of art. “Remixed 8” is the eighth annual vinyl album art show at PONSHOP and one of our most popular community exhibits. All ages and skill levels are invited to participate in this community show."

About the Art Show:
Remixed 8 Vinyl Album Art Show.
Hosted by PONSHOP in downtown Fredericksburg, VA.
712 Caroline Street.
ponshopstudio.com
Show runs June 2 - July 29 2023.
From their Instagram post: "PONSHOP Studio is excited to announce our “Remixed” exhibition for June 2023. We’ve rescued stacks of old 12” vinyl records, wiped the dust off and, with the artists help, will turn them into something that people will continue to enjoy—a fun and original work of art. “Remixed 8” is the eighth annual vinyl album art show at PONSHOP and one of our most popular community exhibits. All ages and skill levels are invited to participate in this community show."

Hannah Gadsby - Nanette (2018)