What inspires?

Seminary is a trip. It's the craziest, most powerful, hard, inspired and surreal thing I have ever experienced. I am still shocked that I am really doing it. Needless to say, its inspiring some new poetry and new visions of staging my solo work. Here are some doodles of thoughts that I scribbled down in between writing a paper on Zionism in South Africa.


New stuff #1

A Thanksgiving Meditation:

I am Thankful Warrior
A grateful servant of the Creator
I bow to the Universe only
Divine Gratefulness all day
My heart runneth over
I hustle to my calling
I am not worthy
Mercy should be my middle name
Thank. FULL.


New stuff #2

you can take my voice
rip my throat
from
my neck
each syllable I speak
becomes a lash
my narrative will seep into skin
read my arm energetically
consume on my rage
blood now
memoir
bone becomes
autobiography
skin a
sacred text
I am atom
God molded me
futile hopes of silencing
my story
leaves rustling that's
me whispering

I have been meditating on African Christianity. I am taking a class in school that has me so inspired with my mouth wide open every class. I will post some of our books. You must learn.

I found the above photo on a classmates Facebook page. I am gaining strength just by looking at it. Enjoy!

What inspires you?

Who are you thankful for?

What are you grateful for?

Seminary Tales: New poetry inspired by my Contextual Education

For my internship at retirement home

 

 You archive library
 Sacred container of memories
 You slay me
 You keeper of the kind
 You shrine of elders
 Glass box of tears
 You teach me
 You hostess of homes
 You life trophy
 You soul sighting
 You Earth alien
 You keep me
 You pillow of peace
 You liberation leader
 You show me
 You grey haired priestess
 You birth birds
 You get me
 You index card filler
 You knowledge knower
 You life sustainer
 You whole me

Tricia Hersey 2013

Missing in Seminary

I have been away from this space for a minute. I have daily thoughts about things to write, so in a way I have always been here. I started seminary at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. I am a blessed lady! I started walking around campus and sitting in the library a year before I even applied. I pretty much behaved like I already was a student there. I was in tears when the admission director called to tell me I was in! Now, that I am in, it has been like a walk through the wilderness as I navigate being in a rigorous academic program after being out of formal education for 13 years. (yikes) The biggest goal has been to stay above water and to not get behind in the readings. I have drowned, been resurrected and been behind in all the readings since I started. But, still I rise!!

I have been dreaming of poems and theater shows. I have wanted to dance in the halls and I have cried every week for the past 7 weeks. It is not a game and I have thought about quitting, but have been counseled off the cliff by professors, my husband and classmates. I am gonna keep showing up and keep learning until the Creator moves in another direction. I truly feel that its divine and no coincidence that I am here.

I am attempting a Masters of Divinity with a Concentration in Peace Building, Conflict Transformation and Justice.  I am hoping it will ground my performance art and theater visions. My work already has a creative empowerment bend and I hope to explore how liberation theology, meditation and creativity can intersect to transform communities dealing with violence and oppression. My dream is to work with youth to train them to be meditation and spirituality teachers. How we heal ourselves is the important work. What I strive to understand.

I am also dreaming about writing a small book of meditations on leaping towards your dreams. Stay tuned.

Get love. Give love!

Lady Terror

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.

 

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!

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.


 

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?

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.

  





 

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!