One Year Anniversary of the Chestbursters Art Show

Oh hi there. It’s been exactly a year since the Chestbursters exhibit, and even though a lot has changed you’ll be pleased to know we’re still having just as many, if not more, painful crushes. WE’LL NEVER STOP.

In honor of our anniversary we’re posting photos and script from a performance art piece by the chestburstingly fabulous, Munirih Campbell. Drawing inspiration from childhood memories, letters, and handmade clothing, she explores her own very personal history of painful crushes.

Keep making art out of heartache dear Chestburstees, and we’ll catch you on the interwerbz,

A + M

Dear Teddy,

I know this is verging on harassment to send you a third letter, but I have decided that I want to anyway.

1989 Helen Dixon Elementary School, Monsieur Pulen, Grade 1 

Shanty gave me a pretty red jean mini skirt and I wore it to school.
Saw my teacher looking at me
I crossed my legs
Desperately shy, Stubbornly shy
Lost all my friends
Why was I the target?

My dad is 6’8”
Can’t bend my head back far enough to actually see if there are ears on the sides of his head
Probably not there
I know he has a mouth because all I can hear is him

I refuse to be the target ever again
Men have power
So, I will become one
I wear only over-sized tee shirts and sweat pants all year round
Running shoes like my brothers are comfortable
Like his crew cut. I will get one too

Being a half breed is so natural for me I don’t even have to think about it.
Half shy, half Bold
Half boy, half girl
I wonder why guys don’t like me
I wonder why girls like me too much
My sister tells me I treat men the way they treat girls
 

 

Dear Teddy

Roses are red. Violets are blue, but yellow is my favourite colour. You yellow belly! Although your lack of communication could suggest disinterest in regards to my proposition, I choose to see it as an opportunity to share more. I think my desire to share comes from a more inherent desire to give birth and to sustain that life with my giving breasts. Just to make sure that you understand this, the equivalent for you would probably be to eat a lot of protein to maintain your muscle mass.

Well anyway, I will be wearing all primaries. If you are interested in coordinating our outfits you may want to go for blue as I don’t have a ton to show for that particular primary as of yet. I was also thinking you might want to pick me up a corsage at a florist near you. If this is something you would like to do I should inform you that I think roses are cliche, and too obvious a choice for my liking. Tulips! I like the name but they have a bad case of halitosis that makes my nose curl and seeing as there will be pictures taken I would prefer not to have one. Maybe you should go for some kind of exotic orchid. That might express the undying love you feel for me in the depths of your silenced heart.

I leave it to you,

Munirih

This is your opportunity for a facetious response you Pansy Ass!!! (… and incidentally, did you know that pansy, besides the obvious, also stands for “think of me”, according to The Language and Sentiment of Flowers, by James D. McCabe. Meditate on that!
  

My sister is right
If she is talking about my aggression
I have a bad habit of de-maning them in an attempt to prevent the little-womaning of me
I’m alone
And basically always have been
I’m 28

 
Dear Teddy,
 
I’m sorry. I want to say that I need to change, but I can’t right now.