How to create a spectacle

Step 1
No matter what you must not show fear or ego.

Step 2
Develop the ability to ignore anyone who stands in your way.

Step 3
Learn how to scream like you mean it. If you need a bullhorn I have one you can borrow.

Step 4
Study the art of improvisation. You will need it to get closer to your goal.

Step 5
Create a quick one sentence response to the question: “What are you mad about?”

Step 6
Pick the perfect location and get the timing right.
Note: the best spectacles are the ones that are organic and catch everyone off guard.

Step 7
Don’t be afraid to use curse words. People need to know that you are pissed and not playing around. This is not a game nor anytime to be shy. Stop holding back!

Step 8
Start being okay with people calling you crazy. Embrace your out of control behavior for a cause.

Step 9
Read poetry daily. You will need it for your mission.


Step 10
Find an opportunity to get community members involved. The end result is true social change. Real change comes from the people.

LADY TERROR

History of the Soapbox

From Wikipedia

A soapbox is a raised platform on which one stands to make an impromptu speech, often about a political subject.
The term originates from when speakers would stand on a wooden box meant for holding soap. The term is also used metaphorically to describe a person engaging in often flamboyant impromptu or unofficial public speaking, as in the phrases "He's on his soapbox", or "Get off your soapbox." Hyde Park, London is known for its Sunday soapbox orators, who have assembled at Speakers' Corner since 1872 to discuss religion, politics, and other topics. A modern form of the soapbox is a blog: a website on which a user publishes one's thoughts to whoever reads the page.

Malcom X and Marcus Garvey were also known for being soapbox preachers.

My one woman show! "I Will Not Calm Down"

I am very excited and a little nervous for my first solo show. I am still in the writing and developing process and it is going live for one night only on Saturday, March 27, 2010. It is an experiment and a proud moment for me to be able to install and perform art on my South Side community. I hope you will come out and support.

Tree Pose in the Hood

Last Friday, I was able to go out with Ashley from Blame it on Ashley Productions and Aaron, from One Shot Photography to began filming for the "Lady Terror Show." The show will be footage from the spectacles I perform in the community, poetry and social commentary. Lady Terror deals with very serious issues in her work but the concept of her character is meant to be comedic and ironic. What better way to really get attention and encourage involvement but to create a character that loves to rant and believes the best way to solve social issues is to scream like a fucking lunatic until someone listens? She is a reaction to the apathy and disconnection in our communities. A desperate but empowered woman that doesn't want to calm down because she already tried that and it didn't work. Poverty is still killing her people. People usually pay attention to someone causing a scene. Someone who likes to curse and be out of control. The unexpected. There is nothing more dangerous than a person who gives a damn. When you get in touch with your rage you can make space for joy.

The guerilla art spectacles include:
Yoga classes in fried food spots
Turning liquor stores into performance spaces
Poetry therapy marathons at parades, on off ramps of expressways, on street corners, etc.

Social Justice starts early!

I just finished a 13 week arts residency at Crown Community Academy. I was collaborating with my favorite poet friend, Amanda Lichtenstein and Luke Albrecht, the 8th grade math teacher. During this arts integration program, we collaborated to create curriculum that blends math and writing. The 8th graders studied the math concept of statistics, averages and graphing while writing rants and exploring the concept of social justice. I had the opportunity to present the questions, "What are you mad about? What is worth getting mad at? What is civil rights?"

The young poets wrote about violence, single parent homes, Haiti, guns, family and used a bullhorn and soapbox to perform rants. The final class was filled with a poetry performance filled with poems that included statistics and percentages to fuel the rant. Our final performance project was a poetry marathon on report card pick up day. While the school was filled with parents, students and guests, the 8th graders took over the hallway and read poetry on a bullhorn for 2 hours straight. The concept: poetry is therapy and the very act of hearing poetry read aloud can be healing to the listener. The Westside community where the school is located needs healing. Chicago youth need healing from the violence. So we will bring the words to them. We read selected poems from Ruth Forman, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Tupac Shakur, Lucille Clifton, Maya Angelou and they also read their own original rants.

The principal and two teachers also got involved and caught the poetry spirit. Dr. Jackson, the principal, read a powerful piece about black men after hearing us read. The students were so proud, fearless and amazing. They read for the whole two hours and probably would have read for 2 more hours if asked. Social justice can start very early. You don't need to wait until they are in senior year of high school to introduce the concept of community service and social justice work. We must start early.

Stunt #2

Lady Terror is a performance artist and poet.

She lives on the South Side of Chicago

She creates spectacles

She is a social justice activist

She is raising awareness around the issue of inequality, poverty, violence, food justice and education.

The South Side needs more art. The street is our theatre. I will be performing poetry in front of liquor stores all over.

There are 2 yoga studios on the ENTIRE South Side

There are over 30 on the North Side of Chicago

In a 20 block area of the South Side there are over 15 liquor stores or fast food spots

African Americans die from more preventable diseases than whites

Diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease can all be prevented with diet and exercise.

There are none or very few organic grocery stores, fitness centers or yoga studios on the South Side

Stunt #1

Lady Terror is a performance artist and poet.

She lives on the South Side of Chicago

She creates spectacles

She is a social justice activist

She is raising awareness around the issue of inequality, poverty, violence, food justice and education.

To prove a point and raise awareness I will do a mini yoga class inside a fried food establishment

There are 2 yoga studios on the ENTIRE South Side

There are over 30 on the North Side of Chicago

In a 20 block area of the South Side there are over 15 liquor stores or fast food spots

African Americans die from more preventable diseases than whites

Diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease can all be prevented with diet and exercise.

There are none or very few organic grocery stores, fitness centers or yoga studios on the South Side