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2 april 2002 triad denizens! (this means people in w-s, greensboro, high point.) pick up a copy of the current triad style--frank o'neill's interview with one web-based redhead writer type is on page 9. also get a copy of the triad business journal. they interviewed me for a technical writers' feature, and that will hit newsstands on friday. the photo shoot was really cool, and here at my house, so i'm interested to see what they publish. | artamunga I have spent the past few weeks being spoiled by art all around me, and it shows no signs of letting up. It began last month, when Linda called me to see Amiri Baraka at Wake Forest University. An inspirational voice of the Black Liberation Movement of the 1960's, and renowned poet and political activist, he did not disappoint. Throughout his presentation, he sang lines from Coltrane and Mingus to accompany the work, which was relevant to both history and our current world situation. This is not a man stuck in his own political time warp. This is someone who obviously reads three newspapers every day. Compound that with the fact that he has rhythm and an engaging presentational style, and you're hooked. My only regret at events like this is the audience. Linda and I were two of a handful of Caucasians in the audience, which left Baraka essentially preaching to the choir. I suppose the venue (a rather stodgy academic auditorium) wasn't exactly a hoppin' place to stage a revolution, but still. Press was also limited for the event, which shocked me. It always shocks me when worthwhile literary and historic figures don't get more print for their visit. He was inflammatory, educational, inspiring, and aggravating, and I'm sorry that more people didn't reap the benefit of his appearance. As a footnote, however, it was neat to see him two weeks later, making a cameo appearance in the movie Pinero. (He performed poetry at Pinero's funeral, in one of the last scenes, along with the real Miguel Algarin who still runs the Nuyorican.) This played in Winston at the NC School of the Arts, sponsored by the W-S Cinema Society. It was interesting to watch Pinero with my accompanying friend, who found the story interesting but relentlessly bleak. True that, but I watched it with a completely different outlook. Namely, it hit just a little too close to home for me. For those of you unfamiliar, Miguel Pinero (portrayed by the WAY HOT you are so stupid Julia Roberts for dumping him) Benjamin Bratt (I'm really not kidding. This guy makes my toes wiggle in tight shoes, baby!) was a Puerto Rican-born poet whose mother moved them to New York when he was 12. As an adult, he resided in the Lower East Side, where he befriended Miguel Algarin, a professor (and now) successful businessman. In (I believe) the late 70's/early 80's, they founded the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, which still stands and boasts many rising and established stars of the spoken word movement. Several years ago, when I enjoyed my own minor success on the national poetry slam circuit, I had the pleasure of performing at the Nuyorican, and meeting Miguel. After my feature, I noticed Miguel at the bar, clapping and giving me the thumbs up. I was most appreciative, but didn't recognize its full impact until my friends pulled me aside. "You do understand, they said, that he doesn't give the thumbs up to every gringa that walks in here, right?" Point taken. Pinero was also somewhat painful to watch, especially having lost one of my own teammates last year to what was essentially that same lifestyle. Lots of drugs. Too much alcohol. Unsure housing situations. It's a lifestyle in which I see a few people with whom I was once friends and artistic colleagues. It kills young, and fast, and was sometimes too much for me to watch. In the back of my mind, I kept wondering, "in my lifetime, which of my friends' movies will I see?" I'm certain one of their life stories will become worthy of the movies, and I just hope that they live to see it, too. More uplifting was Nikki Giovanni's visit to UNCG (my alma mater). Sponsored by the college chapter of the NAACP, she was great! She was also funny--very funny, relevant, edgy, energetic, and accessible. Her thoughts on being a woman? "I highly recommend it." Yeah! Her thoughts on marriage? "Get cheap gifts for the wedding. I think everyone ought to have a divorce party, because then, you can get what each person really needs. Now that she's going to live on her own, let's chip in and get her a nice riding mower. We'll get him a nice set of gourmet pots and pans. It works out better that way." Things run their course, y'all. She has a good way of acknowledging this fact that we all deny. Have you ever been in a relationship, short or long, that just ran it's course? If you're nervously wiggling your eyebrow, let me break the ice: I have. I have also stopped beating myself up by saying that I, or we, failed. No one failed. We were just done is all. Sometimes one person is done before the other. Such is life. You move on. And now you know which poet to consult the next time something runs its course in your life. Read, grumble, feel better---then continue on your way. Don't stay in bad, boring, or otherwise tiresome situations because you think leaving would be failure. Knowing when to get out is one of the smartest qualities you can have. Live better. This Thursday, I will be going to SECCA's William Wegman art talk. So excited! First time I saw this guy's work was up in Montreal, at the Museum of Contemporary Art. (Same time I saw Miro's work, which was cool, too.) I'm so stoked! Will tell you all about it, and hopefully get some photos. Also, this Friday is a whopper of a gallery hop here in downtown Winston-Salem--and the opening of a new salsa club around the corner from my house. Woo-hoo! Incidentaly, a new dance studio opened a block from my place. Specifically, a hip hop and salsa studio. And guess who is taking classes? Awww, yeah! I may as well put these hips to work, you know? Viva...all the good stuff. |