Saturday, October 8, 2011

Wander and discover.

“I have been in sorrow’s kitchen and licked out all the pots. Then, I have stood on the peaky mountain wrapped in rainbows, with a harp and a sword in my hands.” -Zora Neale Hurston

I adore Zora Neale Hurston. She is loved and very well known for her classic book "Their Eyes Were Watching God," a magical love story about a women's freedom. My first introduction to her was through this book in college. I fell head first into that book and also taught it in book groups for years to young women in Chicago. While her writing is close to my heart I actually also truly admire Hurston for her work as an anthropologist.

Hurston recognized the significance of the folklore of the Southern United States and the Caribbean countries. Her care and research for documenting and perserving black culture is so inspiring. She was born in 1891 in Eatonville, Florida and traveled extensively all over the south, Haiti, Jamaica, Honduras and Belize. A theme of her writing is freedom and independence. She inspires me to continue on my path to discovery. I have always been a wanderer and love the the quote by J.R.R. Tolkien : "Not all those who wander are lost." As I continue to embark on a career in the field of Creative Empowerment and the Arts I am reminded that part of finding your way is to get lost, to take risk and to shake things up on your own path. Sometimes life hands us a curve like, a parent dying, losing a job, moving to a new state or country, changing careers or financial woes and through these challenges we grow, we create art, we become self employed out of necessity, we build and expand.

The hards times can really be amazing opportunities to blow up the path that you thought you would walk down. As I continue to tranistion on my new migration experience in Atlanta, I am reminded of the advice I have been told by many people when sharing how lost I have gotten while driving around my new city, "Well, the best way to learn and discover a city is to get lost and have to ditch all map directions. Just flow."




I believe this advice is also relevant for our transitions in life. What have you learned while lost?

4 comments:

Citlalli said...

I think the most important thing I have learned while being "lost" is finding myself. I have discovered that hardships let me reflect and find my true inner self. I find my strengths, my resilience, and how strong I can be in spite of me thinking I am not.
Thanks for this post!

Tricia Hersey said...

so true! you find out a lot about self during your journey. thanks for sharing.

Lisa R Charles said...

Beautiful post! I've learned that "not knowing" is perfectly ok. This has helped me to keep moving forward in the face of uncertainty, doubt, and fear. It's not always easy and as comfortable like I want it to be but, it's what has to be done because I ain't quitting!!!
Oh another thing, in talking with Hubby a few days ago he described it as a dance in which you do with uncertainty, doubt, fear, etc., not a fight to be had. I hope that was clear, lol!!

Tricia Hersey said...

Yes, Lisa it was totally clear. The metaphor of the dance is great. I like that image. Not knowing can be a very scary place but once you surrender to it and ultimatley trust that everything will be ok, its easier. Thanks so much for sharing.

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.