PCC Veterans Participant Form

What is your Origin Story?



What shaped your personal and cultural sense of identity? What is the story behind how you or your ancestors arrived here? What wisdom do you carry from the generations that preceded you? What have you overcome on your way to finding the identity that roots you to the world?

The project focuses on stories from four categories:


  • Experiences of Legacy – voices of our ancestors, lessons from our elders, impact of generational heritage…


  • Experiences of Arrival – coming to America, embracing new family members, arriving in a new community…


  • Experiences of Adversity – abuse, poverty, addiction, transformation, renewal and resilience…

  • Experiences of Revelation – LBGTQ+ stories, spiritual/religious awakening, secrets discovered, insights gained…


Each of these categories has the potential to expand over time. Experiences of Arrival could grow to encompass welcoming new family members, new community members, finding oneself in a new place and community. Experiences of Revelation could grow to include spiritual or religious awakening, secrets discovered, insights gained. Experiences of Adversity will likely grow to include other stories of discovery, transformation, and renewal. All the stories contain within them the seeds of recognition, understanding and compassion.

Guidelines for Storytellers and Artists

  • Participants may choose to:

    • Share both their personal story and create their own Art Box.

    • Collaborate with another participant, where one person serves as the storyteller and the other as the visual artist.

    Together, these two voices create a single narrative experience.

  • Audio Story 

    • Maximum length: 4 minutes

    • Record using a Voice Memo MP3 application whenever possible.

    • Recordings should be clear and free from background noise.

    Written Story 

    • Maximum length: 250 words

    Story Introduction

    • Please begin every recording by introducing yourself, your age, and where you live.

      • Example: "My name is Stanley Johnston. I live in San Francisco, California. I am ___ years old, and my story is…"

  • Art Boxes are designed to travel to multiple exhibitions and must be built for long-term durability.

    Please ensure that:

    • The structure is stable and securely constructed.

    • Every object attached to the inside or outside of the box is permanently secured.

    • No loose materials are used, including sand, dirt, powders, glitter, or unattached objects.

    • All components are capable of withstanding repeated packing, transportation, installation, and exhibition.

    Adhesives

    Artists are responsible for selecting adhesives appropriate for permanent exhibition. While hot-melt glue is convenient, it often fails over time—particularly when bonding to acrylic surfaces. E6000® adhesive is strongly recommended because it provides a clear, flexible, and long-lasting bond suitable for travel and repeated handling.

    Drilling Acrylic

    If modifications require drilling into the acrylic box, use a drill bit specifically designed for acrylic or plastics. These bits scrape rather than force the material, significantly reducing the risk of cracking.

  • The Origin Stories Project team will pack, transport, and install every Art Box with great care and respect. However, the team cannot be responsible for reconstructing damaged artwork, reassembling detached objects, or interpreting the artist's original composition if elements become loose during shipping.

    Artists are responsible for ensuring their work is exhibition-ready before shipment.

  • If your Art Box contains any of the following:

    • Lighting, sound, battery-operated devices, moving or mechanical elements, or electronic components

    Please include, if applicable:

    • Operating instructions, installation directions, maintenance instructions, and extra batteries

    Please assume your Art Box will be installed by volunteers during exhibition setup. Instructions should be simple, concise, and easy to follow.

  • Maximum Dimensions

    • 20" × 20" × 20"

    Maximum Weight

    • 20 pounds

  • For additional information, please contact: