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Rochelle Sumner & Will Kerner

@thebonnetmaker

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Rochelle Sumner (they/she) conceptual artist
A story of becoming visible
Photography by Will Kerner @willkerner

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Sharing an excerpt from my new artist statement: My work grows from the recognition of duality of the self: one part presented and seen; the other part authentic yet hidden. Fusing memory, ancestral history, and personal experience, I explore what it means to belong and be visible. I interrogate gender and identity, transgenerational shame, self-betrayal, and self-acceptance through performance, installation, and writing. Infrared photo by @willkerner.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #justgoshoot #instagood #instaphoto #picoftheday #photooftheday #portraitperfection #bnwportrait #bnw #bnwphotography #bnwsouls #monochrome #bnwmood #bnw_demand #bnw_greatshots #bnw_captures #performanceart #genderfluid #nonbinary #androgynous #pronouns #pride #lesbian #lgbtq 🌈 #them #oneofthem taken in Hatteras, North Carolina by @thebonnetmaker

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Hiding yourself creates a loneliness that never goes away.Of course shame takes its toll on one’s mental health. This year state legislatures across the country have introduced more than 100 bills to restrict trans rights. Eight anti-LGBTQ bills have already been enacted into law in states this year. Ten more are awaiting Governors’ signatures. I hope that by telling my story I can help bring about change.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #justgoshoot #instagood #instaphoto #PicOfTheDay #PhotoOfTheDay #PortraitPerfection #BnW #Monochrome #BnW_Mood #bnw_greatshots #performanceart #nonbinary #genderfluid #genderqueer #androgynous #pronouns
#nonbinarytransition #pride #loveislove #lesbian #lovewins #lgbtq 🌈 #them #they/them #oneofthem #gayinsta by @thebonnetmaker

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One of the themes of The Bonnet Maker project is the exploration of prescribed gender roles, and blurring those roles.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #justgoshoot #instagood #instaphoto #PicOfTheDay #PhotoOfTheDay #PortraitPerfection #BnW #Monochrome #BnW_Mood #bnw_greatshots #performanceart #nonbinary #genderfluid #genderqueer #androgynous #pronouns #nonbinarytransition #pride #loveislove #lesbian #lovewins #lgbtq 🌈 #them #they/them #oneofthem #visualsoflife by @thebonnetmaker

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A journey from hiding to embracing who we are. For The Bonnet Maker and for me, self-acceptance. Infrared photography by Will Kerner @willkerner.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #justgoshoot #instagood #instaphoto #PicOfTheDay #PhotoOfTheDay #PortraitPerfection #BnW #Monochrome #BnW_Mood #bnw_greatshots #performanceart #nonbinary #genderfluid #genderqueer #androgynous #pronouns #nonbinarytransition #pride #loveislove #lesbian #lovewins #lgbtq 🌈 #them #they/them #oneofthem #visualsoflife taken in Hatteras, North Carolina by @thebonnetmaker

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During our September beach shoot I began gathering courage to come out as gender fluid. Today I begin sharing Will Kerner’s @willkerner photographs of The Bonnet Maker’s evolution. This project has helped me to embrace who I am, and to share myself and my journey with you.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #justgoshoot #instagood #instaphoto #PicOfTheDay #PhotoOfTheDay #PortraitPerfection #BnW #Monochrome #BnW_Mood #bnw_greatshots #performanceart #nonbinary #genderfluid #genderqueer #androgynous #transisbeautiful #pronouns #nonbinarytransition #pride #loveislove #lesbian #lovewins #lgbtq 🌈 #them #they/them #oneofthem taken in Hatteras, North Carolina by @thebonnetmaker

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I began hiding when I was 15. There was no name for kids like me in the 1970s except tomboy. It was assumed and expected by my family, teachers, and most of my peers, that I’d outgrow the tomboy phase, and become a normal teenage girl. I don’t have a clear memory of when I decided to give up on myself and become someone else. I do remember it felt easier to be a chameleon and have more friends, and be accepted at home. Once a young person embraces self-betrayal, betrayal becomes a way of being. Making this art and performing has helped me to stop hiding and live as myself. This project has been my segue to living.
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#bonnetmaker #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #performanceartist #picoftheday #nonbinary #lgbtqia2s #genderfluid #genderqueer #androgynous #transisbeautiful #crossdressing #multiplepronouns #pronouns #pronounsmatter #nonbinarytransition #pridemonth #pride #lgbtq #loveislove #lesbian #queer #lovewins #instagay #lgbtpride #lesbianpride #lgbtq 🌈 #them #they/them #oneofthem by @thebonnetmaker

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Gratitude for Will Kerner @willkerner, artner, photographer and friend. Will’s open-mindedness, vision and talent have truly made The Bonnet Maker project what it is today. Will has always been supportive of my personal journey and what our evolving project is about; embracing who we are and visibility.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #instagood #picoftheday #igportrait #PortraitOfTheDay #portraitphotography #justgoshoot #Photogram #Capture #PhotographyDaily #PhotographyIsLife #performanceart #pridemonth #pride #lgbtq #loveislove #queer #lgbtpride #lovewins
#nonbinary #lgbtpride #pridemonth #genderfluid #genderqueer #androgynous #oneofthem #lgbtq 🌈 taken in Hatteras, North Carolina by @thebonnetmaker

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Hi friends, I’m a mature woman just coming out as gender-fluid. My pronouns are they/she. I’m an interdisciplinary fine artist and storyteller. I feel very grateful to be here as my vulnerable self.

