American LOVE Project_091

Item

Open journal with handwritten text and bookmarks labeled "MY JOURNALS," "MY UNFINISHED ADVENTURE," and "AMBULANCE RIDE."

Title: American LOVE Project_091
Alternative Title: American LOVE Project
Creator: Karen Blessen
Date: 2021-2022
Description: The image shows an open journal with two pages filled with handwritten text in English. The text is written in black ink and features a flowing style. The left page contains a narrative divided into numbered sections, with each section introducing a different aspect of the diarist's life and character. The right page continues the narrative with additional points, also numbered. The journal pages are cream-colored, and several colorful tabbed bookmarks protrude from the top, labeled as "MY JOURNALS," "MY UNFINISHED A," and "AMBULANCE RIDE."
Identifier: 2021_010621 to 2022 060222_The American LOVE Project Journal
Dates Completed: January 6, 2021 - June 2, 2022
Keywords: Insurrection; January 6; US Capitol; Texas freeze; Infrastructure fragility; Political instability; Power outage; Water disruption; Internet loss; Medical services disruption; Mail delay; Dallas weather; Lorraine Lienemann; Cancer; Grief; P. Nut; Sparky; Cat loss; 22-year-old cats; American LOVE Project; 29 Pieces; Violence response; National project; Art installation; Washington DC; Covid resurgence; Online gallery; Student art; Educator art; 24 states; Team collaboration; Project outcome; theamericanloveproject.org; Anne Frank; Diary takeaways; Lessons learned; Studio visit; Darryl Ratcliff; Journal viewing; Strategic shift
Transcription: Left Page:

"She was a faithful diarist. A true journal-ist. She dreamt of being a journalist - and indeed she succeeded beyond what probably wasn't conceivable in her wildest dreams.
She turned to the diary to not only record her days + this Reality she was in, but to process. To find comfort. And by writing, taking pen from heart to brain to hand to paper, she found comfort and understanding in a unique way that wasn't forth-coming or really possible from the adults around her - or from Peter.
She was a storyteller. She had the writer's capacity to organize thoughts into an entertaining way - even if she was simply entertaining herself."

Right Page:

"Examples: Her story of the sound of liquid _ finding out the cat used wood shavings for litter
Her story of "A Day in the Army."
She was self aware - she confessed in her diary when she understood the sometimes selfish reasons for her behavior - or when she held it in and didn't talk back even if she wanted to.
She was terrified. Through it all, she was aware of the monsters on the other side of the door. And the thin protective atmosphere between safety and utter terror and horror. AND DEATH."
She was charming and amusing. Her joys were palpable - as were her annoyances.
Rights: To inquire about usage, please contact Archives and Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries.
Is Part Of: American Love Project
Relation: Image Gallery