So, so, grateful you took the time to share this with us digitally! It was really helpful to see it all laid out like that. I've been wrestling quite a bit recently with the "it wasn't really that bad" thoughts, and the visual artifacts were SO meaningful in quantifying the harm. Especially loved the "stop telling me to forgive people who aren't even sorry" and the station to give things back. Might snag that little ritual for myself this weekend. Thanks so much again!
That’s part of what I wanted to do — help people talk back to the inner (and outer) gaslighting we get how it wasn’t that harmful or it wasn’t that big of a deal. But seeing all the artifacts and the sheer amount of propaganda aimed at children and families . . . And knowing this was just a small part of it . . . it really helps to make it concrete. This really did happen, and it’s honestly creepy AF!
Creepy AF!! I always associated the "real" propaganda with the homeschooling materials or "really" extremist churches, but it just helps make it so real that it was everywhereeee, even my little mainstream Sunday school room. Thanks again! Hope you get some rest after such an event!
Thank you for creating this experience and for sharing it via this post. I was not expecting to feel so emotional reading through the recap.
P.S. Does your shirt in the last photo say "Yes, I have heard about Richard Rohr"? Because I am dying laughing about that and need one of those shirts myself. LOL
Yes when I first deconverted from Christianity a few years ago and my progressive Christian friends were all disappointed in me I made myself a shirt that says “yes I have read Richard Rohr” and it still makes me giggle
I loved your art show and thank you for sharing. I also do like Richard Rohr for the most part (yes he has flaws)... grateful that he brought the Enneagram to a wider audience and appreciate how he calls out toxicity in Christianity...and wondering what you dislike or maybe even like about him? Wondering if you relate to him in some ways as dominant in Enneagram 1? I think he would laugh at your T-shirt too ;)
I so wish I had been there! Everything brings me back - the Jaci Velasquez CD, Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness, James Dobson everything, Voice of the Martyrs. Please tell me you had a copy of I Kissed Dating Goodbye! I “courted” my first boyfriend…who happened to want to be a missionary. He was 26, I was 18 😩. Thankfully I didn’t end up with him.
My friend Sarah Carson is doing amazing erasure poetry from I Kissed Dating Goodbye! She just got a few more published in Tupelo Quarterly. All kinds of ways to process and get revenge ;)
This is incredible. I wish I lived in Portland. I would have been there in an instant. As an artist who's tried making silly, kitchy art about this experience... But I haven't finished anything because it's hard. And I'm a professional artist I've done multiple art shows, but facing and processing our gaslit childhood is really brave- and when I mean brave, I don't mean in the patronizing sense, but in the simple sense that facing and moving towards a hard thing, a scary thing is brave. I'm so happy that this exists and that you've made it. Thank you!
Awww, 3rd grade Krispin's painting. Wait...does that say "King of the Ghews"? Amazing.
So glad the event went so well. Sounds really cathartic. Would have loved to be there, but thanks for sharing so many pictures so we can get a sense of how it may have felt to be in the space.
Oh I would have LOST IT at the altar to Comrade Siggie. I almost lost it just reading about it. Why are you so far away from West Virginia?! LOL. Thank you for sharing the exhibit with all of us through writing. I'm so glad it went so well!!
Amazing work. I love the interactivity of it all. So many familiar things. If they weren't in my home, they were in the homes of others I knew. Your Precious Moments art is my favorite, I think. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Oh, so much of that is familiar. And yes, had/having the therapy! This Present Darkness, Left Behind, all the biographies where the best bit was the ‘before’ section, the beads, wwjd, …. And lots of different things as well cos of different times/countries. I love how you’ve put it together to recall how it actually was and then twist it to both show the effect and give a catharsis.
And creative dreams… yes, but linked to photography and writing, with some spirituality, but nothing like this.
Gosh, I wish I could have seen this in person, but even so this digital walkthrough fills me up with happiness! I relate so much!
