Midwest Broken Mirror
A Traveling Portrait Series
Portraits and lived narratives from across the Midwest exploring how bodies are shaped by culture, trauma, identity, and power.
About Midwest Broken Mirror
Midwest Broken Mirror is a portrait and video series featuring lived body-image narratives from across the Midwest. The project explores how race, gender identity, sexual orientation, culture, trauma, ability, and power shape the way we experience our bodies—and how we see one another.
Body image is not just about appearance; it is shaped by systems, expectations, and lived experience. Through photography and personal storytelling, Midwest Broken Mirror challenges narrow beauty standards and expands how bodies are understood, moving beyond shame and stereotype to explore identity, embodiment, safety, and belonging. By elevating voices often overlooked or misunderstood, the project invites deeper reflection on how bodies are valued—and who is allowed to feel at home within them.
Midwest Broken Mirror envisions a future where bodies are no longer filtered through systemic oppression, and where people are visible, complex, and able to thrive within their own skin.
Host Midwest Broken Mirror
Midwest Broken Mirror is a rotating portrait installation available to businesses, campuses, galleries, and community spaces across the Midwest. Host partners display a curated selection of stories for 30 days and are included in regional promotion and press outreach.
Bring this exhibition into your space and become part of a broader community conversation.
The Complete Series
Midwest Broken Mirror features 22 portrait narratives from across the Midwest. Select stories are available to preview online; the full exhibition is experienced in person through rotating installations.
MICHIGAN | Body Dysmorphia / Masculinity, Mental Health / Fitness Culture / Male Body Image
MINNESOTA | Chronic Illness / Eating Disorders / Aging / Cancer / Health vs Appearance
KANSAS | Eating Disorders / Athletic Body Standards / Mental Health / Recovery / Motherhood
NEBRASKA | Gender Identity / Transgender Visibility / Body Dysphoria / Transition & Self-Discovery
MISSOURI | Chronic Illness / Disability Visibility / Redefining Strength / Cultural Beauty Standards
NORTH DAKOTA | Transracial Adoption / Racial Identity / Cultural Displacement, Belonging / Identity Formation
MICHIGAN -> ICELAND | Sexual Assault / Purity Culture / Body Dissociation / Healing & Reconnection / Cultural Perspectives on the Body
INDIANA | Weight Stigma, Bullying / Identity & Performance / Male Body Image / Generational Healing
WISCONSIN | Rare Medical Condition / Skinny Shaming / Chronic Illness & Surgery / Survival & Strength
MICHIGAN | Gender Identity / Transgender Visibility / Access to Care / Discrimination & Safety / Living Authentically
SOUTH DAKOTA | Addiction Recovery / Body Dysmorphia / Tattooing & Identity / Mental Health
KANSAS | Childhood Body Image / Bullying & Peer Pressure / Self-Esteem Development / Body Function vs Appearance
MICHIGAN | Cultural Identity / Sexism, Religious Expression / Islamophobia / Challenging Stereotypes
IOWA | Weight Stigma / Sexual Exploitation / Body Autonomy / Fashion as Empowerment
MINNESOTA | Human Trafficking / Sexual Assault / Trauma Recovery / Creative Expression
MICHIGAN | Alopecia & Hair Loss / Black Hair and Identity / Healing from Trauma / Authentic Self-Expression
MICHIGAN | Body Changes from Illness / Thinness Ideals / Sexism / Media & Beauty Standards / Workplace Gender Bias
The Mirrors Workbook
This exhibition asks you to reflect. The workbook helps you do the work.
Designed as a companion to the exhibition, it offers structured prompts and exercises that help readers examine their own experiences, internal narratives, and inherited beliefs about their bodies. Rather than offering quick confidence fixes, it encourages thoughtful, sustained self-inquiry.
The workbook can be used individually or in facilitated settings, making it a flexible resource for classrooms, discussion groups, and community spaces.
Inside the workbook:
• Guided reflection prompts
• Discussion questions for groups
• Exercises examining culture and identity
• Space for personal narrative work
Midwest Broken Mirror welcomes written submissions from individuals across the Midwest who want to share their experiences with body image.
You may submit your story in two ways:
Submission Spotlight Blog
Share a written narrative and 3–4 photos representing your experience. Selected submissions will be published on our website and may be shared on social media.
