In Search of the Frightening and Beautiful

Stories contributed for the fourth leg of In Search of the Frightening & Beautiful. These are descriptions of transformative moments in people’s lives, from the subtle to the sublime. From each story I extract a key phrase and stitch it to a piece of linen that will be given as gifts to others I meet on the road, in exchange for a new story told.

Amanda Lewis. Austin, TX

Amanda was part of a class of junior high school students who visited Houston Center for Contemporary Craft while I was in residency there in 2019. She wrote this brave statement in the notebook I provided, which invited Craft Center visitors to con… — Amanda was part of a class of junior high school students who visited Houston Center for Contemporary Craft while I was in residency there in 2019. She wrote this brave statement in the notebook I provided, which invited Craft Center visitors to contribute stories to my project.

I came out to my mom and brother in early 2018, near the end of the seventh grade. They didn’t say anything until my mom said she wished I was straight instead of bi.

My dad still doesn’t know.

Amanda Lewis
Austin, TX
February 2019

Heather L JohnsonJuly 31, 2019