Chosen Names Audio Project, 30 minutes, 2012

Jacks

Ringo

Ivy

Self-Portraits by Participants                                                                                                                                                                                       

I started thinking about the significance of names and identity after reading an article about a judge in Oklahoma who denied two transgender people the right to change their names. This documentary collage weaves together the stories and insights of fourteen people who have changed their names for a variety of reasons including gender identity, activism, religion, and personal preference. Chosen Names Audio Project was presented at Scratching the Surface, an exhibition of MFA work at SIU in 2012. An excerpt, focusing on gender,  was presented The Power of Voices Film Fest at SIU in 2014.