Jenée Hoton
(they/them pronouns)
Location: Durand, MI
Multimedia Artist, Poet, Singer-Songwriter,
Guitarist
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Socials: Tiktok- @lifeisqueer / @wovenwitches
Instagram- @allthesmallest
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Jenée is a AFAB gender-nonconforming poet and artist born and raised Downriver from Detroit, MI. They wrote their first poem as a child called "Love Is In the Air" for a school project.
Entering into their teenage years, Jenée began having bouts of depression that left them wondering what was wrong with them. These depressive episodes deepened and increased in frequency after high school as they attended college at Wayne State University, then Spring Arbor University. During these episodes, they would regularly skip classes, mealtimes, and regular sleeping hours. It got so bad that they began to wonder how they would do anything in life - either holding a full-time job or having and caring for children. One can't check out of either of those things for weeks at a time.
("Face Lift". Poetry. Created by Jenée Hoton on August 9, 2021.
Prints available for purchase.)
Because of these depressive episodes, Jenée was mistakenly diagnosed with MDD in 2013. The next year, Jenée caught a cold and was taking OTC cold meds and cough suppressant, which happened to send them into a full blown manic episode (phenylephrine and pseudophedrine will do that!). They had had hypomanic episodes prior to this incident, but had failed to recognize them for the mood episodes they were. Following their hospitalization for the manic episode, they was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and later came to identify their neurodivergence as Bipolar 2 more than Bipolar 1. Bipolar 2 has more depressive episodes and hypomania instead of full-blown manic episodes.
("Pressure Relief". Poetry + Ink Drawing. August 2021. Prints available for purchase. )
Jenée has been in treatment for Bipolar 2 since 2014 and has since discovered the diagnosis of CPTSD from some unresolved childhood trauma they had been carrying with them. Symptoms from CPTSD made her emotional state more volatile from moment to moment (vs Bipolar episodes lasting days/weeks).
("Vulture". Poetry. July 2021.)
Jenée sought treatment for CPTSD when they became pregnant and worried about caring for their own child in the near future. They have healed a lot of the rough edges, but still needs some work on emotional regulation here and there. Overall, it's a long term journey, not a sprint. They try to remember how far they've come when it gets tough.
Jenée met their now-husband at SAU before he had come out as a transman. When he first told Jenée that he liked them, it triggered the darkest period in Jenée's life. Growing up in a fundamentalist Christian household, Jenée had been taught that "homosexuality is a sin" that would send a person to hell. While they had become accepting of other individuals at this point in their life, Jenée still wasn't able to accept themself for a long time. This led to turbulence between Jenée and their husband Caiden, in different forms, for quite a while.
(Boundaries- Poem by Jenée Hoton written on August 31, 2021, avail for sale or not)
Jenée met their now-husband at SAU before he had come out as a transman. When he first told Jenée that he liked them, it triggered the darkest period in Jenée's life. Growing up in a fundamentalist Christian household, Jenée had been taught that "homosexuality is a sin" that would send you to hell. While they had become accepting of other individuals at this point in their life, Jenée still wasn't able to accept themself for a long time. This led to turbulence between Jenée and their husband Caiden, in different forms, for quite a while.
("Late Summer Storm". Poetry. Written at 1:11pm on September 13, 2021.)
Jenée and Caiden just celebrated their 9th anniversary of being together, and Jenée is happy to report that things have never been better. Jenée gave birth to their and Caiden's first child in October 2022, and they and they all enjoy hanging out as a family in their home in Durand, MI.
("May You Feel Disgruntled". Poetry. August 2021.)
In terms of art, Jenée has been writing poetry and songs steady since high school. While they haven't been officially diagnosed with ADHD they definitely experience symptoms. Jenée feels the ADHD symptoms somewhat interferes with the creative process. They feel they would have more consistent commitment to creating if they didn't experience these symptoms. They have found that Bipolar 2 is a general assist in the creative process, though. Nothing beats creating while riding high in an elevated mood!
(Presence- Poetry written by Jenée Hoton on August 22, 2021, for sale or not)
Some of Jenée's favorite topics for poetry are the simple moments of life that tend to pass us by, everyday symbolism that we may miss out on, and life as a queer person. They recognize their privilege in being able to write about things like *nature* vs something much more urgent.
(Conditioning Dies Hard- Poetry by Jenée Hoton on August 1, 2021)
("When I Saw The Outcome…" Picture of a billowing night bonfire sending flames and sparks into the air. Warm overtones. Captured summer of 2016. Prints available for purchase. )
("...I Thought of You." Picture of the same night bonfire, this time more tame in comparison. Viewing of flames is skewed in imagery of the camera's capture. Night sky is more prominent and sparks are scattered farther between. Plant in foreground of fire is more prominent. Cooler overtones. Captured summer of 2016. Prints available for purchase. )
("Enlightenment". Image in black ink of front-facing person with pursed eyebrows, straight lips, a mess of scribbles in the brain area, and an empty box in the core body area with only 1 leaf blowing listlessly through it. Poem [below] describing hope in feeling empty. 2021. Prints available for purchase. )
( Sharing Beer During Covid- Poetry by Jenée Hoton in 2021)
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