The books you displayed were commonplace in my home, right down to Turmoil in the Toybox. Before we had the book, I watched Pastor Fletcher Brothers of "Freedom Village USA" interview him on his show. (The (il)logic behind the Smurfs attack and necrophilia will never leave my psyche.) And my mom supported Dobson monthly, receiving in return cassette tapes of all the FOTF episodes.
Creative projects, you ask? Oh, yes! I redeemed the 1974 double record set of "Bill McKee Reveal's Satan's Plan, Purpose, and Progress" by melting them decorative record bowls which I keep around the house. I used to have an extensive Heritage USA/PTL collection as well.
Most importantly, I've processed by writing fiction for three decades, much of it hinging on religious trauma via tourist attractions like the Precious Moments Inspiration Park. There are strong-willed children and good soul-winning children alike.
For myself I've grown to recognize that growing up Evangelical is a lot like living in a tourist attraction; people pass by and maybe stop and look at but can't understand what it's like on the inside.
Your exhibit shows so well what it's like to live on the inside, and to claw your way out. Thank you for that!
Intensity paired with silliness is exactly what's needed both to heal and to create!
I love all of this. Thank you for taking the time/effort to walk us through it because I would’ve loved to be there but I’m a long ways off! And I had completely forgotten about that Awana crown thing with the jewels until I saw it in one of the pics. I remember feeling so jealous and guilty that I wasn’t doing enough to FILL MY CROWN 🤢 I hope you’re enjoying some well deserved rest this week!
So, so, grateful you took the time to share this with us digitally! It was really helpful to see it all laid out like that. I've been wrestling quite a bit recently with the "it wasn't really that bad" thoughts, and the visual artifacts were SO meaningful in quantifying the harm. Especially loved the "stop telling me to forgive people who aren't even sorry" and the station to give things back. Might snag that little ritual for myself this weekend. Thanks so much again!
That’s part of what I wanted to do — help people talk back to the inner (and outer) gaslighting we get how it wasn’t that harmful or it wasn’t that big of a deal. But seeing all the artifacts and the sheer amount of propaganda aimed at children and families . . . And knowing this was just a small part of it . . . it really helps to make it concrete. This really did happen, and it’s honestly creepy AF!
Creepy AF!! I always associated the "real" propaganda with the homeschooling materials or "really" extremist churches, but it just helps make it so real that it was everywhereeee, even my little mainstream Sunday school room. Thanks again! Hope you get some rest after such an event!
Thank you for creating this experience and for sharing it via this post. I was not expecting to feel so emotional reading through the recap.
P.S. Does your shirt in the last photo say "Yes, I have heard about Richard Rohr"? Because I am dying laughing about that and need one of those shirts myself. LOL
Yes when I first deconverted from Christianity a few years ago and my progressive Christian friends were all disappointed in me I made myself a shirt that says “yes I have read Richard Rohr” and it still makes me giggle
Too funny! Now I will be giggling with you whenever someone brings up Richard Rohr.
I loved your art show and thank you for sharing. I also do like Richard Rohr for the most part (yes he has flaws)... grateful that he brought the Enneagram to a wider audience and appreciate how he calls out toxicity in Christianity...and wondering what you dislike or maybe even like about him? Wondering if you relate to him in some ways as dominant in Enneagram 1? I think he would laugh at your T-shirt too ;)
I came here to see about that shirt lol.
Thank you for sharing your particular weird—it is deeply felt and life-giving. 🍄
I so wish I had been there! Everything brings me back - the Jaci Velasquez CD, Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness, James Dobson everything, Voice of the Martyrs. Please tell me you had a copy of I Kissed Dating Goodbye! I “courted” my first boyfriend…who happened to want to be a missionary. He was 26, I was 18 😩. Thankfully I didn’t end up with him.
Yes, there was a copy of I Kissed Dating Goodbye and people really enjoyed ripping pages out of it!
