Fabled Asp: A Catalyst for Change
Supporting the Next Generation of Activism and Creative Projects
The mission of Fabled Asp is to empower disabled lesbians of diverse racial, cultural and age backgrounds to express stories, challenges, accomplishments and lessons of the movement. From the beginning, we knew we wanted to work with artists. Some projects we commissioned, some we co-created, co-sponsored, mentored or helped produce. We have supported many projects in collaboration with renowned artists. They also serve as examples of what can be done when artists relate to the original materials.
We want to encourage interaction with the archives not only by scholars but also by artists of every persuasion.
Like the aspen for whom we are named, we will continue to send up shoots and enlarge our grove of activist disabled lesbians and allies throughout the world for years to come.
Click here to download a list of our collections and topics pdf.
You too can access our archives as inspiration for future artistic projects!
To access our archives, please contact Fabled Asp.
“Sending up shoots” and supporting new creative works: Digital Stories
Several projects that were initially begun under the auspices of Fabled Asp have continued to develop and evolve. Two such projects grew out of our collaboration with the Center for Digital Storytelling, where we co-hosted workshops for disabled lesbians to create 3-minute personal movies combining storytelling technique with one’s own photos, video or music.
Morningstar Vancil
Morningstar Vancil, a member of the Fabled Asp Core Group, had her digital story “Wild Strawberries” featured in the 2010 “6th Annual Queer Women of Color Film Festival” (a project of QWOCMAP: the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project). This was the first ever open-captioned film to be submitted to the festival.
“Wild Strawberries” © Morningstar Vancil
Judith Masur
“Thank you for sponsoring me to take the digital storytelling workshop. It allowed me to open the box of tapes which had lain for 11 years in my basement after the death of my partner. I never expected to have such a breakthrough.”–Judith Masur
Dominika Bednarska
Dominika Bednarska, reading from her one-woman show
In “My Body Love Story,” Queer disabled femme Dominika Bednarska takes us through dance floors, shopping malls, and theaters to tell the story of how she learned to love her body. Dominika is a writer, solo performer, poet and academic living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She received mentoring from Fabled Asp, and was also invited to participate in the Lineage art project facilitated by E.G. Crichton. “My Body Love Story” is her first play, and was developed with the support of the AIRspace residency program.
“As a young queer woman, it has been amazing being involved with Fabled Asp. I have found a tremendous sense of community, history and support for the importance of the visibility of disabled lesbians.”–Dominika Bednarska, 29
