Yesterday I learned my wire sculpture “Erzulie’s Black Heart” will be featured in the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute’s exhibition “Wearing Spirit: Aesthetically Personifying the Feminine in African Sacred Traditions” from March 11 to May 24 in New York City. The opening reception will be held on March 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. If you are in the Big Apple on March 11, join me at the reception. It will be BIG FUN! For more information about the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, visit www.cccadi.org. Many thanks to Shantrelle Lewis for inviting me to submit my work!
Ananda Leeke's wire sculpture Erzulie's Black Heart
Photo Credit: Leigh Mosley (the greatest photographer in the universe! – www.leighmosley.com)
Below is my artist statement for the exhibition.
Artist Statement
Ananda Leeke’s passion for African goddesses began while she was studying Kemetian and Yoruba religions and writing My Soul Speaks, her first chap book of poetry, in 1992. In 1995, Leeke began using coat hangers, an assortment of wire, found objects, vintage jewelry, fabric, and amulets to sculpt images of African goddesses including Oshun, Yemanya, Oya, Maat, Auset, and Het Heru. Over the past fifteen years, she has explored these goddesses in her artwork, writing, and travels to Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, Louisiana, and Senegal. She discovered Erzulie, the Haitian goddess of love, while writing her debut novel, Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One. Erzulie influenced the lives of many characters in Love’s Troubadours. Erzulie’s veve is incorporated in Love’s Troubadours logo and artwork on the book cover.
Erzulie’s Black Heart is a goddess of love and healing who was born out of the middle passage experience of enslaved Africans in Haiti. She is a Petwo spirit. Her love and healing energy are hot, aggressive, and quick to act when the children of Haiti need her. Her black heart represents a sanctuary for Haitians when they are faced with life’s hardships including poverty, illness, violence, and natural disasters such as hurricanes and the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that occurred on January 12. Erzulie’s Black Heart heals the pain and suffering of Haiti’s sons and daughters. She protects them with the fierce love of a Black warrior woman. Her intention is to bring the children of Haiti to higher ground.
Thanks for stopping by!
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for Erzulie, the Haitian goddess of love,
As many of you might know, I am writing my next novel Love’s Troubadours – Symon: Book Two. I am in the midst of a research and reading phase that has me on a bottomless pit search for all things interesting. So far, my adventures have been online and offline. My eyes have traveled through numerous magazines, books, Amazon.com book reviews, Twitter and Facebook conversations, YouTube videos, and web TV shows. All kinds of good stuff is surfacing. It is really juicy!. There’s no real order to my method too. It’s a bit messy! And that’s okay! I am flowing with the FLOW!
I am fascinated … well to be honest infatuated with what it means to be post-black. The seed of my infatuation was planted during a radio show discussion I had with one of my favorite authors Shayne Lee, a Tulane University professor, in November.
Our conversation was FABULOUS! I am so glad it was recorded because I am using it as research now. Click here to listen to the show on Talkshoe.com: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/15820 (look for episode 10 that aired on November 9, 2009).
During our conversation, Shayne and I discussed why we both loved reading Malcolm Gladwell’s The Outliers and its connection to my new book That Which Awakens Meand debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One (available on Amazon.com – http://tinyurl.com/yfxtqyq). Shayne gave a juicy review of Love’s Troubadours. He called the book’smain character Karma Francois a “post-soul woman.” Those three words led me to post-black. They shifted my reality Translation: Shayne’s three words set it off for me. Hey that’s what the brotha does! His analysis and books take you there. I read Shayne’s book T.D. Jakes: America’s New Preacher last year and am looking forward to reading his new book Holy Mavericks: Evangelical Innovators and the Spiritual Marketplace. I’ll be using Holy Mavericks as research for a character who is the son of an evangelical minister in my next novel. Click here to learn more about Shayne: http://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/sociology/lee-profile.cfm.
So after my reality shifted, I started examining Karma’s world through a post-black lens. The first stop on my post-black research journey was Thelma Golden, executive director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem.
While Golden worked at the Whitney Museum, she and artist Glenn Ligon coined the phrase “post-black art” in the late 1990s. The phrase was explained in the Studio Museum’s 2001 catalogue for Freestyle, an exhibition of twenty-eight up and coming artists of African American backgrounds.
Golden wrote,
Post-black artists are “adamant about not being labeled ‘black’ artists, though their work was steeped, in fact deeply interested, in redefining complex notions of blackness.”
