This has kept me up at night. It has been spinning in my mind for a large part of my adult life.
How do we free ourselves?
What does it mean to truly be free?
Can you be free in a space that dehumanizes you?
Is freedom only an internal struggle?
Free you mind and the rest will follow?
I traveled to Palestine and Israel this summer. I landed June 15, 2014 and left the country on June 28, 2014. These two weeks are still being processed in my psyche. I learned about the concept of "Beautiful Resistance." I watched Palestinians in so much pain that I felt like the hurt was physically transferred to me. I felt the connections from my own cultural struggle with freedom in America as a black woman. I tagged the segregation wall with spray paint. I mediated on peace. I closed my eyes and wished for LIBERATION. I was moved. I am changed.
I am currently developing a new piece of art.
LIBERATION DESTINATION examines the intersections between creativity, spirituality and technology. Imagined in a world that exists of only social media posts, news feeds and media, Lady Terror embarks on an experimental journey of surrendering and resistance by asking the question, "What does it mean to truly be free?" The work is greatly influenced by the similarities discovered between the Palestinian Liberation struggle and the Black Liberation Movement while the artist studied in Gaza in June 2014. Using hip hop music, negro spirituals, poetry, travel documents, dance and multimedia, Liberation Destination shares and highlights the struggle that all humans battle with throughout life. How do we live an authentic life? How can we heal each other?
It will premiere in Atlanta in Spring 2015. Follow me on Instagram to watch the development of the show and gain inspiration: IG: Liberationdestination
Hip hop music, negro spirituals and sound chants inspire this work. Enjoy this inspired piece by Lauryn Hill.
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!
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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