Creation Sustains
A collaboration between Anthony Gorin & Caroline Reid
April 2022
Anthony Gorin
(he/they)
"My name is Anthony Gorin, and I'm an autistic, demisexual non-binary photographer and poet. I have been writing poetry for over 6 years, and I write daily - whether happy, angry, or most often depressed. I believe strongly in the power of creativity for one’s own benefit, safety and comfort. I started writing as a way of coping with the trauma of a past relationship and have now written and self-published 7 books, mostly dealing with the themes of mental health, autism, trauma, survival and love.
Creation Sustains is a summation of what I’ve been trying to do for myself for so long, and encouraging others to do also: to create, find an outlet, find a form of expression. It is so freeing, no matter whether it’s playing D&D, writing short stories or poetry, knitting or photography. That doesn’t matter whether it sells, whether it’s read by others or kept for just yourself. It will help you, as it’s helped me. If you ever choose to share your work, it could help someone else too, more than you would ever know. This is a poem about creating unashamedly, raw and honestly. Taking ownership of your own voice, experiences and creating while helping yourself and perhaps others too."
Caroline Reid
(she/her)
"Dear readers and viewers, envelope rippers and fridge magnet enthusiasts,
Thank you for looking at my artwork. I invite you to imagine you are one of the little dream spirits or the giant. Or both at the same time. You contain multitudes, and I believe in you.
I am Caroline to my colleagues and Caz to my friends. At some point I decided that job security and savings weren't for me so I am a writer and an artist. Pink is the best colour fight me. I used to think that I didn't understand green but as I have matured I have realised that it is actually yellow that I don't understand. Character growth.
When Anthony performed his poem for me, I felt free. I don't feel complete unless I am creating and he wrote this wonderful poem about creating - just to feel like yourself. My next drawing might not change the world, or the one after that - or even the next 1000 after that, but Anthony’s poem speaks of how it’s ok for our drawings exist with the same mundanity as a bowl of cornflakes. And I'm sure there'll be over a thousand more of them yet.
Let us be courageous, eat cornflakes, and draw!
Hopefully I bought a little smile to your day.
Or at least a little bewilderment.
Love,
Caz xx"
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