Featured Portrait + Film
A limited number of individuals are invited each year to participate in a filmed interview and portrait session with our creative team. These featured stories become part of the traveling exhibition and may be displayed in host locations across the Midwest.
SUBMIT HERE
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT BLOG
Real stories from across the Midwest — written by individuals reflecting on their relationship with their bodies.
This space is open and ongoing. If you’d like to be featured, submit your story above.
Read the Latest Story:
"My value isn't tied to my body." - Janelle
"Through my challenges with alopecia I was faced with redefining my own beauty standards." - Katlyn
"When I got Covid-19 in 2020, the capabilities of my body completely changed, and half my hair fell out from the illness. It only made me stronger." - Stacey
The Impact
Breaking Barriers.
Using the very relatable topic of body image to open up conversation around crucial controversial issues such as racism, sexism, ableism, etc. Our approach intends to cut through the toxic defensive tension that is so prevalent in our society and help us truly see each other.
Body Education.
Creating interactive discussion guides is intended to provide a resource that goes beyond awareness to tangibly tackle our thought processes.
Aiding Research.
Much of body-image research and awareness is heavily focused around white sis-gendered women. Our detailed stories are intended to more equally represent our society and expand the dialogue around body image to aid more research on populations that are often excluded.
Empowering Our Youth.
Youth are our future. We’re not only educating, we’re empowering them to feel excited about the differences between bodies, and to challenge the discriminatory systems designed to make them feel less than.
The Artists & Volunteers
Lead Photographer & Creative Producer
Jena Hovey is an award-winning Michigan-based photographer and the owner of McShane Photography. She is perhaps most well known for her zombie and vintage pin-up series, unique street photography, and storm/landscape work. With a characteristic style and diverse body of work, she is one of the most sought-after and respected photographers in the state. Jena’s work has been featured in numerous places including National Rock Review and The Weather Channel. She is an artist whose work is informed by compassion and empathy for the beautiful spaces and subjects she is charged with conveying to the world. From chasing storms in the Midwest to working with survivors of abuse, her ability to capture the emotion and true spirit of her subjects is uncanny.
Laura E. Swanson is an independent filmmaker, professional speaker, and the Executive Director of the nonprofit, ‘Creative Embers’. Her work is rooted in building awareness of societal issues using a non-sensationalized and victim-centered artistic approach. Swanson is best known for her 2017 film, ‘Break the Chain,’ bringing greater attention to the issue of Human Trafficking within Michigan communities. Her work has been screened in university classrooms around the U.S., International Film Festivals, State Supreme Courts and employed as educational and training resources for first responders and nonprofit organizations. Laura is an alum of Michigan State University with a degree in Media & Information, specializing in Documentary Film. She is currently a graduate student at Oakland University studying Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. With a passion for using art and media to shift perspectives and influence change, she continues to work towards building a strong community of independent artists creating initiatives that inspire action.
Design, Animation, & Illustration
Gabriella Popper
Emilio Rubio
Lisa Assenmacher
Medha Gajendragadkar
Daniel Wogan
Fiona Steffens
Violet Steffens
Film Crew
Michael Nabozny
Caitlin Woudstra
Kirk Mason
Jennifer Berggren
Hayden Acker
Volunteer Outreach & Production Assistants
Casey Shipman
Parios Williams
Morgan Madden
Sarah Burnosky
Common Questions
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If you’re selected as one of our key stories, you will have the opportunity to share your story via two photographs and a documentary-style interview. Our experienced (and super fun) team will work with you in creating imagery that captures your experiences. Your collective visual story will be released on our webpage and social media platforms - it will also have the opportunity to be displayed in spaces throughout the Midwest.
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Absolutely. Every step of the way we work to make sure you are comfortable with the representation of your story. You are able to view your photos and video interview prior to their release. Our team has experience in working with sensitive subject matter and we appreciate the vulnerability and courage it takes to share your experiences.
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Yes and no. To be selected as one of our key stories, you do need to be from the Midwest. However, if you’d like to share via our Submission Spotlight, you do not need to be from the Midwest. Currently, the COVID19 pandemic has restricted our travel, thus most of our stories are from Michigan, but we can’t wait to travel out to you when it’s safer!.
Follow our journey.
Stay up to date with us and find more information and inspiration on our Facebook and Instagram.
