Performance Date & Location | Closing Reception
November 6, 5:30 p.m. at the Kansas City Public Library Central Library

Artist Statement

I will be doing 2 pieces of art, 1 being a community collage art piece and the other being a piece of ekphrastic poetry based on the collage built by the community. The tools and supplies for the collage would be readily available for all patrons to use when approaching the space. Patrons are also allowed to contribute to the space as well. They would be able to add their contribution to the communal collage. The other would be a board with tape and post-it notes where participants can add a word or more to describe the art, which would then be fused into one piece and presented at the end of the presentation along with the community creation.

I am Black. I am Christian. I am woman. I exist in America.

These four conditions have shaped the way I view the world. This intersectionality causes internal battles, clashing, confusion, and struggles with faith. The problem in this society is that various people groups want you to put this in a hierarchical order. Which comes first Black or Christian? Woman or Black? Christian or woman? Am I truly American first or was I just indoctrinated this way through my formative years? If the answer is American, then maybe I should attach my African lineage and be African American. Maybe not. I have never seen Africa, and other parts of my ancestry are French and indigenous so how will I claim those as well?

Those 4 things only describe part of what I am. Knowing who I am and establishing a personal identity is a separate hurdle. I have used my writing to work through the afore mentioned questions and feelings while also being a mother, daughter, friend, employee, sexual being, entrepreneur, innovator, dreamer, educator, minister. I also have issues: physical issues, trauma issues, class issues. I have issues within relationships, family, and business. And though some may not believe it, I also suffer the occasional pimple, have bad hair days, and my breath stinks from time to time. I exist in this world outside of all of my labels. Some days I wish Black, Christian, American, woman could all take a backseat. Some days I wish I could just strip down to human and deal with the core of my mortality and pain outside of roles, position, beliefs, ideologies, and culture.

My performance art and literature explores these internal struggles allowing me to isolate and focus on various parts of my being. I use art to restore joy, humor, and dignity to other humans through performance. It is the vehicle of performance that allows humans of different classifications to identify with one another. The performance space is not a safe space but a space where it is okay to not be safe. It is a sacred sanctuary for the gathering of believers of all kinds to listen to sermonettes of discovery, information, and faith. My performances are conversations, intimate heart-to-hearts that bring revelation, relatability, discourse, community, and critical thinking.

The Convivencia of This Performance

This dual collage project relates to the theme of convivencia because we are to co-exist. We co-create the lives and beauty we experience while creating a collective understanding respecting and welcoming the diverse backgrounds of all. This is what it means to be in community.

This relates to the theme of convivencia because we are to co-exist. We co-create the lives and beauty we experience while creating a collective understanding respecting and welcoming the diverse backgrounds of all. This is what it means to be in community.

Website | spokenpurpose.com

Instagram | @purposespoken