Liv Evans
Liv Sitting on a Tree Trunk, Collaborative Portrait
Liv sits on a tree trunk in a park in Iowa City. They look directly at the camera with a cable release in their hands. They have fair skin, curly short hair, and are wearing a white t-shirt, jeans, and boots.
Statement: I am interested in exploring the relational nature of queerness. “ecdysis” is a stripping down, both literally and emotionally, to the kind of quiet care that is most present indoors, at night, with the curtains drawn. The project consists almost entirely of photos of “J” and “A” in personal moments that I’m grateful to have witnessed. “ecdysis” is concerned with the reciprocity of intimacy: I know how you love me because of how you look at me. I look at you the same.
Biography: Liv Evans is a Midwestern poet living in Iowa City, IA. Their work has appeared or is forthcoming in ballast magazine, Sho Poetry Journal, and Passages North.
Instagram: @onionstackr
ecdysis
“On my reading chair, in my bedroom, injecting myself with my shot of estrogen, as I’ve done every week for several years.” -J
Image of myself in the shower. There are tattoos across my arms and chest. My top surgery scars are visible.
“Getting ready for an evening of pool and brews with the boys in my XXL button-up and my silk bra, smiling with my fresh lip piercing.” -J
A portrait of J in bed, paired with a photo of her legs in bed as she’s laid on her side.
“Getting ready once again, in between outfits, chatting and sharing while my pals keep me company. My deep-set eyes find the camera without blinking, for once. I’m quite pleased with the way my lengthy body has taken shape in the second photo.” -J
“My reflection while I was focused on fixing a memento that had fallen from the corner of my vanity mirror where it’s kept tucked. If I remember, this one was the sticky note drawing of a landscape and a castle with a knight. A girl had given it to me at work.” -J
My guest room. A rocking chair is centered, framed by two open windows. In the foreground is a bed with rumpled sheets.
“I’m a 24 year old biracial girl. In this picture I’m in my new blue boxers in my new bed. I’m holding onto a pillow. Liv’s vape is next to me. The cover is coming off the pillow and the mattress. I look sad, but I think I’m just sleepy.” -A
“In this picture I’m in my sports bra in bed. I’m covering my face with my watch arm. I like it on the right. Liv is on top of me.” -A
“I’m at the beach in a red sweater. I’m looking out over Lake Michigan. We’re very high up. The walk up the stairs killed me, walking slow in sand. I’m catching my breath.” -A
“I’m in bed again, in the sun. In the first one I’m laid out in my Keith Haring shirt with my pants undone. My shorts are too big for me.
In the second photo I’m sitting up. You can only see my side, my underwear over my jeans and my cop car tattoo. My bonnet is on the bed. There’s the poster I cut up framed behind me. It’s the last paragraph of my favorite book, Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson. All you can see of it reads ‘happy ending – in open fields.’” -A
“I’m back holding the pillow. I’m in black. I’m wearing a friendship bracelet a kid made me at the camp I work at in the late summers. My eyes are almost closed and I’m smiling. I’m looking at Liv.” -A