Julia Pretsfelder

writing, photography, translation, collage(d)

[juliapretsfelder]

Contrabanned

Book bans in many prisons are preventing women and queer people from learning about their physical and mental health. So, creatives at my agency partnered with activists at the Prison Library Project to develop a women's health textbook called Contrabanned that's being legally smuggled into women's prisons. Keeping in mind that the average reading level of imprisoned people is the 4th grade, I wrote chapters about prisoner's rights, sexuality, self-checking for cancer, and mental health along with writing the website copy.

Watch the video to find out more about Contrabanned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp1_g2j6mr4

It received an honorable mention for the awwwards: https://www.awwwards.com/sites/contrabanned

[juliapretsfelder]

Sans Period is an innovative font that helps young people learn about the menstrual cycle and more. It hides period facts in literal periods and was designed to be secretive for young people in states where sex education (including period education) is banned until the 9th grade. I worked with a team of creatives at my agency and activists at The Period Movement to write some of the facts and make TikToks explaining how the font works.

So proud that this project was a Responsible Innovation Honoree at the Webby Awards:

https://winners.webbyawards.com/2024/websites-and-mobile-sites/responsible-technology/responsible-innovation/289487/sans-period

[juliapretsfelder]

Choosy Kitty is one of my favorite projects I've worked on! Alongside 2 other cat parents, I developed the concept, wrote the script, and helped set up and direct the shoot. This TikTok introduced a new vaccine option and won an award for Best Pharmaceuticals Social Media Campaign at the Internet Advertising Competition.

https://www.iacaward.org/iac/winner/18871/patients--purpose-wins-2024-iac-award-for-choosy-kitty-tiktok-video.html

[juliapretsfelder]

Inhabited (free instant)

I made image and text pieces based on automated writing prompts providing material and storytelling conditions. I wrote these over the course of three months, while visiting my grandmother in hospice care.

[juliapretsfelder]

Intimacy is “an exercise in being vulnerable and knowing that I'm going to be okay on the other side of it regardless.”

I interviewed three therapists who form part of the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WOCSHN) on intimacy and its intersections with mental health for the magazine and agency ILY.

[juliapretsfelder]

In ‘Negotiated Frontiers,’ Artist William Camargo Centers Communities of Color’s Untold Histories

Here's how The Latinx Project's latest exhibit, ‘Negotiated Frontiers,’ centers our stories.

I spoke with William Camargo, Runner-up for Aperture’s 2021 Portfolio Prize and former artist in residence at The Latinx Project, about documenting local life in Anaheim, CA, exhibiting art virtually, disrupting the “canon,” archiving Latine family histories, and more!

[juliapretsfelder]

Creating in Crisis: On Exhibiting Visual Art, Daniel Handal

The artist talks to us about the challenge of exhibiting art right now, the depth of meaning in color in most Latin cultures & more.

I met with image-based artist Daniel Handal at ClampArt to discuss exhibiting visual art during the pandemic, exploring color theory, loving the final girl film trope, growing up queer in Honduras, and more.

[juliapretsfelder]

Language Endangerment and Revitalization

“A language is a dialect with an army and navy.” — Max Weinreich, Yiddish linguist

Wrote about language death and revival efforts in Guatemala, Catalunya, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and elsewhere. My passion for this issue stems from living in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala where my former colleague and friend, Chonita, is fighting keep the Tz’utujil, Indigenous language alive in spite of the way that a lack of multilingual education jeopardizes its future as well as intergenerational storytelling.

[juliapretsfelder]

‘Most Effective System of Disinformation’: On the Latinos Who Voted for Trump & More

“I love my freedom!” Floridian musical trio Los 3 de la Habana sings in their “Trump Song”—now an anthem for Latines who support Donald Trump. Already, this 2020 presidential election shows that some Latinos in Florida helped President Trump secure Florida, while Latinos in Arizona played a key role in Joe Biden’s success in the …

A bit belated, but as the election was about to occur, I interviewed community organizers in Florida along with Latin American policy experts on what a second Trump term might mean for Latines’ communities, how his campaign effectively mobilized Miami Latines, and how this election captured the heterogeneity of Latinidad that is well known within our communities but often overlooked in mainstream media.

[juliapretsfelder]

Articulating Crisis: The Linguistics of Climate Change

Overly scientific language alienates the masses who, not understanding the problem, then feel no responsibility or engagement.- Francesca…

I spoke with a few of the talented linguists I work with to learn about how they discuss climate change in their native languages (Mandarin, Hokkien, Italian, and German), the links between biodiversity and Indigenous language revitalization, and ways to translate the urgency of this crisis across cultures.

[juliapretsfelder]

Creating in Crisis: On Sustainable Fashion, Nathalia JMag

This Colombian designer is putting people and the environment first.

I spoke with designer and sustainable living advocate Nathalia JMag about the collections she’s dropping in quarantine, the need to decolonize ethical fashion, how immigrants practice sustainability, and more! Nathalia has a bold vision for saving the planet and making the fashion industry less evil, and I absolutely loved speaking about many of my favorite issues with someone so thoughtful.

[juliapretsfelder]

The Luminaries Gracing Vogue Italia’s Fresh September Issue

Lineisy Montero, Paloma Elsesser, Hiandra Martinez, Indya Moore & more.

In which I fangirl over this issue (where can I buy it)--the stories it shares, and how those stories are told.

[juliapretsfelder]

Lionel Messi: A Look at His Past, Present & Possible Future

Estas son algunas de sus opciones.

SPANISH TO ENGLISH TRANSLATION

I translated this piece about Messi’s potential salida de Barça from Spanish to English. From being half-Argentine and from watching el Clásico a bunch in Guatemala, I have love for Messi and am sad he may dip from Barça, but it was fun to dip my toe into sports writing through translation!!

[juliapretsfelder]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez + Telfar Is a Beautiful NYC Love Story

Here's why this moment was so special.

This was a fun fashion news piece about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rocking a Telfar bag designed by Telfar Clemens, who grew up in her congressional district NY-14. I have a lot of love for NY-14 from volunteering from AOC’s campaign so loved writing this one.

[juliapretsfelder]

An Interview with the Creative Director of Shekudo — SUSTAIN THE MAG

Amy Akudo Iheakanwa on Nigerian arts and artisans, unintentional upcycling, and the rise of her brand, Shekudo.

A Q&A style profile of Amy Akudo Iheakanwa who moved to her father’s homeland of Nigeria to start the burgeoning accessories brand Shekudo

[juliapretsfelder]

6 Ways You Can Support the US Postal Service Right Now

Here's how you can support the 245-year-old institution.

A news piece / listicle about the historical and present-day significance of the USPS and how to support the institution today.

[juliapretsfelder]

Creating in Crisis: On Photography, Mayeli Villalba

Here's how this Afro-Paraguayan photographer is creating some of her best, most meaningful work in a crisis.

I wrote about photographer Mayeli Villalba’s work on documenting Blackness in Paraguay, quarantining with her mother, and the joys of harvesting your own food.

I translated the article from English to Spanish at the following link: 

https://remezcla.com/features/culture/creando-en-crisis-sobre-la-fotografia-mayeli-villalba/