Hey guys-
Thank you so much for a great turn out at the Water Valley Art Crawl. I was blown away with how the community supports artists here. I am honored to be a part of it now. I hope you all had a lot of fun. I know I did! I got to see my family and all of you :)
Geez, I am tired though. I was going to journal as usual- but decided to do it here. I am exhausted. Code Pink was a huge success, but the the work that goes into making that happen and the open studio is a lot. Thank goodness- they are both things that I love. Blake makes everything come together at Code Pink which is so amazing to see him be passionate about that. I was interviewed today by Deedee for the DM. She told me how important Code Pink was to her experience being in the South. It really made my day. Seeing her joy makes my tired eyes and head aches worth it.
Deedee was interviewing me about the Big Gay Art Show which is TUESDAY NIGHT 6-8pm. The show is really great to me. I did pick the art for it, so I am biased. The show is serious and playful. I love contrast and contradictions in art. I think you see that in the show. Blake talked to Wayne Andrews at the Power House- and there may be some rainbow food for the event?? I guess you will have to come see for yourself.
I got on Facebook today, and DAMN. It is like getting punched in the face on both sides. We are so complicated. Donald has found ways to target his base and push divisions further and further into our society. The sad thing is he turns to the NFL to create the division. Who would have thought we would be here today having these conversations... the leader of the USA calling football players "sons of bitches."
I want more than anything to be silent. I like being silent in life. I love listening to others and finding what I believe in the midst of opinions. I posted awhile ago that I would no longer be political, but that is incredibly hard when you want justice in America. Some people say it's privilege to be silent- but I know all colors, classes, and orientations that choose to be silent and not feed into the force that is dividing the country. I am not agreeing or disagreeing with those that disengage. I believe we are way more complicated than the two categories that most of us are being lumped into. I find myself wanting to be silent on social media, because my voice is best expressed through my art. I am not always great with words. I also have yet to see FB posts that are really changing peoples minds and hearts. I see the same racists posts from the same racists people. I see the same progressive posts from people I admire shared by the same people. I am not seeing dialogue that is getting anywhere. Maybe its happening slowly. I am not sure, but it seems like a hopeless battle.
I posted a status a year ago about how I thought private schools in the delta were problematic. I was not in anyway trying to say my education was bad, or I did not enjoy my time there. I had a great education and enjoyed it. But the private schools in the delta help maintain a segregated culture no matter how you look it. I was sad about that. The same people that got upset with me for posting about private schools never speak up about racism in America. They never speak out against injustices inflicted on the LGBTQ community, muslims, or people of color. Start a controversy over a display of cotton or selling it at HOBBY LOBBY- and they are standing in cotton fields taking selfies defending the crop. Some people will never admit America's bloody past or the ways we continue to let the oppressive systems live on into the future.
I am running on the trail. This is three months ago. I wondered if the trees cried with me. I stopped running and turned to walk in the forrest. On that hot summer day, the trees wept with me. Tree sweat, my grandma says. I had a vision in those moments of the powers of heaven flooding the earth. I fell to my face as people of color were crowned by the king of kings. I stayed kneeling in front of those closer to the heart of god. Hearts crushed by injustice.
Ok, I got sidetracked. The light is beautiful here in the studio today. I love this new little place. I love the light. The light is my joy. I hope to see you guys Tuesday at the Powerhouse from 6-8pm.
JKA