art project for awareness-raising of non-binary-folks!

[LisaB]

Hello everyone!

I am Lisa, I'm an artstudent from germany and I am planning on doing an art project to raise awareness for non-binary folks. and i need your help!
ive been talking about non-binarity (is that word right?) a lot with my friends/family/surroundings because i love the fact that there is a whole world of gender out there and all everyone seems to be aware of is female and male making it unnecessarily hard for people who already struggle just because it doesnt really seem to want to go into cis-peoples heads, and i feel like if i focus my art on this topic it might make people think
It will be in a very small circle though because i havent been studying for long so it might not reach many people but it will reach some i hope.

as i said i need your help because as a cis-girl i think it is necessary to get information directly from you.
i dont know where exactly i am going yet. i hope to be inspired by the input i get directly by you and that you will tell me whether what i am doing is good or not in the context of whether you can see yourself being represented or not, because that is basically what i am aiming for, i dont want to do something that you in the end cant see yourself in.
do you think it is okay for me, as a cis-person, to do that or do you not like it as i dont know exactly how it actually feels like?
i am always always always open and needy for constructive criticism, please dont hold back any criticism or thoughts you feel i need to know
i'd love to hear your thoughts!

(i edited this several times because the development and change in an art project is constant)

[Ativan Prescribed]

It's a simple enough concept to work with, do art forms, projects, whatever.
But for the average NB person, explaining just what it is about, how it feels, what it's like both good and bad, is as individual as anyone is.
Mentioned before was another art project and it is taking the concept of the forest that we sometimes talk about living in.
Look up the forest threads, use the search function and you'll find the main stories and references, along with some obscure.
But all in all, I think if you spent a lot of time just reading through, all the way through, some of the more important threads and even the light ones, you might get an idea of what it is like.
Without a lot of research and commitment to understanding, it is nothing more than a political statement, when you could learn and have an understanding of the true nature of what it is to be NB.
If you know your subject, then it becomes art. That would raise awareness far more than another political statement along the lines of we are all the same.
Which we are to an extent, but to zero in on the real and awesome differences of what it is to be NB, you're going to need to know your subject very well for it to be true art.
I'm hoping you take the time and make the effort to produce a truly unique form of art that is truly about the NB experience.
Ativan

[Trinity]

Look up Gail Thacker's facebook page. Drill into that a bit, see what is there.

You will find a gold mine of existing and very high caliber photographs and references.

That should stimulate your mind as well.

Then you could bring questions that result our way.

Gail is a very serious player in NY theater and owns the Gene Frankel theater off Broadway.
She puts things up on her page you can link to.

Bring us any resulting questions.

☺

[LisaB]

Thank You so much for your answers!!
right, it was stupid of me asking how it feels like, i apologize
i searched for the forest thread and i didnt find the thread itself (it didnt really come clear to me whether it still exists, if it does maybe can you give me the link?) but i love what i read! it's such a wonderful visual expression! now im thinking of tree houses (though i didnt read anything about tree houses yet->) i will continue reading more! also in general on the other threads
i do plan on taking my time because i need time to inform myself and get deep into the topic in order to not just scratch at the surface therefore it is good that its an own project without a deadline. i think ive also decided to only read at first and only start producing art when i feel ready for it. (thank you)

i looked up gail thacker!! im so impressed!! she makes great great photography!!
i will also continue to follow up on that trail when i have more time, and with time.

thank you so much both of you for answering and sending me in directions! it's such a great help!!

[EchelonHunt]

The forest thread is here -> nonbinary.proboards.com/thread/7/tree-kind-creature-unicorn-forest

And a quote from Ativan talking about the forest

Ativan Prescribed said:

Ahh, the good old Forest metaphor...
For those of you who are new here, we tend to refer to us living in the forest at times.
Years ago, I'm not sure how true the story is, but a disbeliever in NB people (Androgynes we were referred to as) said we are make believe or as rare as Unicorns.
That led to us being in a forest, the Unicorn Forest... Supposedly between the cities of male and female.
Where this was, is a forum that has pretty much a 'plan' for TS people, and we are pretty much just an annoyance to the core people there.
Over time, we came to just call it the Forest and made a lot of talk about the various paths and such.
There is a place here where we talked about it for some time.
There are a lot of ways of seeing our lives, and it's still pretty hard to describe our experiences without a lot of background information.
I think the Forest metaphors are a nice way of describing those things in a way that most of us understand, especially once you get used to the Forest as an idea.
What was once just a forest between two cities evolved in ways that everyone who contributed to the idea made it grow into so much more.
I did make comments a lot of times in reference to it, and expanded on the idea to have the Forest around the 'binary' cities.
It just makes a lot more sense to me than to have the idea that we are just along some path that is a part of that plan between the two cities.
We each visualize it in our own ways, but we also understand what we are each talking about to a very large extent.
The whole Forest metaphor has faded to an extent, those of us from the old forum that we escaped from still use it in passing at times.
But I wonder if you 'newbies' know about the significance and the powerful imagery that it is when we talk about it.
Think about this some,.. go and look around for the Forest threads and read through them when you get the chance.
It's more than just a way of expressing who we are, it's a unique and powerful message that we can all still use and understand.
From the beginnings of when I first read about this Unicorn Forest to the last two years that this forum has been running, the metaphor is strong.
What made me happy today? Just seeing EchelonHunt's reference to it once again.
For me, one of the oldtimers around here, it makes me happy to talk a little about it and to pass it along to those of you who are new here.
The forest is indeed everywhere and there are paths that go everywhere, and they all lead us to each other in one way or another.
Yeah, just hearing about the Forest metaphor again, makes me happy. 

[LisaB]

thank you echelonhunt!!! ive been thinking a lot about the forest metaphor!
ive also been reading a lot through the forum and its wonderful to read about all your different experiences! it would be so nice if i could talk to someone personally but i dont know anyone who identifies outside of the gender binary

oh and just for giving a short update; I am still working on this, but my ideas have changed a lot. i have problems finding the right expression but im working on it. i will show results to recieve your judgement when i am at that point

[Luyas]

Feb 8, 2017 1:59:28 GMT 8 LisaB said:

thank you echelonhunt!!! ive been thinking a lot about the forest metaphor!
ive also been reading a lot through the forum and its wonderful to read about all your different experiences! it would be so nice if i could talk to someone personally but i dont know anyone who identifies outside of the gender binary

oh and just for giving a short update; I am still working on this, but my ideas have changed a lot. i have problems finding the right expression but im working on it. i will show results to recieve your judgement when i am at that point

i am non-binary