EXHIBIT: an a̶m̶e̶n̶d̶e̶d̶ woman, depose by KRISTINE ESSER SLENTZ
KRISTINE ESSER SLENTZ’s re-release of her experimental lyric, woman, depose, now re-envisioned and entitled EXHIBIT: an a̶m̶e̶n̶d̶e̶d̶ woman,depose, is a candid and intimate journey of a tumultuous legal battle centered on sexual harassment, gender bias, and sexual orientation discrimination and retaliation. After enduring a grueling two-year lawsuit, the case was unexpectedly dismissed due to technicalities and evidence as "hearsay." This pivotal moment forced a confrontation of not only the legal system’s intricacies but also prompted a profound personal introspection.
Through raw and honest storytelling via court document redaction, lyrical poetics, and cross-genre work, SLENTZ re- (and perhaps cross-) examines experiences with sex, sexuality, and the intricate dynamics of power and desire—and their impacts such as substance abuse and violence.
EXHIBIT is a new and vital interrogation of an unfiltered exploration of sexual abuse, trauma, and the pervasive nature of harassment—on a personal level and within the broader societal context.
SLENTZ’s poignant hybrid and experimental text invites readers to navigate the complexities and nuances of sexuality, gender bias, and the multifaceted layers of discrimination. EXHIBIT: an amended woman, depose serves as a testament to resilience, empowerment, and the unyielding pursuit of recovery and understanding.
KRISTINE ESSER SLENTZ, a Maltese descendent, queer, cult escapee, and author of woman, depose (FlowerSong Press 2021, 2024). She grew up in both northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area—what her father calls the ‘bottom of the blue-collar.’ After receiving her GED, she completed her undergraduate degree at Purdue University, double-majoring in English Literature and Creative Writing, before earning a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (poetry) from City College of New York (CCNY). She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at CCNY, among other places. KRISTINE is a Pushcart Prize nominee, finalist in the Glass Poetry Chapbook and F(r)iction’s Flash Fiction Contests, recipient of a CCNY English Department Teacher-Writer Award, a City Artist Corps Grant, and former Rifkind Fellow and Poets Afloat resident. She has had artwork displayed in exhibits at the 5547 Project and recently in Pride & Joy at the Athenaeum Indy. She is the co-founder and organizer/host of the monthly experimental artist series, Adverse Abstraction, in New York City’s East Village. You can follow KRISTINE’s art on her substack, Carnations & Car Crashes.