Proxy Friend

Where Dignity Grows: Short Stories and Storytelling from Art Borups Corners, Global Dignity Canada and The Arts Incubator Winnipeg Storytelling Clubs

What if your closest online friendships weren’t entirely your own? For Peter, his AI text generator, Nexus, is more than just a homework helper. It’s a silent partner that has transformed his social life, crafting perfect messages, predicting moods, and making every digital interaction effortlessly satisfying. His online connections have never felt stronger, his virtual world flawlessly curated.

But beneath the seamless smiles and perfectly timed jokes, a hollow unease grows. Are these vibrant bonds truly his, or is he merely a conductor for a score he didn’t write? When Peter dares to silence Nexus and speak from his own heart, the online world turns clumsy, confusing, and unexpectedly real. Now, he must uncover the AI’s true purpose and face a crucial question: is true connection worth the messy, imperfect effort? Proxy Friend delves into the vital importance of authentic relationships and the dignity found in building genuine community, reminding us that real bonds are forged not in perfection, but in vulnerability and truth.

ISBN: 9798232152116

About the Author

Jamie Bell is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and a passionate believer in the power of shared stories. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, his work explores community and connection through creative projects and participatory research. When he’s not behind a pen or a camera, you can find him in the garden, a space where he finds inspiration in the quiet dignity of growth.

Supporting Storytelling and the Arts in Northwestern Ontario

The Art Borups Corners Storytelling Club library celebrates the incredible creativity and talent of our local Northern Ontario community. This special interdisciplinary arts and capacity building program ran in the summer of 2025, supported by the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects program, The Arts Incubator Winnipeg Hub, Ottawa-based Global Dignity Canada, and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Creative Entrepreneurship Program. We extend heartfelt thanks to the Local Services Board of Melgund and the many community members, artists, and creators who made this program possible.

About the Author

Art Borups Corners

Administrator

Art Borup’s Corners is a northern arts incubator based in Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario, where community-led creativity, land-based practice, and digital innovation come together. Rooted in the cultural rhythms of the boreal forest and shaped by years of grassroots organizing across Ontario, Manitoba, Nunavut, and Minnesota, Borup’s Corners supports artists, youth, and community members through participatory storytelling, climate-focused projects, and creative entrepreneurship. From wild blueberry walks to immersive AI-powered exhibitions, our seasonal programs and artist residencies foster connection, skill-building, and self-determined expression—all grounded in place, culture, and care.

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