I grew up in a small town in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia in the 1970’s and early 80’s. I was a “tomboy.” When I was 14 I believed if I transformed myself into a feminine girl, I would be accepted and loved, and I wouldn’t feel alone. However, my path of becoming “normal” only intensified my feelings of self-loathing.

I’m posting my truth in my fine art page because The Bonnet Maker story is about becoming visible. Doing this work has helped me to accept the person I’ve always been. On a subconscious level, I created The Bonnet Maker character because I wanted to stop hiding, and live as my authentic self. In the process of freeing my character, I began my journey of uncovering and healing.

I’d like to give thanks to all in the LGBTTIQQ2SA community. Thank you for your courage and telling your stories. You inspired me to come out, and to begin loving who I am. Thank you family and Charlottesville friends for your love and support. Thank you Will Kerner @willkerner for being on this journey with me as both my collaborator and my friend. Pictured with me is Zap @zapmcconnell (we’re vaccinated and had Covid tests).

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Love to you all, Rochelle
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#bonnetmaker #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #picoftheday #they/them #nonbinary #lgbtqia2s #genderfluid #genderqueer #androgynous #oneofthem #transisbeautiful #crossdressing #multiplepronouns #pronouns #pronounsmatter #nonbinarytransition #pridemonth #pride #lgbtq #loveislove #lesbian #queer #lovewins #instagay #lgbtpride #pridemonth #lesbianlove #lesbianpride #lgbtq 🌈 by @thebonnetmaker

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Behind the scenes. On the left dune, my collaborator Will Kerner, photographer @willkerner.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #instagood #picoftheday #igportrait #portraitphotography #artphotography #justgoshoot #performanceart #pridemonth #pride #lgbtq #loveislove #lesbian #queer #lgbtpride #lovewins #nonbinary #instagay #lgbtpride #pridemonth
#lesbianlove #lesbianpride #genderfluid #genderqueer #androgynous #oneofthem #lgbtq 🌈 taken in Hatteras, North Carolina by @thebonnetmaker

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This is not about what I thought it was. Yes, this is a coming out story. I thought I was telling the story of a bonneted, old order woman who secretly loves women. It’s so much more. The Bonnet Maker creative journey began as an exploration and story about generations of hidden, and hardened women in my family. I wanted to uncover the metaphoric bonnets they hid their true selves in. As a girl, I learned how to hide from my family and my old order ancestors. They were my hiding mentors.

A change of clothing on location; an old order man’s suit and hat, jolts me back to when I was 6 years old and a tomboy. As a child and adolescent I felt like a boy and girl. I didn’t know one could be both. The Bonnet Maker evolves to a story about a mature woman exploring, welcoming, and embracing gender fluidity.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #artofvisuals #instagood #picoftheday #igportrait #portraitphotography #justgoshoot #artofvisuals #performanceart #pridemonth #pride #lgbtq #loveislove #lesbian #queer #lgbtpride #lovewins #nonbinary #instagay #lgbtpride #pridemonth #lesbianlove #lesbianpride #genderfluid #genderqueer #androgynous #lgbtq 🌈 taken in Hatteras, North Carolina by @thebonnetmaker

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Behind the scenes from our photoshoot at the beach. Saying goodbye to the bonnet and embracing gender fluidity.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #justgoshoot #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #portraitperfection #portrait_society #igportrait #portraitoftheday #photographydaily #visualsoflife #thecreatorclass #artofvisuals #redhead #redheads #performanceart #beachphotoshoot #genderfluid #nonbinary #pride #lgbtq #loveislove #lgbtq🌈 #genderqueer #comingout #comingoutstory #lesbians taken in Hatteras, North Carolina by @thebonnetmaker

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The Bonnet Maker embraces gender fluidity.
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#bonnetmaker #instaart #artistoninstagram #instagramartist #justgoshoot #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #portraitperfection #igportrait #portraitoftheday #bnw #monochrome #bnw_mood #bnw_greatshots #performanceart #conceptualartist #crossdresser #genderfluid #genderbender #nonbinary #pride #lgbtq #loveislove #genderqueer
🏳🌈 #lgbtq🌈 #comingout #tomboyfemme #latetolesbian #lesbian taken in Dayton, Virginia by @thebonnetmaker

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