“They are both post-Basquiat and post-Biggie. They embrace the dichotomies of high and low, inside and outside, tradition and innovation, with a great ease and facility.”
“Post-black was the new black.”
Post-black is “both a hollow social construction and a reality with an indispensable history.”
What do you think of Golden’s post-black commentary? I am still chewing on it!
FYI: I used Golden’s museum curator career as a template for Karma’s career in New York City. Golden’s curatorial work and willingness to show women and people of color artists that might not have been shown anywhere greatly influenced my discussion of African diaspora art in Love’s Troubadours. She introduced me to Kara Walker, Chris Ofili, and other artists mentioned in my novel.
Yesterday, I discovered author Ytasha Womack’s new book Post Black: How a New Generation Is Redefining African-American Identity (click here to read Womack’s blog and Twitter page). That was a Happy Black History moment! I ordered a copy of the book from Amazon.com today and will be attending Womack’s D.C. book reading on February 16 at Busboys and Poets’ 5th and K Street location (time – 6:30-8pm). I am so excited! Hopefully, Womack’s book reading will give me more food for thought as I explore the post-black world I share with my main character Karma in Love’s Troubadours – Book One and main character Symon Allure in Love’s Troubadours – Book Two.
Any thoughts on what it means to be post-black?
Do you self-identify as post-black?
Do you have any post-black fiction or nonfiction recommendations?
Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day!
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, Gratitude, and Adventures in the land of post-black,
Cheryl Mayberry McKissack - Photo Credit: Carol Cain, NYCMama
Happy February! Happy Black History Month (which is every day)!
This year I am celebrating digital diva sheros in Black History. Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, an entrepreneur with expertise in communications, research, and technology, is one of my top ten sheroes. In January 2000, Cheryl launched Nia Enterprises, LLC and gave birth to NiaOnline, one of the first online communities for African American women. Two months later, I was inspired to create Kiamsha.com, LLC and web site (replaced by www.anandaleeke.com) to celebrate my creative and healing arts gifts during National Women’s History Month. Since then, I have followed Cheryl’s entrepreneurial efforts and been inspired to further develop and share my gifts.
In October 2009, I met and interviewed Cheryl for Ananda Leeke TV at Blogalicious, the first inaugural conference for women bloggers of color. That was a huge moment for me! Another huge moment happened yesterday when I wrote an Examiner.com article celebrating Cheryl’s tenth year anniversary as founder and President/CEO of Nia Enterprises. Click here to read it. Let me know what you think.
Who are your sheros and heros?
Enjoy your day and week!
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, Gratitude, and Pride for Black History Sheros and Heros,
Today I spent time working on my new book Sisterhood, the Blog: Soundbytes from the 21st Century Women’s Online Revolution. My creative inspiration to dig deep into my creative process came from social media: a YouTube video. It featured author, artist, and activist Eve Ensler’s passionate talk about embracing the inner girl and how powerful it is for women and men to tap into this female strength (compassion, vulnerability, intuition, empathy, creativity, emotion, and so much more). That’s why I love the Internet. It gives us so many soundbytes from the lives of women. That’s the 21st century women’s online revolution!
Eve’s talk engulfed my entire being. It was exactly what I needed. As a result, I began creating six-word memoirs for chapter titles and 20 pieces of artwork that can be used in my book. Check out the video of Eve’s talk below (20 minutes). Let me know what you think.
Enjoy your weekend and February!
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, Intuition, Empathy, Emotion, and Gratitude for My Inner Girl,
February is one of my favorite months. I am celebrating February by offering online yoga classes, author chats, and creative coaching sessions. See my schedule of online events below. I hope you can join me. Please share them with your network.
If you like or learn anything from these online events, please consider making a donation to support Doctors Without Borders’ work to improve the lives of Haitians impacted by the January 12th earthquake. Click here to learn more and make a donation: www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
1) YOGA FOR WOMEN’S HEART HEALTH AND PEOPLE OF HAITI ON STICKAM.COM
I will be teaching a series of online yoga classes on February 5, 12, 19, and 26 to honor women’s heart health month and the people of Haiti on Stickam.com: www.stickam.com/anandaleeke. Each class will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. EST.
If you miss the classes, you can watch the videos. They are all free! Click here to watch them: http://stickam.com/anandaleeke.
I am hosting three author chats on The Ananda Leeke Show, my new BlogTalkRadio program, on February 8, 15, and 22 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. EST: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/anandaleeke. During the author chats, I will read excerpts from my debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One and share reflections that answer the question of the day. See the list of questions of the day below.
