Celebrating Neurodiversity, Beauty, and Belonging with Illustrator and Writer Allegra Thelemaque
Art Heals All Wounds
12/13/23
•19m
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In this episode, I interview my daughter, Allegra Thelemaque, illustrator and writer, about the idea of feeling like you belong in your body. We also discuss how finding one's own sense of style can help redefine the concept of beauty. Allegra and I both have myotonic dystrophy, a multi-system disease that can affect muscle strength, muscle stiffness, eyes, digestive system, brain, heart, and increase the risk of certain cancers. Allegra identifies as neurodivergent. We talk about how meeting others with the same condition has provided a sense of understanding and support. Allegra shares her personal journey and offers some advice to me on self-acceptance and belonging.
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Allegra's Etsy ShopAllegra's interview from Season 2Follow Me!
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Previous Episode
This week I interview artists Dazié Rustin Grego-Sykes and Derrick Miller-Handley. They discuss the creation and impact of their performance piece, 'The Changer and the Changed', a performed memoir of Dazié’s lived experience, exploring issues of child sex abuse, addiction, and the experience of being Black, Queer, and HIV positive. Through this deeply personal piece, performed in a community space, Dazié and Derrick aimed to create an intimate shared experience, encompassing the transformation, complex conversations, and the delicate balance of addressing difficult topics. The duo, who form the art collective 'Bundle of Sticks', share how their long-term friendship forms the foundation of their collaborative process. They also highlight the importance of acknowledging and embracing personal histories, shaping experiences into art, and finding a sense of belonging.
00:12 Introduction to Art Heals All Wounds
00:47 Discovering Dazié Grego-Sykes and The Changer and The Changed
01:47 Experiencing The Changer and The Changed
02:19 Understanding the Impact of Art
04:19 Interview with Dazié Grego-Sykes and Derrick Miller-Handley
05:03 Introduction to the Art Collective Bundle of Sticks
07:01 The Creation and Transformation of The Changer and The Changed
15:13 The Role of Personal Journals in The Changer and The Changed
20:34 The Power of Mythology in Art
23:48 Creating a Tangible Environment
24:18 The Thin Line Between Performance and Reality
24:52 The Power of Trust and Friendship in Performance
25:21 The Real-Time Experience of Performance
26:10 The Transformational Power of Art
27:03 The Influence of Kehinde Wiley's Work
28:38 Creating New Spaces in Art
29:28 The Role of Afrofuturism in Art
32:06 The Importance of Ancestry and History
35:41 The Performers: A Deep Dive into Their Stories
38:40 The Concept of Belonging in Art
41:19 Connecting with the Audience
43:17 Where to Find More About the Artists and Their Work
44:11 Closing Remarks
Don't forget to go to my website and leave me YOUR story of belonging to feature on a future episode!Buy Me a Coffee!Follow Dazié Rustin Grego-Sykes and Derrick Miller-Handley!
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Next Episode
In this episode of Art Heals All Wounds, I interview longtime friend Gwen Whittle, a supervising sound editor and three-time Academy Award nominee for the films Avatar, Tron Legacy, and Avatar, The Way of Water. We discuss Gwen's journey from New York to San Francisco, her experiences in the sound editing industry, and the importance of sound in storytelling. We both share stories of belonging and the impact of travel on our perspectives and the importance of listening.
Don't forget to go to my website and leave me YOUR story of belonging to feature on a future episode!Buy Me a Coffee!Follow Gwen!
Gwen's Page on IMDbFollow Me!
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