8 April 2015. Lansing, Michigan. Panel presentation on collaboration hosted by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing.
Greetings from Michigan! I arrived Stateside on April 6, and have treasured reconnecting with my communities of heart and home after more than three months in Peru. Lansing and Kalamazoo, it is good to be among you! … especially between Midwest journeys I’m taking.
Very soon upon my return North, I was a contributor on a panel about collaboration in the arts, organized by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. Thanks, ACGL, for the invitation to share my experience as an artist and organizer in the SMarts workshop series. Also, fellow panelists and community members, I learned a lot from you all!
From there, my first Midwest journey took me to Chicago for the Guild Literary Complex‘s poetry series Palabra Pura, a monthly open mic with featured readers. I only have great things to say about PP as a space that encourages social and political consciousness … plus is multilingual! I look forward to May 20, which is curated by Dr. Ana Castillo. I’ll be staying a few days in the area for Dr. Castillo’s writing workshop on spiritual activism, May 23. Guess what, readers? Its registration is open through May 9! Sign up while you can…
22 Apr 2015, Chicago. Reading a Spanish-composed poem for the first time Stateside!
After Chicago, I traveled eastward with the newly formed Great Lakes Regional Chapter (GLRC) of the national Fellowship of Quakers (Friends) in the Arts. Our first official function took us to the Detroit Institute of Art’s exhibition of Frida Kahlo and Diego Riveria. A long-time admirer, I continue to be stunned by Kahlo’s artistry of image and soul. This visit engaged me deeply, especially as I develop projects among women artists. A shout-out to GLRC members from this executive officer!
Bringing us to right here and now … Art Hop in Kalamazoo! All good things come on first Fridays, including monthly poetry at Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative. I’ll be visiting photographic exhibitions of fellow artists Shani Blueford (Exquisite Corpse Collective) and Matt Clysdale, both in the Park Trades Center — where I began studio work in K’zoo. There’s a brand new artisan market at Washington Square to make acquaintance with. As always… the best comes last: sharing a new poem at Fire‘s open mic and taking in this month’s featured reading by Fable. Go K’zoo!
April Art Hop in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with artist Alexa Karabin at Fire Historical & Cultural Arts Collaborative.
Again, a huge thanks to everyone who took part in my Peru journey, from a distance and in person. I extended my stay not once but twice, traveling between the Amazon and Andes three times. As I result, I connected with a promising network of women artisans, community organizers, healers, and fellow travelers. Right now I’m laying the groundwork for projects Stateside that span summer to fall, and then launch in Peru by year’s end. Please stay tuned to my events page for announcements!