1) Who are love’s troubadours? – February 8
2) What does love look like in my main character Karma Francois’ life? – February 15
3) What is love mentalism? – February 22
3) CREATIVITY COACHING SESSIONS ON USTREAM.TV
Join me for two creative coaching sessions on Ananda Leeke Live!, my UStream.tv show, on February 11 and 25 from 9:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. EST. Click here to watch the show: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ananda-leeke-live. Don’t worry if you miss the live recording. A recording will be archived on the web site.
My online coaching sessions will utilize creativity exercises included in my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery. See the list of topics below.
a. How to use six-word memoirs to identify the many parts of yourself – February 11
b. What does creativity look like in your life? – February 25
Enjoy February!
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for Love,
If you have been reading my blog, you know how much I adore Jamie Ridler’s Next Chapter book blogging groups. They are amazing and always keep me uplifted, inspired, and on track with my personal and creative goals. I write about their powerful impact on my creative journey in my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery (available on Amazon.com – http://tiny.cc/7uFsg).
This year I joined Jamie’s Next Chapter – Happy Book Blogging Group. We are reading The Happy Book by Rachel Kempster and Meg Leder. The group officially began on January 15 and is taking a new approach to book blogging in 2010. Jamie calls it “The Happy Book Mail-Around.” 104 creative women bloggers signed up to take part in this grand experiment. Click here to learn more: http://tnc-thehappybook.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-book-january-29.html. Jamie divided us into four groups: Bliss, Giggle, Mirth, and Glee. I am a member of the Giggle group. So is my dear sistalove Jennifer Moore of Pink Heels blog.
Since I am just getting started with The Happy Book journey, I thought I’d share my top four happy moments in January. See below.
FYI – I just ordered The Happy Book from Amazon.com. What a happy moment! I’ll be posting weekly updates on my Happy Book journey over the next several weeks. I invite you to join me in sharing your weekly happy moments in the comment section of my blog.
Enjoy your weekend!
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for Daily Happy Moments,
Ananda
Ananda’s Top Four Happy Moments in January
1) Happy Aha Moment
On the morning of January 13, I boarded a plane at BWI Airport to Indianapolis to attend my grandmother Dorothy Mae Johnson Gartin’s funeral. While on the plane, I read an article in the February issue of O Magazine that included the followingquote:
“You’ve just got this glow about you – some combination of wisdom and inner peace, plus a lovely self-awareness. You’re not sweating the small stuff; you know what feels good, feels right, and you simply don’t muck around with the rest. You’re not a kid anymore, and we mean that as a high compliment. There’s a new kind of lightness about you. And your hair has never looked better.”
Reading these words help me see who I have become at 45. So I tore them out of the magazine and pasted them into my pink 2010 day planner I purchased during my NYC birthday weekend in December.
2) Happy Yoga and Reiki Healing Touch Moment
My cousin Finis gave me a magnificent Christmas gift this year. It was all about reflexology … The Reflexology Path Kit by Barbara and Kevin Kunz – http://reflexology.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_reflexology_path_kit (Barnes and Nobles sells the kit online). Finis also gave me a great pair of reflexology socks. These gifts were exactly what I needed to take my yoga and Reiki healing touch personal practice and business to the next level. So far, I have been studying and using the kit’s tools. It is an exciting learning journey that will bless my body, life, and clients.
3) Happy President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Moment
This photo was taken right before President Barack Obama gave his State of the Union address on January 27. I love the affection that he and First Lady Michelle Obama shared. Priceless moment. I also loved his tie and Michelle’s dress.
4) Happy Inner Shopping Goddess Moment
My inner shopping goddess has been prompting me to check out a pair of sassy black patent leather Bandolino boots for several weeks (since Christmas). On January 28, I answered my inner shopping goddess’ call and popped over to the Bandolino shop in Pentagon City Mall. Guess what I discovered? A fantabulous yes FANTABLOUS blowout sale on those sassy black patent leather boots. My new best boot gal pals are a pair of size 7 1/2 patent leather boots. My feet are nice, warm, and fashionable. I love the boots so much that I named them Joie de Vivre #2 … JDV2 for short. The first Joie de Vivre is my lap top!
Did you watch Barack Obama TV last night? If not, visit The Saavy Sista, one of my favorite blogs that gives me sista news, to watch the entire video: http://www.the-savvy-sista.com/2010/01/state-of-union-2010-full-video.html. You can also watch it on the White House’s YouTube channel a/k/a “Barack Obama TV” below.
