BE KIND

I walked into the first gallery, took a seat and waited for the presentation to begin. A lady tapped me and tersely said, “Excuse me. I was saving these seats next to me. That’s why I put my stuff down. One, two, three. Maybe you can sit over there. There’s an empty seat over there. These are taken.” 
I smiled, said “No problem, ma’am”, and relocated myself to a cozy corner. She  humphed, folded her arms and continued to play sentry. The director walked in, introduced herself, greeted and welcomed everyone, then said, “We’re glad to have our featured artist here with us today...” I smiled and waved. 
You know the rest of the story. 
Lol...

Demonstrate kindness and consideration to everyone... all of the time. That will eliminate the need for awkward apologies. You don’t have to know who a person is, and it shouldn’t be necessary for them to defend their right to be, identify, qualify or explain themselves. Just be kind. 
Besides, backpedaling is hard and it’s really hard to get egg off of your face.
Lol...

SUNDAY THOUGHTS: NO

Note how people respond to your “No”. 

Do they respond with understanding, or hostility? 

Is there sarcasm? 

Character attack? 

Anger? 

Manipulation? 

Do they try to make you feel stupid, guilty, confused, or small? 

Do they compare you to others they’ve successfully suckered? 

Does their narrative, after your “no” paint you as difficult? 

Do they boast of all of the other people they could get, to do what they wanted you to do? 
If so, imagine the time, resource, and energy-consuming rabbit hole you would have endured had you said, “Yes.”

There are things I no longer tolerate. 

I suppose that means some doors will close, and some will never open. 

History has taught me to be thankful. 

My discernment is keen, although I haven’t always followed it. 

You know stuff. God shows you—sometimes repeatedly. Question is, do you want to see what he shows you? 

Do you realize when you’ve been rescued, saved, snatched, protected, spared, or covered? 

When your gut speaks, screams, sounds alarms, or rumbles, believe it— the first time.

Every association, enterprise, or opportunity is not for you, even if you do have the skills to carry it out. Don’t let opportunists use you. They see and know your value. They want to be able to control you; mishandle you; make you jump through hoops, and take credit for what God has placed in you. Yep. Some people will actually take credit, not only for your accomplishments and talent, but for your very being—and will not only try to convince you that it is truth, but that you owe them.

Some people are so enamored with themselves, their accomplishments, their notoriety, or their public reputation, that they think you should be, too. 

Sometimes we tolerate a lot because of fear; because we give people God status. That is a mistake. No one is God, except God, and he knows a lot of people who will genuinely bless you— people who aren’t arrogant, manipulative, abusive, unreasonable, unloving, narcissistic, dishonest, self-seeking, annoying, or mean-spirited. 

Life is stressful enough without inviting stress. Every seemingly good opportunity, is not a God-ordained opportunity. A gallows is a platform, too.

Your “no” may mean you’ll be berated, criticized, bad-mouthed or ostracized, but you know your limitations. 

Remember God’s work. You’ve seen how he handles those who mess with his children, and you’ve seen how he’s kept you.

Preserve your peace. 

SUNDAY THOUGHTS: BULLYING

It’s funny how suddenly and vigorously responses are addressed. 

How about employing that same enthusiasm to address the ACTION that prompted the response? 

Anger, frustration, disillusionment, separation, and firmly set boundaries, don’t occur out of the blue. 

Stuff doesn’t just happen. 

People DO stuff, and when affected others decide they’ve had more than enough, and determine to preserve their peace, OR defend themselves by fighting back with whatever physical or verbal weapons in reach, THEN there’s a problem? 

THEN there’s so much concern? 

THEN everybody confesses what they knew and saw? 

AFTER the fact? The devil... 

School is in. 

Don’t wait until next June. 

Address the bullies NOW. 

You know who they are. 

You also see the withdrawn, crying, fearful children. 

Stop wondering why their grades are suffering, why they don’t want to participate, why they don’t like school any more, or why they hesitate to board the bus. 

SOMETHING HAPPENED, or IS HAPPENING!!!!! 

DO something. 

Make yours a safe learning environment. 

You can’t be too tired to pay attention. 

It’s NOT just kid stuff. 

Stop insisting that victims of bullying “go play” or “make nice” with their oppressors. 

It’s abuse that can potentially scar a child’s soul. 

Children make mental notes of the adults who care and act, and the adults who look away, laugh, or trivialize their concerns. 

Some adults are, and have been messy, divisive, abusive, and antagonistic themselves, so they are oblivious. 

Don’t expect their help or understanding. 

So many efforts are made to war against possible attacks from the outside. 

What about the ACTUAL terrors inside? Exactly what is being preserved and protected? The institution or the people? 

Too many passes, excuses, and reasons are given for unacceptable behavior and speech.  
See something? SAY something. 

As adults in authority, the responsible parties will only act when it is clear that nonsense will not be tolerated.

Art by B.Sims

SUNDAY THOUGHTS: MUSIC

I love music---good music---real, live, un-fooled-around-with music---actual melodious, moving voices---well-written lyrics----actual instruments played by skilled human beings. 

Good music is healing, helpful, inspiring, mood altering, and motivating. 

I’m not going to clap, pay, endorse, endure, or say it’s good if it isn’t. 

I’ll pursue it because, when, or if I can, and want to, not because of who else is going to be in the audience. 

I’m no expert, just a human with ears that still work. 

Florence Foster Jenkins had an audience, too. 

Some applauded because they thought it was deliberate comedy. 

Some applauded her sheer nerve. 

She was oblivious to her lack of skill because opportunistic people close to her had their eyes on her cash. 

