January 1st, 2026 marks the start of The Long Year, a process which follows my adoption of a new name at the start of each Gregorian calendar year. This process will observe the English names of the Gregorian calendar’s 12 months, and will encompass both legal and social changes to my moniker.
The Long Year is an experiment aimed at allowing a personal exploration of identity, onomastics, and sociosemiotics. While a name, or proper noun, is typically attached to its subject (somewhat) permanently, The Long Year allows for an onomastic cycle that is marked by repetitive change. In tandem, the names of the months already signal an existing set of subjects, and they come with their own set of pre-existing definitions and connotations. Both ideas are central to The Long Year, which hopes to allow for an identity that is constantly in flux — ever-shifting and without a home.
I am joined in this project by my good friend, and filmmaker, Parker Rouse. Parker will be documenting this process over its 12 year course.