Expressive Arts and Anti-Racism
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Photo Credit: Julia Rendleman with ballerinas: Kennedy George and Ava Holloway at the Robert E Lee memorial in Richmond, VA. sourced via instagram @juliarendelman
We at Yellowbird are committed to the work of anti-racism through education, self reflection, courageous conversations and using the arts to engage in an embodied dialogue with racism, privilege and colonialism in America. We are committed to using the arts to guide a new path toward an anti-racist society. Yellowbird is comprised of two white women who are personally and professionally committed to this intention. We stand with the Black Lives Matter movement.
We choose to be transparent and share what is unfolding in this current moment. We do this knowing we will make mistakes and sometimes say the wrong thing. Our blinds spots will be revealed. However, we choose to share our voices knowing that the price of silence is too great. As white women, we know that there is a lot of work ahead of us in our commitment to being anti-racist. Part of our mission at Yellowbird is to hold the threads of both personal process and the greater community as we weave the connections between our artistic and life choices. The arts are a safe container to explore and be with issues that are challenging, heartbreaking and hopeful. The arts engage our imagination and what better way to find our way through this together than with the help of the imaginal realm? The arts teach us to trust the process of creation and to keep going even when it’s tough. We all need this reminder right now. As artists, we commit to do the work through education and activism but also through our senses. We all have the opportunity to draw upon our artist within to create a way to heal, come together and make change. We invite you to join us.
Since the death of George Floyd I have been navigating a sea of emotions: anger, grief, fear, longing, hope, curiosity, wonder, guilt, sadness, numbness and more! I have noticed that, as an artist, when I am flooded with emotions, I tune into the images around me to see beyond the words and mental chatter. Important note: “images” in the world of expressive arts encompass more than a visual image like a painting or photo. It can be any artistic expression like a song, poem, dance, etc. The artists have been speaking during this time. They are painting murals, organizing peaceful dance protests, writing poetry, capturing beautiful photography and making art. We are also surrounded by news media and social media images. There is no shortage of imagery around us. They are all part of this story of racism, protests and the work of anti-racism.
As Erika and I chatted about this blog, we decided to categorize the images into three categories: trauma based images such as videos of police brutality, images of protest, and art-based images like some in this blog. Each type of image can have the power to resonate with your spirit, to incite a physical response or generate an emotion. Some key components of doing the work of anti-racism is to explore and get clear on how racism lives in you, how your privilege has impacted your life, how you feel and what you long for in an anti-racist society. It calls for a courageous look in the mirror. One way to approach this is by actively engaging with the images that speak to you, and make you FEEL something kinesthetically.
Photo Credit: Flo Ngala for the New York Times - Dance for George in Harlem 6/7/2020
We wanted to share some of the arts based images that we have been engaging with. We share them with you to highlight black artists and the Black Lives Matter Movement. You can use these images or others you find, we invite you to take some intentional time with a journal, paints, markers or sketchbook. Better yet grab a big piece of unlined paper because we need lots of space for possibility right now! Divide your paper into three columns. You don’t have to draw lines or even use columns, just make sure to leave a section in the middle of the paper blank for now. We offer these steps as a guide:
Take time really looking at the image. Where do you feel this image in your body? Notice any sensations or kinesthetic reactions to the image. Place a hand on where you feel it in your body. Take some deep breaths.
Give yourself space to feel whatever emotions arise and notice what thoughts are present. What is the image saying to you? Keep asking the image what else it has to say and write down what you hear on one side of your paper.
Keep noticing your body sensations as they may shift and change.
What do you want to say to the image? Keep asking yourself or use the repeated prompt, “What I really want you to know….” Write it all down on the other side of your paper.
Using the middle portion of your paper, find a way to connect the two sides of writing with color, shape, line, collage images, etc.
Return your full attention to your body and notice what sensations are present. If you like, jot down a few descriptions of those sensations somewhere else on the page.
We have included a couple of images throughout the blog and now offer more to honor and celebrate black lives.
Photo Credit: Mikael Owunna - Emen 2018
George Floyd mural created by a group of Minneapolis artists