The Origin Stories Project is a collaborative initiative that merges storytelling and visual art to explore themes of migration, cultural heritage, discovery, and struggle. Participants reflect on personal experiences and transform them into original artworks, using transparent boxes as expressive vessels that bring their narratives to life. By sharing these diverse yet deeply human stories, the project fosters empathy, connection, and a collective understanding of identity and resilience. The collective result of so many seemingly diverse stories ultimately illuminates the deep bonds that unite us.
Serendipitous Connection leads to working with OSP
My installation, In My Own Little Corner, models the vulnerability and emotional depth at the heart of OSP. This pairing creates a powerful dialogue between individual and collective experience, fostering humanity, self-discovery, and a deeper sense of community through art.
Video above of my OSP art box—Inspired by the installation,
In My Own Little Corner
I am queer, Black, grew up poor, on a tobacco farm in rural North Carolina. My father owned a mom-and-pop grocery store by day, illegal liquor house at night. My Baptist family, believing anything that felt good was a sin, drove my shame-desperation to get out of the sticks. A serendipitous connection with OSP’s John Martin opened a divine portal. Everything they were doing, I was doing to tell my story– through art. I could see a solid relationship grow while creating my own Origin Story box, and even more after being asked to speak at one of their salon events. It has been a seamless working relationship thus far. I believe OSP can help us see the threads that can heal, find our humanity, inspire and change other people’s lives from 8 to 108.
Willie Little
Artist & Author
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