I had the honor of being the inaugural artist in residence for Rise & Thrive, a free survivor empowerment service offered by LOTUS Legal Clinic, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit organization that serves survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking, both sex and labor. Valuing a wholistic approach to empowering survivors, LOTUS Legal has developed two sister art programs, Untold Stories and Rise & Thrive, that aim to engage, enrich, and connect survivors through literary art and unique collaborations with professional artists. As a resident artist for Rise & Thrive, I collaborated with four survivor-writers who created poems that explore their experiences of joy, resilience, and renewal in the aftermath of sexual trauma. In summer 2021, I began to work with the Rise & Thrive participants—Jeanne, Pita, Donna, and Hannah—who are prolific artists in their own right. From intimate conversations and close readings, I created one song for each of them in response to/ inspired by their poetry, implementing their words as lyrics, and composing melodies and arrangements that I thought could hold and honor those words and voices. The Visitations joined me, and we recorded “Somewhere to Swim".
On May 13th we will release the album—which will be available digitally on May 10th, with preorders for vinyl available as well—at a benefit showcase for Rise & Thrive and LOTUS Legal Clinic. Good friends and incredible musicians Chris Rosenau and Jon Mueller will join us as special guests to play a set, and Erin Wolf (Hello Death, Group of the Altos) will also join us on songs new & not-so-new.
Please visit the eventbrite link below for tickets to the show, and visit the auction site to get some lovely local goods for a steal —proceeds benefit LOTUS! xoxo -Marielle
Virtual Auction to raise funds for LOTUS Legal Clinic: https://tinyurl.com/2p99wke3