the art that saves.

At the time I’m writing this we just had a full moon eclipse in Virgo, the air is feeling warmer, Pisces season is here and the forces calling us to reflect on our humanity, releasing expectations to make space for what makes us feel most alive and at home in our bodies. 

With that intention flowing through me, I am centering the few human experiences that make me feel electric: 

dancing 

singing

reading 

and especially

 watching live performance art 

I spent much of my childhood in sanctuary choir pews, theatres, and rehearsal spaces, 

so watching live art is somewhat of a sacred ritual; a practice critical to sustaining this earthly body.  

Live art always leaves me feeling something. So much so, I yearn to write about those feelings. For myself, to process what I just experienced, and for my community to share with me in that experience. As it is not lost on me the immense privilege it is to be able to prioritize live art the way I do. The grief of all the people in my community that are not experiencing a show with me is often part of what a live performance makes me feel. 

Also happening in the world as I write this is the last day of Black Women’s History Week (created by Femenista Jones). This week calls us to celebrate Black women in the richness of who they are and all we offer to make our world beautiful. 

& Black artists are doing just that. Pain, violence, instability, and harm surrounds us, yet through it all, Black artists show up to make beauty, tell stories, and instill hope even though they rarely get the flowers they fucking deserve. 

Well instead of complaining about the lack of flowers, I’m here to give it to them. 

With that, I share these special reflections on 10 live performances by and/or featuring Black artists that I’ve seen in the last year that have made me feel something. Please follow these artists, go see their work, and support them. We know how art is saving us all.