My friend Sarah Carson is doing amazing erasure poetry from I Kissed Dating Goodbye! She just got a few more published in Tupelo Quarterly. All kinds of ways to process and get revenge ;)
https://www.tupeloquarterly.com/poetry/sarah-carson-from-i-kissed-dating-goodbye/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKTGTVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoME5HZ1l3Z2RTS1laVEdEAR7v3VX6-hD4lpxkZLCZgiw9l2Taosa6VDOKy5kctcpxP2-cAXvWnxbLug_jeA_aem_yxlYAATxzt46Cu5PPub4tQ
This is incredible. I wish I lived in Portland. I would have been there in an instant. As an artist who's tried making silly, kitchy art about this experience... But I haven't finished anything because it's hard. And I'm a professional artist I've done multiple art shows, but facing and processing our gaslit childhood is really brave- and when I mean brave, I don't mean in the patronizing sense, but in the simple sense that facing and moving towards a hard thing, a scary thing is brave. I'm so happy that this exists and that you've made it. Thank you!
Awww, 3rd grade Krispin's painting. Wait...does that say "King of the Ghews"? Amazing.
So glad the event went so well. Sounds really cathartic. Would have loved to be there, but thanks for sharing so many pictures so we can get a sense of how it may have felt to be in the space.
I wish I lived closer to you! Thank you for sharing the experience here.
Yep, I need therapy. I have sooo many of those religious artifacts.
The beaded bracelet, though—I know mine had a lot more beads on it because, ya know, we were “extra pious.”
Oh I would have LOST IT at the altar to Comrade Siggie. I almost lost it just reading about it. Why are you so far away from West Virginia?! LOL. Thank you for sharing the exhibit with all of us through writing. I'm so glad it went so well!!
Fantastic- so creative and so sobering to see all the tools of indoctrination. Congrats on your show- so glad I got to see a little of it here!
Amazing work. I love the interactivity of it all. So many familiar things. If they weren't in my home, they were in the homes of others I knew. Your Precious Moments art is my favorite, I think. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Oh, so much of that is familiar. And yes, had/having the therapy! This Present Darkness, Left Behind, all the biographies where the best bit was the ‘before’ section, the beads, wwjd, …. And lots of different things as well cos of different times/countries. I love how you’ve put it together to recall how it actually was and then twist it to both show the effect and give a catharsis.
And creative dreams… yes, but linked to photography and writing, with some spirituality, but nothing like this.
I’m so glad it was a good experience for you and the folks who attended!! Thanks for sharing it with us here!
Congratulations, DL! 🥳 This is really amazing, plus all the writing about it is another gift. 🎁 Thanks!
What a cool show, and what a moving recap! Thank you!
Gosh, I wish I could have seen this in person, but even so this digital walkthrough fills me up with happiness! I relate so much!
The books you displayed were commonplace in my home, right down to Turmoil in the Toybox. Before we had the book, I watched Pastor Fletcher Brothers of "Freedom Village USA" interview him on his show. (The (il)logic behind the Smurfs attack and necrophilia will never leave my psyche.) And my mom supported Dobson monthly, receiving in return cassette tapes of all the FOTF episodes.
Creative projects, you ask? Oh, yes! I redeemed the 1974 double record set of "Bill McKee Reveal's Satan's Plan, Purpose, and Progress" by melting them decorative record bowls which I keep around the house. I used to have an extensive Heritage USA/PTL collection as well.
Most importantly, I've processed by writing fiction for three decades, much of it hinging on religious trauma via tourist attractions like the Precious Moments Inspiration Park. There are strong-willed children and good soul-winning children alike.
For myself I've grown to recognize that growing up Evangelical is a lot like living in a tourist attraction; people pass by and maybe stop and look at but can't understand what it's like on the inside.
Your exhibit shows so well what it's like to live on the inside, and to claw your way out. Thank you for that!
Intensity paired with silliness is exactly what's needed both to heal and to create!
https://dawnburns42.com/born-beneath-pedros-sombrero/
I love all of this. Thank you for taking the time/effort to walk us through it because I would’ve loved to be there but I’m a long ways off! And I had completely forgotten about that Awana crown thing with the jewels until I saw it in one of the pics. I remember feeling so jealous and guilty that I wasn’t doing enough to FILL MY CROWN 🤢 I hope you’re enjoying some well deserved rest this week!