A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS PLEASE!!!!!!! THE CELEBRATION: A few months ago I published an article “Why I Posed Naked in Brooklyn”. The days that followed were a powerful whirlwind, complete with media interviews, global cross posts, and letters from so many gorgeous hearts thanking me for my bravery. Overnight my body (and my body of work) was all over the world. Media conglomerates like Cosmopolitan who had historically made bodies like mine out to be vile or undesirable were declaring my 300lb body as gorgeous, brave and hero. WOW, I am filled with immense joy and gratitude for everyone who stood in that moment with me. Amidst the whirlwind there was a 24 hour period wherein the Brooklyn article and photograph as well as my Be Beautiful photo series and article “BE Beautiful: How 30 Days Nearly Naked Changed My Life” were shared with Policy Mic, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook Magazine, and MTV in a positive and uplifting light. I was floored, and still am really! I aspired to create work that would reach populations who could identify with my 70 year old mother and my 15 and 16 year old nieces. I was able to reach a very broad range of people and am of the belief it had a powerful and extremely positive impact on the world. Please visit my website for more information about my journey and my work. denisejollyspoken WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW: In order to pay my bills, I have often worked as a temp nanny in the San Francisco Bay area. This means I frequently spend my days and nights in private homes working in service to some of the most affluent families in this community helping to raise their children to be powerful, accountable, well rounded people of privilege. While in some ways this is a remarkable opportunity to access those who live in privilege, it is not my chosen path. It is the path I was tracked to live-working class, conservative, closeted, and a fat bodied cis-gender femme. This practice does not best support the work I am committed to doing in the world as an artist and activist who believes in flipping paradigms and empowering all generations of leaders in making the world a better place. While the 24-hour press whirlwind of my art and journey was happening, I was juggling all of the press and social media while working a job that does not permit me access to the Internet. I was assigned to watch a 12 year old who was home with the flu and had full permission to play games and watch media on his ipad all day. This meant I had to sneak into the bathroom to cross post every article and rely on a couple highly trusted people to help manage hundreds if not thousands of communications if my art was to have the impact on the world that I’m committed to. HOW YOU CAN HELP: Today, I am declaring that I will make my living in alignment with my commitment to the world in service of both affluent and highly marginalized populations engaging in work that is actively deconstructing social and systemic oppression. I am asking you to help by booking me to perform, teach, write, talk, question and grow with your community. As of October, I will have left nannying and transitioned into an amazing part time job focused in critical community based work. I am blessed because this new job provides full support and flexibility to pursue my career as a travelling artist and educator. I believe my time is best spent on the road teaching and performing at colleges, universities, community-centers, and K-12 schools. This is my passion and where I belong in the world. If you (or someone you know, like a school or organization) are interested in booking me please share this little clip of my journey and link to the form. https://docs.google/forms/d/16jonKuofGnouduJcnAxOtu6gnqSD_CKW5wyGBC1yffY/viewform Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated. I promise I will do well by your support and encouragement. In Love and Community, Artist, Writer, and Performer Denise Jolly
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 20:47:33 +0000