Behind the Scenes: A Biennial Collaboration
By Christina Larson, Pensacola Branch
A whispered longing came to life, an echo in my heart over the unanticipated volume of accolades for my newly published book. Awards for “Rosemary, Now and Then” keep gathering — International Literary Titan, Living Now Bronze Medal, Indie Reader Discovery, Readers’ Favorite, Firebird Book honor, National Indie Excellence — and it’s under consideration for a Pulitzer. Speaking venues materialized, and the book has made Amazon’s bestseller list.
Rave reviews from gratified readers over its uplifting message on dementia and dying convey a calling to share the heartening story with a larger audience. In February 2025, just after the book’s publication, two Pensacola Branch members asked to collaborate with me for a spring presentation. Although logistical hurdles prevented that vision from panning out, it sparked my interest in collaborating.
The call for collaboration requires determined flexibility. When the 2026 Biennial celebration requested proposals for collaborative presentations, I got right to work. Shimmering possibility also seemed daunting. How does one approach strangers scattered nationally across branches, connected only by professional, creative passion? The answer was simple: Just ask.
The search began: hunting the NLAPW website and The Pen Woman magazine like a prospector screening for treasure. I sent a preliminary draft of the presentation, “The Curious Phenomena of Dementia and Dying,” to members whose vision resonated with the book. Responses crackled like electricity. Phone calls and emails arrived from Pen Women charged with insightful, enthusiastic questions.
When artist Sally Stormon discovered my query in her inbox, she thought it was a scam until she saw it was from a fellow Pen Woman. Upon contact, she realized the proposal encouraged free creative expression by each participant on the subjects of dementia and dying. This was the impetus she needed to attend the Biennial.
The same goes for Elizabeth MacQueen, who plans to attend all the way from Paris, France, and Pietrasanta, Italy, where she sculpts. Vanessa Johnson’s stage presence and knack for spinning a tale was a must. And Dawn Petrill — whose art lessons guide souls through Alzheimer’s fog — brought another approach to dementia.
Session-time constraints limited us to five participants, each aware of the topic’s essential value. Our diverse, complementary disciplines intend to transform bleak topics of dementia and dying into vibrant marvels.
When weaving caregiving, dementia, and dying experiences into a cohesive presentation, relationships gel. The book prompts Sally’s paintbrush into three watercolors. In Europe, Elizabeth’s kiln burns hot with a beautiful sculptural image of dying. Like me, caring for their parents fuels Vanessa’s and Sally’s passionate intensity. Clad in customized attire, Vanessa is poised for a vibrant, captivating production. While Dawn focuses on three art students with dementia, I counterbalance our presentation with uplifting insights on mortality.
Strangers became sisters by coordinating different views and artistic forms. Monthly Zoom meetings inspired camaraderie, singing with energy for our mutual endeavor. Ideas ricocheted across screens with fireflies-meetCirque-du-Soleil vibrance. Suggestions soared. Consensus emerged as we scrutinized each fanciful notion. Blurts of laughter over some ideas offset serious considerations that we polished until reality gleamed.
Refining our vision, Sally Stormon noted that the collaboration’s synergy generates a creative whole greater than the sum of its parts. What began as five talented individuals with notes, brushes, fabric, and bronze transformed into a synchronized sisterhood, united by a common purpose. Our April 24 presentation at 3:30 p.m. in The Darcy’s Bader Ginsburg Ballroom promises to be an unforgettable, multidimensional event.
But the greatest gift isn’t for the audience alone. We’ve already given each other proof that collaboration powered by curiosity transforms strangers into sisters, and contemplation into pure gold destined to make Washington, D.C., shine.