The Best of Beyond Barbie

A couple of months ago a woman from Chesterfield County's Chesterfield Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center contacted me to ask if I would be interested in organizing a Best of Beyond Barbie show to be sponsored by her department and perhaps by the Women of Color Caucus of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, and Virginia State University as well.  

I am delighted to announce that we are making it happen!  Here's the information!

Saturday, April 14, from 7-9 PM, at Holiday Inn Koger Center South off of Midlothian Turnpike, near Johnston Willis Hospital.  Tickets $10, available at the door.

The following performers will grace the stage:

 

Gaye Adegbalola and The Wild Roots, Blues Singers

Megan Hicks, storyteller

Dawn Flores, artist, dancer, poet, activist

Denise Bennett, storyteller, musician

Valley Haggard, writer

Karen Morris, Eating Disorders Activist

Frances Wessells, 92-year-old dancer

Jennifer Jurlando, writer

Lisette Johnson, blogger and Domestic Abuse survivor

and yours truly, artist, writer, activist

Though we're calling it The Best of Beyond Barbie, I'm realizing that almost none of the acts will be exactly the same as at Beyond Barbie.  Almost every person is creating or presenting a new piece for this show so whether you were at our other performances or not, there will be much newness to experience!  The show will have some focus on Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse since that department is sponsoring it, but primarily it will focus on how glorious it is to be a woman, how empowering, how wonderful, how rich and fulfilling.

I will post more information as it becomes available.  I hope to see you there!

The Opening for Not Barbie was perfect!

It's been way too long since I last wrote a blog entry!  I've missed it, but I was so blasted busy putting on Not Barbie, I couldn't see beyond my eyeballs, much less think cogently enough to write a post!  But I'm back.  I hope.

The opening for Not Barbie: A Celebration of Real Women was perfect as far as I was concerned.  There were zillions of people there from so many different pockets of my life, and there were zillions of people there whom I didn't know yet.  I gave an Artist's Talk at 5:30 which was very well-attended.  I think there were about 200 people there for it.  I felt so honored.  I talked about why I do my art and about how we can begin to change the way we perceive and judge ourselves and others.  I'll talk more about it in a later post.

The evening began with that bang and continued fabulously right on til 9:00 when it finally ended.  Many people came and read all the stories by the models, honoring each and every one of them with their loving attention.  Women came up to me with tears in their eyes, sharing how much the art and the stories mean to them.  Men spoke to me about their own struggles with body image and assured me that it is NOT just a woman's issue.  I am wondering if perhaps I should begin drawing and painting men again to help with the inequity some men felt in my show.  Of course I don't mean to be exclusive.  Men are being portrayed with perfect bodies more and more these days.  It's daunting to try to live up to the perfection that feels demanded of us.  More about that in future posts as well...

In the meantime, I thought I would post some pictures from the exhibition in case you can't make it.  I'm thrilled with how well Crossroads works for such a show - it's a wonderful, huge space with a few smaller walls for intimate pieces as well as large stretches for bold statements.

A Celebration of Life on the entrance wall to the Gallery

Don't Mess with Me on the second entrance wall to the Gallery

Some of the largest pieces on the back wall as you enter, Scar Belly, Mother and Daughter Jocks Bound by Caution, and Joyful, Joyful.

Gaye Adegbalola and other pieces

A smaller corner of the gallery with the interactive exhibits and some of the more intimate pieces.

Wall near the entrance with the lights turned on

another view of the interactive corner.  On the left is an interactive exhibit where you can compare yourself to Barbie, Venus von Willendorf, and a full size model.

Shelia x4 and other pieces.  This area will serve as our stage for the Beyond Barbie nights

Illumination and In Memoriam

 

 

The show will be up until November 7 at Crossroads Art Gallery here in Richmond, Virginia.  I hope you get a chance to see it!

Strength in Motion: Dancing our Sacred Bodies, Sept 22 at Crossroads Art Center

STRENGTH IN MOTION:  DANCING OUR SACRED BODIES

A bellydancer playing a violin?

A 92-year-old woman strutting her stuff?

Passion, anger, hurt, anguish, joy, bliss, love, hope, longing…

Spoken word, hooping, improv, combat style dancing….




Strength in Motion:  Dancing Our Sacred Bodies is an inspiring evening of dance presented by nine talented local women, ranging in age from 23 to 92. From the ancient arts of bellydance and circle dance, to modern hoop dance, Balla Guerra, and improvisation, these real women explore a wide variety of ways women dance their sacred bodies. 

Dance diva Frances Wessells, 92, offers her unique approach to improv, and everyone will want to get up and MOVE!  Photographer Heather Addley’s fusion bellydance tells the story of overcoming stage fright caused by a speech impediment.  Hoopers Natalie Gianninoto and Rachel Braford spin into their bliss in a piece that represents the struggle between darkness and light. Spoken word and dance are combined in writer Dawn Flores’ powerful piece. Professional bellydance performer and instructor Khalima is poetry in motion as she presents “World Priestess.”  Social services professional Tina Batya plays the violin while performing Balla Guera in a dance that helped her heal from tumor surgery. Young mother Lelya Nissa shares the intense emotions of her life through dance. And grandmother Peggy O’Neill brings us all together in a circle to follow in the ancient steps of our ancestors. 


Strength in Motion:  Dancing Our Sacred Bodies is the first of the series of seven evening performances in conjunction with Susan Singer’s exhibition of female nudes, Not Barbie: A Celebration of Real Women which opens at Crossroads at 6 PM Friday, Sept 16.  The series, Beyond Barbie: Piecing Together Today’s Woman, showcases and highlights the joys as well as the hardships that real women face today.

It will take place Thursday, September 22 from 7-9 PM at Crossroads Art Center at 2016 Staples Mill Rd, RVA 23230.  For more information or to purchase tickets, please go to www.crossroadsartcenter.com or www.susansinger.com or call Crossroads at 804-278-8950.  For more information about the evening program, contact oneill.peggy4@gmail.com.