I hate people that obviously wrote their own bio's in third person. They are almost trying to pretend they don't know who they are, or are too ashamed to stand beside what they consider to be their accolades. I am not that woman. I have worked very hard for what I've got, to be who I am and to do what I do. At times, my shine has been alienating, it has kept me alone and left others feeling obliterated in my presence. I have cried too many tears to back off, shy away or try to be something else.

My claim to fame is that I created the Aurora Black Arts Festival. I put my entire soul into that event. I cannot tell you how proud I felt each year to stand on the grounds. It has definately had it's issues. A lot of times people wouldn't support. I passed out a million flyers and did TV and radio but it hasn't felt like enough. Yet my vendors, they see my effort and my love and they stick beside me while we wait for denver to follow. Here they come.

But this year I cannot have the festival. I am creating the most important thing I've ever created. I am becoming a mother. I am due the same weekend as my festival would be. I will hold my daughter and feel the same pride, at the same time. I will sing that lion king song (haaaaaaaa-mizenya!!!!) and lift her into the air, lol. And then, I will write poems.

I was originally a poet. A griot. And went through a real long writers block. It wasn't actually a block, but a transition as I learned to write from outside the spectrum of pain. We all hurt and its hard to listen to nothing but hurt. I didn't want to be that poet, that victim in life. And recently I have found my voice. I have found my soul on stage. I have travelled this year and performed with my baby in belly and felt so magical and in awe of myself. I have had the most fun I have ever had performing. I can't wait to see what happens as I grow from motherhood. What poems are born from this experience.

My main art is visual. I am a painter before I am anything else. I have had to take a break from creating because I am an oil painter. There is nothing comparable to oils. People suggest I try to use another medium but its like asking a singer to rap instead. I can't wait to paint my daughter. Or my partner. I can't wait to spray paint. I can't wait to spend hours and days between breast feeding just painting and staring at my daughter. Until then, I am resting, learning, incubating.

I am booking. Doing shows, visual and verbal. Send a note. Call and leave a message. 720-375-0879. Love.