Friday, May 24, 2013

From the Desk of Lady Terror


 


Did you know that the same power used to shoot bullets can be used to pop lock your body into prayer, into action and into a new awareness? I believe in you. I see the God in you.
 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

I have been invited to study at Princeton!!






So much has been going on since I last graced this blog with a post. I have moved to a new home and have been head first into studying and developing new Lady Terror work. Part of this development has centered around:

Liberation Theology

Creative Empowerment

Manifesting

Prayer as Ritual

Community Development

Dreaming

I applied to be a part of the first Black Theology and Leadership Institute at Princeton Theological Seminary recently. A couple days ago I received the news that I was chosen to attend. Woooohoooo! I am overjoyed that my Lady Terror Spectacles and Performance will have the opportunity to be grounded in the concept of Liberation Theology. I am currently fundraising to help fund my trip and manifesting that the entire campaign will be funded.

Please take a look around and share it with friends. Any amount goes a long way towards getting me to New Jersey to learn from the top thinkers in the country. Click here to visit the campaign page: Help Send Lady Terror to Princeton Campaign

Keep pushing and THANK YOU in advance!





Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Find the inspiration

Theater lab at Emory University
Last night, I had the pleasure of being a part of a workshop series called "Breaking Ground" with the Department of Theater at Emory University. It is a series of informal Monday evenings devoted to the development of new work. I presented excerpts from my one woman show, "I Will Not Calm Down" and workshopped with students on ideas for staging solo work, inspiration and innovative ways to interact with audiences. I had a wonderful experience and have pages of ideas and notes to use as I continue to develop my show. I love collaborating to create theater. Its truly magical and liberating. Below are some notes/quotes from the participants that stuck out to me and still leave me inspired:

- "Everyday write something in your journal that inspires  you to create."

- "Don't let your audience get comfortable. They are not static. They can participate in the work."

-"You should be constantly creating your own brand of theater."

-"You can create a battleground of lights on stage. Bring the streets to the stage."

I left with so many ideas on how to use sound and lights during my theater creations. I hope to come back and learn with the students again. The energy and spirit of the room left me high with possibilities for new work. Thank you Emory!

All arrows point towards inspiration.


 






Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Art Obsessions

I am a self taught artist. I studied Public Health and Sociology in undergrad. I completed 1 year of a MFA in Poetry then left because of lack of finances and the need to just experiment and write. I have always created art because it came natural to me as a young girl and later in life it became a necessity for me. Writing and creating saved my sanity many times. I adore those who are self taught and create because its a part of them, and if they didn't something would feel missing inside. These are the artists that inspire me and cause me to spend hours on YouTube researching. My newest obsession is a Storyboard P, a dancer from Brooklyn that has created his own style of dance called Mutant. With his b-boy foundation he experiments with boundaries and I love how he interprets words. I wanted to share some of his vids so you could also live!




                                                Who are your ART obsessions and inspirations?

Sunday, January 13, 2013

I am so hyped!

Why am I so hyped you ask? I am proud to announce that I was awarded an Idea Capital Idea Grant This amazing Atlanta organization awards grants to a diverse group of Atlanta creatives whose work embraces disciplines from public art to spoken word and from performance to photography. This year they awarded 9 grants to Atlanta artists and I was one of the 9!!

This is my first grant as an artist and I am so excited to use the funds to install art in our communities. I have always believed that art in communities can change the entire spirit and energy of its residents and ultimately help to empower and uplift.

My project will take Poetic Therapy to the streets on Atlanta with a bullhorn, soapbox and mobile desk engaging residents to create and perform poetry on corners.

Here is the press release for the award and more details on my idea.This project will hit the streets in Spring 2013! Stay tuned for lots of video and photo documentation of the stunt.

One Night Only. Created mini poetry shows outside of liquor stores on South Side of Chicago.


  





 

Monday, January 7, 2013

I AM

I Am ART Hustler

I AM ARTist Entrepreneur

I am still Lady Terror (a kinder, gentler Lady Terror but still pissed at poverty)

I AM a Do it Yourself advocate 

Empowered by GOD (Liberation Theology gets me jazzed)

I AM Bout that Artist Life

I like contracts when you book me for a show

Folks still talking bout the Lady Terror Experience they had

I Ain't scared of much.

I tear down stages. The  STREETS are my Stage

I have a reason for my ART

Bring me to your university departments as an guest artist or to create a community art project 

My one woman shows have HIP HOP, poetry, crowd participation, ranting and a bullhorn

I AM ART

Now booking for 2013! Email me ladyterroreducation@gmail.com

 
The video so nice, I had to post it twice!
 

Sunday, December 30, 2012

I loved you 2012!

 




 

As the New Year approaches I am excited for all that 2013 will hold for me. I love going back through the last year and creating a list of highlights. I had a wonderful year and as far as I am concerned, any year that I get through alive and healthy is a winner for me. I am so winning. For 2013 I am recommiting myself to doing all the things that bring me joy and going hard on branding Lady Terror and creating new theater and performance opportunities.

I have no vision board created for the New Year! I usually create one but want to shake things up and wing it. Instead, I plan to stay connected to my joy and be grateful for every single thing that comes my way. I believe that joy and meditation breed happiness and if you follow your bliss all that you ever could want or need will come to you.

Here are some highlights of 2012:

Moved to a new house - about to move into another one - riding the waves!

 Taught puppetry to over 1,000 kids- in one weekend for the National Black Arts Festival!

 Attended two amazing lectures at the Candler School of Theology.

 Started my application to the Candler School of Theology – will complete it next week.

 Sold items at a Flea Market.

 Ditched my car three days a week and took public transportation for fitness.

 Applied to present my work at program called “Breaking Dawn” at the Theater School at Emory University. I will present a rewrite of my one woman show called “I Will Not Calm Down" on Jan. 28, 2013.

 Was a guest artist for a week at DePaul University Theater School in Chicago for MFA students. Taught a class on hustling, puppetry and creating artist statements.

 Taught poetry to high school students.

 Fulfilled my foodie obsession by working at two award winning, world class southern food spots.

 Created my handmade collage art biz called TerrorChic Designs and made over $500 in sales with little to no marketing.

 Filmed a short poetry video to promote my Lady Terror brand.

 Applied for a $1,000 Idea Capital Grant for my Poetic Therapy Performance Art Stunt. I even got the application in 1 month earlier. Bye bye procrastination.

 Began writing and developing a new piece of theater called “Love: Its All the Rage.”

 Reconnected with my faith and now pray and meditate regularly. Fell back in love with spirituality and religion.

Refined my hustle skills and no longer scared of losing a job.
 
 
What are some highlights of your 2012? What are you looking forward to for 2013?
 

 

 


Artist Statement

I create art for the ones who lost their voice a long time ago. I believe that impromptu spectacles can bring awareness to social justice issues that paralyze our communities. Lady Terror examines the relationship between public space and performance space and also explores ranting as a medium to address social issues and as a tool to empower communities. My art is local and neighborhood specific in its execution but global in its ideas around poverty, injustice and violence.