Every Person is an Invention

Exhibit overview

Every Person is an Invention showcases personal stories created by LGBTQIAPN+ individuals and offers a platform for participants to share and listen to personal narratives, fostering empowerment and visibility for the LGBTQIAPN+ community. The stories featured in the exhibit were created during an online workshop offered by Marginalia Making in April 2024.

The exhibit consists of four interactive multimedia installations that invite participants to explore stories about experiences from childhood that were pivotal in shaping their LGBTQIAPN+ identity. 

• The Story of My Name: An interactive projection exploring the meaning behind given and chosen names.

• Child’s Play: Share how your favorite childhood games influenced your understanding of gender expression.

• Letter to a Child: Read heartfelt letters from participants addressing their younger selves.

• Collective Poem: Contribute to a dynamic, collaborative poem created live by visitors.

The exhibit will be open to the public on April 2nd, at 12:30pm, with a short presentation by Dr. Duarte and Marginalia Making. During the opening event, the NC State University's Libraries Makerspace will offer a button-making activity, and the Digital Media Lab will offer a DJing, collective playlist-making activity. A candy bar will be offered to all participants.

About project leadership

Every Person is an Invention is a community outreach project originally created by Dr. Juarez Guimarães, lead faculty of NEEPEC, a Brazilian research group specializing in Performance and Gender Studies. This edition of the project and the exhibit is part of an international research collaboration between Dr. Fernanda Duarte (Dept. of Communication) and students from Marginalia Making, at NC State, and NEEPEC, at UFMG, in Brazil.

About Marginalia Making

Marginalia Making is dedicated to exploring critical making as critical care, focusing on projects intersecting creativity, community, and social justice. The project is led by Dr. Fernanda Duarte, faculty member at the Department of Communication at NC State University. The interactive projections are designed by CRDM student, Abby Rinaldi. The visual identity is by undergraduate student in Communication, Haley Cummins. Public Relations and Social Media is by undergraduate student in Communication, Shelbi Simpson.

About NEEPEC

NEEPEC is a Brazilian research group specializing in Performance and Gender Studies, committed to advancing understanding and visibility of diverse identities through academic and community-based initiatives. 

Contact Information

For more information, please visit the project page or contact Dr. Fernanda Duarte at fduarte@ncsu.edu.