They LIED, and encouraged her delusion because it lined their pockets. 

Yes. Anyone can do anything, but not everyone does it well. 

Putting one’s best foot forward can’t be a thing of the past. 
Good music, thankfully, can still be found.

SUNDAY THOUGHTS: POETRY PROMPT---MESSY

If they:

Show you stuff “in case” you haven’t seen it 

Bring up subjects you’ve long since studied and passed

Come around to see if you’re as okay as you say

Answer questions you haven’t even asked

Look for stink where nothing’s dead or rotted

Seek a reaction, to gauge how much you care

Run and tell, once info’s been collected

Then you’ve got a messy person in your hair

If they:

Pretend they’re on your side of the issue

Are quite cozy-comfy with the enemy

Try their best to paint you into a corner

Make you think you never saw the stuff you see

If they’re adept at wearing many faces

And you’re never sure which version’s standing there

If the tracks of trouble’s origin leads back to them

Then, you’ve got a MESSY person in your hair.

VRWc2019

SUNDAY THOUGHTS: "SUPERNATURAL” at PGAAMCC Q and A

1. What is your role as an Artist in Residence at Prince George's African American Museum and Cultural Center?

2. What is the definition of "natural hair"?

3. What is your role in the SuperNatural Hair Festival at the PGAAMCC ? How does art therapy connect with embracing/reclaiming natural hair.

4. What is/are the goal(s) you hope to accomplish for attendees?  How is this event a celebration of hair, heritage, and hope?

5. How is this festival important for Black culture and the overall American history/experience?

A1. My role is new and was quite a welcome surprise, when Monica announced it at the opening reception of my exhibit. Currently, my role is to create art, collaborate with other artists, and meet community members and museum patrons. Once the school year begins, I'd love to host classes to give teachers another option for providing students with artistic experiences outside of the classroom. 

A-2. "Natural hair" refers to the fibers emanating from one's scalp be they curly, straight, thick or thin. It's hair in its purest state.  I remember when the Afro, or Bush hairstyle was also referred to as a "natural. I love the flexibility, the choices, the range that natural hair can yield. It hasn't always been celebrated, though. It seems to go through seasons of appreciation.

A3. Much of my art boldly features natural hair although hair is not a principal theme. I love the process of painting natural styles. I've heard "bushy," "nappy," "unruly," "bad hair," "untamed" all my life. So it feels a bit defiant and cathartic for me to recreate the cloud--the crown--that is the Afro, though I perceive that black natural hair still is more readily accepted and celebrated in images than on actual people in the spaces they occupy. 

A4. The voices we hear growing up deeply impact our self-esteem. We reach adulthood still not believing that who we are and what we have is enough, though the whole world is seeking to imitate, emulate, appropriate, and even sell it back to us! 

Events like this help people enjoy the company, advice, and experiences of like-minded (and like-coiffed) people while also celebrating their uniqueness and freedom to present themselves in the way that's that's best for them.

A5. I'm a baby boomer. 

I remember "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud," "Young Gifted and Black," Blaxploitation movies, Soul Train, Christy Love, Julia, Friday Foster, Pam Grier, Angela Davis... 

I remember people yelling out of windows, Paul Revere style, if Black people were on TV. 

I got the "You have to be twice as good..." speech. 

I remember feeling as if the goal in life was to be one of the "good" Black people. Be articulate; look the part; know when to turn it on, and when to turn it off. Avoid appearing foolish or clownish. Be conservative, whatever that means. 

It's exhausting. 

There was an urgency to prove you were nothing like the stereotypes. How confused we should be! Thankfully someone decided, "Enough already". Someone pushed back against self-loathing; reminded us how "fearfully and wonderfully made" we are--strong hair and all. 

Natural hair has always been a source of fascination. I think that's why we love it. It's special, and worthy of love and admiration. And it's imperative to love self first, if we ever hope to truly love others.

TUESDAY THOUGHTS: ON EXHIBIT

Never learning to play piano is my one regret, but I feel so fortunate to know those who had the desire and discipline, and put in the time to perfect their gifts (and let me sing along).

I adore piano. I like the look of it; the sound of it; and I greatly admire those who have mastered it. It’s probably no surprise that music, instruments, and singing are regular themes in my art. I wish I could play...

The exhibition currently showing at the Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center is new and humbling. I’ve dreamed and thought about an exhibition ever since the student shows I participated in over 30 years ago, as an undergrad at Howard. There’s often a hesitation when it comes to sharing what you do, but you’ve got to find a way around your anxiety and do it anyway—particularly when the door seems to have flung open for you. (Monica and Quest, you rock.) I’m grateful the opportunity presented itself now. It’s proof that it’s never too late...

I envisioned the gallery (and there are two!) I saw a piano being played by a skilled musician, people milling about, a conversation, observations. This Saturday, God willing, it will happen. The curator suggested ways to marry my love for music and visual art. Of course, my no-playing self asked if there was a piano. The museum’s 100+ year-old piano is on display out of respect for the grandeur it once had. Another piano will, however, for a limited time, occupy a space in the gallery—one that I believe, not only belongs there, but in every house of worship and music venue in PG County. It IS historical— a magnificent baby grand, conceived by the world’s only African- American piano manufacturer: visionary and entrepreneur, Warren Shadd. If you’ve never seen a Shadd up close, or experienced its rich sound, here’s your opportunity while you view the exhibition and become acquainted with the museum.

So many of you have been especially encouraging. So many have my art and you’ve cared for, protected and adorned it; and displayed it in prominent places in your personal spaces. Thank you for that. It means so much.

I hope to see you Saturday even if for a little while.🙂 #startingover #catharsis