Embellish the soul through hidden talents
THE not-for-profit organisation Voices of Women is coming back to Dubbo during the October school holidays to hold free one or two day workshops to empower young women.
Founder and artistic director Lliane Clarke is returning to regional NSW after the success of the Amplify tour in March.
Ms Clarke said through the embellishment storytelling workshops women will get the opportunity to learn how to articulate their personal stories and be provided a platform for their voices to be heard.
“Embellishment is taking shape – discovering layers of a story with what’s hidden and what’s revealed,” Ms Clarke told Dubbo Photo News.
Ms Clarke said she hopes the program will inspire young women to write a story about lived experiences that could potentially help other women, including body image, friends, family, self-identity, place in community, and self-questioning.
Some of the stories could be performed live, spoken in a podcast, or be produced into a film.
She added that she cannot predict the stories people will submit but encourages young writers to be rich and wild with their language.
“I want women to express themselves about the decisions they have made and questioning whether it is the right one,” she said.
“Coming out of Covid there has been a lot of reluctance of young women speaking up and I really think they could benefit from an empowerment workshop where they could learn how to speak out and shape a story.”
Ms Clarke said the organisation is powerful as it understands each community and individual has the ability to share a story.
“Dubbo is a really interesting place because it has a lot of different communities,” Ms Clarke said.
Voices of Women local artist Kalina Davis will be working with Ms Clarke to showcase her talent while speaking to other women about her writing background.
Ms Davis realised she enjoyed writing in her childhood – especially the eerie side of fiction.
“I went through a lot of tough times, and I think that’s where my creative side started to surface,” Ms Davis said.
She used her writing as a healing mechanism to process her thoughts and emotions.
“I would often twist things and write in ways where I was talking about my experiences but also be completely false by creating wild scenarios,” she said.
She said the organisation sparked a light in which young women could have a platform to share their stories.
“Women to have a platform or to at least be given an opportunity to tell their story, whether it’s funny, creepy, serious really means something,” Ms Davis said.
“I think it’s a great way for women to connect to something deeper.
“Writing things down has always been a great way to express myself because a big part of me felt silenced for a long time.
“Even when no one was reading the things that I was writing, or listening to the songs I was singing, I still felt like I was being heard – I was putting my thoughts out of my soul and my body.”
Ms Davis said in her past she struggled with an identity crisis, abusive relationships and being openly bisexual.
“I think a lot of amazing women are becoming stronger and louder and it is a beautiful thing to see,” she said.
She added that the workshop does not require writing experience.
Young women from 18 to 25 from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Dates are still not confirmed but predicted to be held between Thursday, September 29, to Sunday, October 2.