“I met Mary [Hamill] in New York at my exhibition and when I told her about my oral history project she asked, "Would it be possible to incorporate visual art?" My sister stitches pillowcases, which led to Mary suggesting using cyanotype on them. I originally thought of the idea of pillowcases because when people get married, they have the bride and the groom lay their hands on each other's pillows while their relatives tie ribbons on their wrists. And then on the bed you usually have two pillows - one for yourself and one for your loved one - so when one is gone, one pillow remains.” PeopleArtTwoIdeasHandsGoneNew YorkMetsBedProjectsMarriedRemainsLaysTiesVisualsMy SisterLoved OnesMaryPillowBridesWristsSuggestingExhibitionsRibbonsVisual ArtStitchesOral HistoryPillowcases Author:Chath Piersath
“Some people have witnessed the killing of their husbands, or they survived other horrific things. My sister is a widow but her husband was killed after the Khmer Rouge. There are different periods in which violence has occurred, and differences in how these women became widowed and how they survived afterwards.” PeopleDifferentDifferencesViolencePeriodsHusbandKillingMy SisterSurvivedWidowsHorrificRougeWidowedKhmer Rouge Author:Chath Piersath
“I am a community social psychologist and a lot of my work deals with social work and helping people overcoming addiction and trauma.” PeopleHelpingSocialCommunityDealsOvercomingAddictionTraumaSocial WorkHelping PeoplePsychologistOvercoming Addiction Author:Chath Piersath
“I'm very connected to the story, the history, and the trauma people experience.” PeopleStoriesConnectedTrauma Author:Chath Piersath
“I think that through the narratives of other people you get closer to your own.” PeopleThinkingNarrative Author:Chath Piersath
“You get closer to your own humanity by understanding the stories of other people and the struggles they have.” PeopleStoriesHumanityUnderstandingStruggle Author:Chath Piersath
“For me, the more I understand the story of others, the greater I am able to learn and help other people.” PeopleHelpingStoriesAbleGreaterHelping Others Author:Chath Piersath
“Often when people tell their story, they talk about their strengths and resiliency. It's really about their determination and their aspiration to survive and live.” PeopleStoriesDeterminationAspirationResiliency Author:Chath Piersath
“In This Body Mystery, even though it was written in the voice of people with HIV/AIDS, it's about how people come to accept their fate and their sickness. It's about accepting the way your life is.” PeopleWayBodyLife IsVoiceAcceptingFateWrittenMysteryAidsSicknessHivHiv Aids Author:Chath Piersath
“Whether I affect one person or an entire family, or even a group of people, I feel like I have resources and education and ability and skills that some people may not be fortunate enough to acquire. But by sharing and inquiring, being a listener, and being interested in the stories of other people and their lives, I can also pull things out and say "What can I do for them? What can I share with them that may alleviate some of their suffering?"” PeopleFeelsMayPersonsI CanEnoughStoriesSufferingAbilityGroupsShareSkillsResourcesFortunateAcquireListenersAlleviateInquiring Author:Chath Piersath
“Sometimes the mere connection we make with each other can change people's lives. It doesn't have to be something big. The mere fact that you're interested in them makes them happy.” PeopleSometimesFactsBigsConnectionsMere Author:Chath Piersath
“How am I placing myself in the world of other people around me? For me, I feel that I am not really alone, that others can feel it too. I see art in this way.” PeopleWorldWayFeelsArt Author:Chath Piersath
“I think that there are certain feelings and things you can convey in a simple form that people can see and understand.” PeopleThinkingFeelingsFormCertainSimple Author:Chath Piersath
