Lynnette Oostmeyer

Artist Statement:

Lift Here is a project created to help people living with an invisible illness reflect on their lives and tell their own story. I created journaling kits for each participant that included a small notebook, various paper, markers, pens, colored pencils, stickers and tea. We all met on zoom and worked through journal prompts together that explored their lives at the time of their diagnosis and their lives now. This was all done with the goal to create a flipbook. The handwritten journal entries, and archival photos, are combined to tell the story of each participant. Flip up pages show what health issues they dealt with at the same time that people are not aware of, as IBD is often an invisible illness. I believe that sharing our own stories is extremely important, and self reflection is the first step in finding our voice. I hope to convert this workshop into something that can be distributed to chronic illness support group leaders across the country, so we can continue to lift each other up.

 

Artist Bio:

Lynnette Oostmeyer is a community centered visual journalist living and working in northwestern Oregon. Her work provides insight into her subjects’ lives through photographs and video work imbued with detail, nuance and humanity. Lynnette graduated with a Master’s Degree in Multimedia Journalism from the University of Oregon in 2019 and was awarded a spot in the 2021 Tualatin Valley Creates Arts Incubator program.