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!

Shameless Survivor

I just realized I never posted the finished version of Shameless Survivor so here it is now.  This woman was part of Beyond Barbie's night called Through the Fire, a presentation on intimate partner abuse.  Lisette, the woman pictured here, was shot by her husband who then killed himself.  She read three entries from her blog, http://www.shamelesssurvivors.com/.  They were so powerful, they left me speechless and have resonated with me all week since then.  The one I found most moving answered the question so many people ask her, "If your husband was so abusive, why didn't you leave?"  She read a list of reasons she didn't such as feeling so bad about herself (because she believed what he said) that she had no ability to leave.  It was tough, powerful stuff to listen to. 

If you or someone you know is in a relationship that may be abusive, please know that Lisette's blog can be a resource to you, and there is much other help available, for example, Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE or YWCA.

May this painting help encourage others to seek the help they need and to know that they deserve to be treated like the wonderful people they are.

Through the Fire: Reclaiming Lost Power After Trauma and Abuse

Through the Fire: Reclaiming Lost Power After Trauma & Abuse

 Thursday, October 13, 7:00-8:30 pm

“Understanding the complexity of abuse, and recognizing unhealthy patterns in our relationships,” says program director Dawn Flores, “we are better able to seek and accept support.”  Two award-winning storytellers, MeganHicks and Linda Goodman, will be sharing the stage with shameless survivor, Lisette Johnson. 

By grace and grit, Lisette transformed the horror of being shot by her husband into healing for herself and her children.  She will be reading three of her poems— Hidden, Exit Here and Rough Road Ahead. 

Linda Goodman will share The Marriage Contract from her performance showcase, Shattered Silence.  Linda retraces the violent heritage from which she was spared to tell her parent’s love story.

Megan Hicks will perform Just Another T.N.D., the centerpiece of her show Gutsy Broads.  It is the story of her neighbor’s tragic event, which was her personal wake-up call.

The evening's performance will be followed by a brief question and answer period with the artists, who will be joined by experts from the community in offering resources, information and advice. 

DawnFlores, creator of Goddess Dance and The Juno Cards, will speak about trauma and our bodies’ response to it.  Dawn will be joined by Elli Sparks, Mama Gena Graduate and Nia instructor, who will address the importance of digesting difficult information with our bodies through movement. 

SusanBuniva, a therapist who specializes as a Collaborative Law Divorce Coach, will be available for those interested in an alternative to the traditional adversarial model of divorce.

Stacie Vecchietti, Community Organizing Manager for Safe Harbor, will be accompanied by Community Outreach and Education Team Member, Caitlin Zettl, in answering questions related to local services that are available to anyone who has been impacted by intimate partner and/or sexual violence. 

For more information on Through the Fire contact Dawn Flores at primalforce@earthlink.net