There are two items in this week’s New(s) and Reviews both of which are projects close to my heart. I hope you are inspired by them too.
NEW(s) and Reviews #1
Many of you will know of Fiona Tate and follow her Countess Drusilla Steele blog. What you may not know is that Fiona has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and spent many years working in the field of mental health. Like me Fiona has first-hand experience of the cathartic nature of writing and strongly believes in writing’s many health benefits. This is an area that I am fascinating in and will be doing more research about because I am sure that so many people within our community will benefit from Expressive Writing.
As a result of Fiona’s personal experience, she is planning to create a membership site that is dedicated to reducing the suicide rate by encouraging young people to write about their experiences and feelings. Now I appreciate that this doesn’t relate specifically to the Canbace/CNBC community: however, Fiona is part of our community and mental health issues is something that many of us have personal experience of. So, it would be brilliant if you would follow the link to Fiona’s fund-raising campaign to find out more about her vision and how you can support her in achieving it.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-me-to-eliminate-depression-from-the-world-books#/
NEW(s) and Reviews #2
My dear friend Sue Johnston, The Infertility Advocate, has had her poem “We are the one in eight” accepted into this year’s ArtPrize held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Whilst Sue did eventually manage to conceive a son she was so profoundly affected by her years of infertility that she still works on behalf of the infertility/CNBC and now Canbace communities. As part of her art “installation” she is gathering photographs relating to infertility and being childless. She will use these to illustrate her poem. She’s looking for
photographs that depict the wide range of people who are affected by infertility as we know that it doesn’t discriminate. Whilst the originals can be either black and white or colour they will be reproduced in black and white.
Sue is also incorporating voice recordings into the art installation to make it multi-dimensional. She would like to have a number of people who have been affected by infertility record a few words about their experience. In this way people visiting the installation will experience it both visually and auditorily. I’ll let Sue explain more in her own words …
I am in the process of collecting voice recordings from people around the world so that visitors to my exhibit will understand that infertility is a global problem. The voice messages will also add to the sensory experience of my display. I would love for you to record your voice either on your phone or your computer and share the impact that infertility has had in your life. Please first introduce yourself by stating your name and your country of residence before starting your message. In order to have a variety of messages from different people, please keep your recorded message to 
90 seconds or under. I may have to edit the recordings somewhat, but I hope to alter them as little as possible. I will have a QR Code as part of the exhibit so that visitors can scan the code with their smart phones and hear all the recorded messages.
The deadline for submitting photographs and MP3 recordingsis 1st September and you can send them directly to her at sjohnstonadvocate@gmail.com
You can read more about Sue’s involvement in the ArtPrize in a blog that she recently published – My Journey Toward ArtPrize. You can find out more about the ArtPrize in general here
In tomorrow’s “Beautiful Perspective” I’m going all pink and feathery as I share an important Canbace update. I can’t wait to hear what you think ….
In CANBACE friendship!
If anything I have written resonates I’d love to hear from you in the comments. I appreciate that this can be a difficult subject to speak openly about so if you don’t want me to publish your comment on the website please let me know and I will keep your words private.
Sue Johnston
Thank you so much for your shout out to me and my Infertility Awareness Poem/Exhibit. I have been receiving wonderful photos and video recordings from followers of yours, Nicci. I’d love to say thank you to you publicly. Without you, I wouldn’t have recordings form Andreia and Brandi. And I look forward to receiving yours and Andrew’s soon. The CNBC community will be well-represented in my exhibit. Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!