Creating and Exiting in a Third Space to Avoid the Art of Othering

As an Indigenous Artist of mixed decent I often find myself forced into artistic and academic spaces that were not created for me, or if they were then they were created in the context of othering one part of me that does not equal a whole. I am then often expected to exploit and toggle between the two spaces as needed. I propose a third space that utilizes overlapping communities with immersive and interactive technology to create spaces in which mixed, displaced individuals (and others who are often othered by the institutions we need to thrive) can create our own language of what being authentically represented means. With an eye on Indigenous Futurism and informed by Afrofuturism, I imagine decentralized digital platforms such as virtual reality, gaming engines, and self curated shows in which we could not only exist, but also find some sort of middle ground with institutions in which we are not othered by a Eurocentric lens. I welcome anyone who has experienced feelings of duality that have led to them having to edit themselves and their work in order fit into confined spaces to contribute to this panel. The ideal outcome would be to process ideas for both digital and real life third spaces for both art making and community building that empower us to participate in the world as whole individuals.