I call President Obama’s television appearances “Barack Obama TV.” He takes over my entire being when he speaks. I am truly an Obama-ite! I watched the SOTU online via CNN.com and Facebook. Below are some of my thoughts captured during my Facebook viewing experience. Don’t you just love the Internet!
What did you think of our President’s State of the Union (SOTU) address for 2010?
Enjoy your day!
Peace, Joy, Gratitude, Compassion, and Hope that America will be restored with healthcare, education, jobs, and financial reform,
Ananda
My Facebook Comments
Summary of the SOTU – President Obama is an amazing leader. Let’s keep supporting him. Let’s make Congress accountable. Let’s serve our local communities and help each other out. Let’s offer HOPE. Let’s be realistic. Let’s take one step at a time. Let’s do what we need to do to make our lives, our communities, and America better. Enjoy your Wednesday evening and Thursday.
Yesterday at 10:12pm
Just saying no to everything is not leadership. Serving citizens not our ambitions. WOW President Obama.
CNN.com Live: State of the Union
Source: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/state.of.the.union/
Yesterday at 10:03pm via CNN
I like what he said that he is trying to change the tone of politics. This is a deep change.
CNN.com Live: State of the Union
Source: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/state.of.the.union/
Yesterday at 10:02pm via CNN
I think President Obama’s speech was right on time. HOPE for America and UNITY in Congress for healthcare.
CNN.com Live: State of the Union
Source: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/state.of.the.union/
Yesterday at 10:01pm via CNN
Speak the truth Prez about what America did for 8 years. Tell the truth. People can you hear it.
CNN.com Live: State of the Union
Source: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/state.of.the.union/
Yesterday at 9:56pm via CNN
President Obama’s Administration is the first time I have followed American politics on a daily basis. He and his team made me step up my game. Social media like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube really help me stay on track.
CNN.com Live: State of the Union
Source: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/state.of.the.union/
Yesterday at 9:54pm via CNN
I love what he said – All before I walked in the door. America has a short-term memory.
CNN.com Live: State of the Union
Source: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/state.of.the.union/
Yesterday at 9:52pm via CNN
Remind them President Obama about what you inherited. Keep it all in perspective folks. I loved how he just paused and gave the look of a brotha about to read folks.
CNN.com Live: State of the Union
Source: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/state.of.the.union/
Yesterday at 9:51pm
Today I listened to NPR’s Tell Me More with journalist Michel Martin and learned that 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Congresswoman Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm’s 1970 autobiography Unbought and Unbossed.
I first learned about Sistalove Shirley when my mother Theresa supported her 1972 presidential campaign. She was my mother’s shero and later became mine. Sistalove Shirley ran for Congress and headed to Washington, D.C. in 1968 to represent her Brooklyn community. In 1972, she became the first woman and African American to run for president of the United States. She had her own mind and was a true force of nature. Sistalove Shirley rocked her entire life and always told her truth in her own words. Her legacy inspires me to do the same. FYI – I wrote a poem about her in my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery (available on Amazon – http://tiny.cc/7uFsg). See below.
During Tell Me More, Martin spoke with one of my favorite filmmakers Shola Lynch, who created the film “Chisholm 72: Unbought and Unbossed,” and Barbara Ransby, a professor of History and African-American Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Click here to listen to the show (17 minutes): http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122984022.
Poem
Chocolate Bar (from That Which Awakens Me’s Chapter Two: Girlhood Memories. Defining Self.Identities. Archetypes.)
Copyright 2009 by Madelyn C. Leeke
My mother flipped through JET as we stood in the line at the grocery store.
I was busy trying to con her in to letting me get a chocolate bar from the candy stand located near the checkout counter.
She paid me no mind.
Persistence was my middle name.
So I continued and eventually got on her last nerve.
She threatened to use her Dr. Scholl’s on me.
I quieted down for fear of her wooden shoe.
That’s when she showed me a picture of this coffee-colored woman with glasses from some place in Brooklyn.
At first glance, the lady looked like a school teacher.
My mother proudly told me that she was Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for President.
I smiled and thought my mother might bend and let me get that chocolate bar, but she wasn’t having it.
Maybe if this lady wins the election I might be able to get a chocolate bar then.
Enjoy your day and week!
Peace, Creativity, Joy, Compassion, and Gratitude for Sistalove Ancestors,
Ananda Leeke 
