Thank you for stopping by my page. I am a graduating senior looking to continue work in advocacy and using art as a healing outlet. You can find previous work I have accomplished as a Social Justice major as well as my resume and writing samples.
Thank you for stopping by my page. I am a graduating senior looking to continue work in advocacy and using art as a healing outlet. You can find previous work I have accomplished as a Social Justice major as well as my resume and writing samples.
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Africa Jam
Hecua
IDOL MARCH
In the Spring of 2019 when my HECUA class was in our Community/City unit, my professor asked us the question, “Who are your people?”. At first, I listed things like the Minneapolis community, the dance community, my family, etc. I began to think deeper and in a more specific artistic sense. I noticed myself writing down the names of friends who identify as artists in a similar way as I do but do not have their artwork as their primary life focus at this moment. It was my intention to create a community within a community of local artists. That is what this project is about and that is the art you will be seeing in this short video. I wanted this video to be a product of all of our different art mediums and to show equal contribution through collaboration.
Our two shooting locations were very intentional. They are Bde Maka Ska and a community art backyard on 35th and Bloomington in South Minneapolis. I wanted to recognize and acknowledge that we are on Native land but wanted to portray this in a way that was respectful, mindful, and not invasive to the Native community. I also wanted to point out that none of the people in this project are Native but we wanted to bring this message forward. The community art backyard was a beautiful space that is open to the public. There are multiple signs in the space that read “Respect the Space, Leave No Trace”. This was intentional to tie in the theme of "community" a bit further.
As you watch the video, I invite you to ask yourself the question, “who are your people?” and “who is your community?”.
Thank you to everyone involved and for the support we received to complete this project. I hope you all enjoy our final product.
THE ARTIST IS PRESENT BY Marina Abramovic (RE-CREATED BY SAVANNAH SPIROv)
In my HECUA program allowed me an opportunity to re-create art by famous global artists. One art piece we studied heavily was "The Artist is Present" by Marina Abramovic. Abramovic is known for creating very controversial and risk-taking pieces, some of which even put her life on the line. I decided to dive into her intensity and re-create one of her well-known pieces. The original piece was done by Marina sitting in a chair with a long gown on, a chair in front of her, and a table separating her and the chair. One by one, people waited in line to sit in front of Marina while they stared at each other for no required time length. This went on for hours and multiple days in a row. While I only re-created this piece for a little over an hour, doing this forced me to get out of my comfort zone and portray a type of art I am not familiar with.
Ed Talk: Washburn Black Box
In November of 2019, Crystal Spring, the creator of the Washburn Black Box Social Justice Theatre Program, got asked to speak at an Ed Talk about student voice in education. Crystal asked returning alumni and current students to assist her in delivering this message, as it was centered around "student voice". As a returning alum, Crystal asked me to prepare some words about how the Blackbox impacted me as a high school student in my education and my future.
“I was told today that I have the "it" to be a very good successful independent writer. I was told today that I just need to mix the "it" with the hard work. I was told today to never give up. I was told today, May 24th, 2016, that I have what it takes. I was told today to never forget it.”
This was a note in my phone I wrote just weeks before I graduated from high school. Those are words that were said to me by someone who saw me. I was in the Blackbox having a conversation with Lee, an intern in the space who gave energy and support to all students and Crystal Spring in ways that make the Blackbox function. He was the person who showed me that my inner light was in my possession just by showing up and hearing what I had to say. Every young student needs a Lee in their life. There are several guest artists, returning alum, or other people who believe in this program that continue to show up and listen to the things the young people in this class have to say. What these people entering the space are saying is, “I see you. I hear you. I’m paying attention to you. Keep going.”
Before the Blackbox, I didn’t have words for how to describe the things I had experienced by the age of 14. Things like house foreclosures, being raised by a single parent with three siblings, watching and experiencing verbal abuse, and dealing with these negative thoughts and emotions which I later learned was anxiety. When I entered the Blackbox my freshman year of high school, I not only was able to tell my story but also hear other people’s stories. Stories like gun violence, the challenges of coming to America, sexual violence, and systematic barriers in the school systems for students of color. While all of us who shared these stories came from different walks of life, we all had something in common. We all had this outlet as young people to express, process, and learn about our own experiences. To be vulnerable and empathetic in a space where we maybe would never be friends with our classmates if it weren’t for the Blackbox. To use art as a healing outlet when we couldn’t figure out how to heal anywhere else. Through our healing, we created and continue to create social change by overcoming systemic barriers and cycles.
By my senior year, I was able to work through and process a family relationship by writing and performing a scene about this experience. It took over three years of being in the Blackbox to finally share a deep and personal part of my story, and I’m so proud of myself for overcoming that experience. This space taught me that there are ways to actually deal with your pain and trauma instead of letting it sit and dwell inside of you.
It is because of this program I was able to intern and continue to work with Crystal, to show up for students just as Lee did with me. It is because of this program I am graduating with a Social Justice degree from my University this spring. It is because of this program I have and can overcome the challenges that enter my life and practice healing in ways that aren’t self-deprecating. It is because of this program I have hope.
Let me speak so I don’t continue to choke on my tongue. One day, I’ll tell you all about my silence. One day, I’ll teach you to write as warm as your blood and as strong as your story. Let today be that day.