

Bridging Gaps From the Past to the Present and to the Future

Due July 1st
"I Know Who I Am!" is a virtual Zoom event occuring on October 5th, @6:30 PM EST showcasing a collection of women of color and femme-expressing folks of color finding solace and healing in art. This call is international. Five chosen artists, through narrative videos, will discuss their lived experience with subjects around race, gender, disability, sexuality and more, and how art serves as a healing tool for them.
This will be addressed through a 20-minute documentary compiling these short films. In collaboration with Brain Arts Org, we're using this event to raise funds to develop a mutual aid project for marginalized artists.
Sponsored by Brain Arts Org, all selected from our open call will be compensated a total of $200 USD each.
Payment
In July, artists will receive a $100 USD (50%) down-payment, and receive the remaining $100 USD by October 6th the day after the Art & Mind virtual reception (October 5th @6:30 PM EST). Artists will need to join our Discord server to receive updates.
Art by Amaranthia Sepia, Linlin Yu, Nabila Nugroho

This opportunity is international and is limited to 18+ due to the heaviness of topics covered. All art forms, including performance pieces, are accepted.
Visual artists and performance artists have differing guidelines for their videos, and are expected to follow prompts to ensure disability accessibility. Visual artists will be able to submit up to two artworks alongside their video. Artworks and videos will be showcased in a virtual gallery called Kunstmatrix and at our Zoom event.
The event will focus on disability, health disparities amongst BIWOC, femmes of color, and COVID-19.

Initiative Statement

Intergenerational dysfunctions linked to race, sexuality, and gender can subconsciously impact the lives of women of color and *femme-expressing folks of color, complicating our relationship with ourselves. The basis of several of these issues can be linked back to the chaos and destruction caused by colonialism. Confronting these issues through creative and artistic endeavors can catalyze us to embrace ourselves as whole, healthy beings.
We're developing a disability-accessible virtual gallery and virtual reception where creative women of color and femme-expressing folks of color can discuss their experiences with issues such as race, immigration, health disparities, lack of access to resources, queerphobia, femmephobia, misogyny, trans-misogyny, misogynoir and more. We're looking to showcase stories of how you've used art, in any form, to empower yourselves and heal emotionally and/or spiritually. We hope our efforts to bring folks together to tell these triumphant, empowering stories will spark healing discussions across cultures and communities, resulting in solidarity.
*Femme is a term used in LGBTQ+ circles that describes one's gender expression. It further explains how a person exists in society, such as a non-binary femme or trans-femme. 'Woman' describes gender identity, where 'femme' is a gender expression.
Learn more

Documentary: "Get Ahead of Life Before Life Get's Ahead of You"

Claire, an older Black woman with a shaved head, receiving assistance from two physical therapists. One is on her lef and one is on her right helping her walk the first time after spinal surgery. Claire is using a walker, and is wearing a large brace that covers her neck and torso. Claire is also wearing a hospital gown. Everyone is wearing a mask.

Claire is at home wearing an N95 and her large brace holding her neck in place. She's wearing a knitted orange hat and purple cardigan. She is in bed.

Claire a year after treatment (March 2023). She is wearing a funky black blazer with pink, purple and blue patchwork. She is also wearing a large spring scarf that's hot pink and purple. It flows down in front of the blazer. Her left arm is on her hip. In her right he's holding up her red cane decorated with cherry blossoms. Claire has a closed lipped smile and looks very happy with her large funky glasses. She's standing in front of her fireplace. The mantle is decorated with art and trinkets.

Claire, an older Black woman with a shaved head, receiving assistance from two physical therapists. One is on her lef and one is on her right helping her walk the first time after spinal surgery. Claire is using a walker, and is wearing a large brace that covers her neck and torso. Claire is also wearing a hospital gown. Everyone is wearing a mask.
In addition, a 25-30-minute documentary will showcase co-founder Claire's cancer journey.
Sponsored by Dancing Queerly Boston, Claire faces her trauma by navigating physical and occupational therapy to be one of the 1% that can walk again after high-risk surgery. This showcase reflects how stereotypes, misogynoir, and expectations placed on Black women of the diaspora can manifest as health crises. It will highlight the fear several Black women have of American healthcare.

Meet The "I Know Who I Am!" Team!
Select images to learn about each member















Our 2023 Speakers
Accessibility
We will develop a disability-accessible gallery through Kuntsmatrix.com, a virtual gallery platform. We are utilizing guidance from Amaranthia Sepia's disability-focused residency Socially Distant Art. Amaranthia joined the cohort in August 2022. ProBono ASL will be utilized for our live event.
Our team of change-makers, including activists from Indonesia, Australia, RI, CA, PA, MA, and NH will accomplish tasks such as live captioning and tech assistance during the Zoom reception, video editing, graphic design, free mental health guidance/resources and more.
All featured videos will be captioned, and all gallery works will be accompanied with image descriptions and video descriptions (and audio descriptions if necessary.)

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Contact
General Inquiry
Art & Mind Inquiries
Virtual Workshop/Presentation Inquiries
Virtual Speaking Engagements
Virtual Media Interview