Guest Post by Effie Pow

Leading up to my residency at the Historic Joy Kogawa House, I was inspired by the song You’re Not Alone and the creative journey of Allison Russell. These words shine a light for anyone who finds themselves in darkness.

Hey, my little evening star
How bright you are
Anywhere you go
You’re not alone

For Transforming Trauma with Words and Music on April 8, I wanted to feature Jerry Sun’s Apraxia. Jerry’s Concerto in One Movement for Squeaking Door and Tenor Saxophone is experimental, an imagined conversation with his mother, and coming to terms with a loved one who can no longer communicate the way they used to.

I’m not alone in my desire for connection and better understanding through stories, music, and art. Wiley Ho said it beautifully before reading The House: “I believe it is through the sharing of our stories that we bear witness for each other, that we can slowly feel seen and gradually heal.”

The story is about sexism and favouritism, but it’s also about the potent memory of a place. Participants shared glimpses of childhood homes, family complexities, and the changing landscape of life journeys. And I reflected on the places I’ve lived, where I’ve felt at home, and appreciated all the perspectives.

Jonathan Poh said about writing his award-winning non-fiction piece Value Village: “Perhaps the most surprising and rewarding part of the whole process was being able to exert creative control over events in my life that I’ve always felt were out of my control, that were unexpected, and weren’t things I wanted to happen to me. The act of speaking into the silence of my childhood trauma, of simply reconstructing these memories and calling them out, was extremely cathartic.”

By writing, sharing stories or through a storytelling process, a person can gain more insights and perspectives of any experience. My friend Yanting Qiu, founder of Theatre As A Second Language said: “You as the storyteller can build awareness of how you experienced it, accept the true feelings and emotions of the moment, and there is a potential of changing your way of viewing the experience.” Yanting believes the core of human activities, especially in the arts, is to “find a better way” that improves a collective understanding of human behaviour. I look forward to organizing a TSL storytelling workshop later this year with writers and community members.

Inspired by my time here, I’m finding an expansive way of engaging myself and the wonderful people around me. Among distractions, appointments, creaks of the house, and fading of cherry blossoms, I’m happy to sit with my friends, a touch of sadness, gratitude, and delight.

Finally, I invite you to connect with these creative people and spaces, to participate in my mail art project on transforming trauma, reflect on your own stories, and be the light for someone.

Mail art call: Transforming Trauma

Due date: 2023-05-31
Submission address, please mail or drop off at:
Historic Joy Kogawa House
1450 W 64th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6P 2N4 Canada

Description: This mail art call invites personal reflections on transforming trauma and is part of a writer-in-residence project. It may be text-based art inspired by family, identity, and immigrant experiences or on themes of healing and reconciliation. Postcard or envelope size. No jury, no returns. Online documentation.

Curator: Effie Pow

Email: info@kogawahouse.com