Wow!! It’s been quite some time typing in my blog as i have been busy with my PhD research project, typing my thesis, multiple artistic experiences, etc. Finally a quick breather, the newspaper front page photo speaks for itself!! Am I dreaming??? I won’t stay long typing as i need to go to uni as my PhD submission draws very close!!
Featured Researcher – https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/research/larc/outputs/lara-rose/
Wow!! I’m so thankful, my dreams are coming true!! 🙂
GIVING THANKS FOR LOVE
Giving thanks for life
Giving thanks for air and water
Giving thanks for birds in the tree
Giving thanks for belching stomach as we are blessed with food to eat
Giving thanks for time to retreat, recoup and reset
Giving thanks for opportunities to realign
Giving thanks for art and music
Giving thanks for culture for spiritual practices and enlightenment
Giving thanks for eyes that cry, tears that soothe and cleanse all sorrow away
Giving thanks for survival and lessons learned
Giving thanks for strength to keep taking one step at aa time, moving forward always, tis yes, thy doth rest from time to time,
Alas, give thanks again, a new year, a new day, cometh.
We give thanks…
Lara Rose 31/12/2020
So here we are in Leeds during this year of lockdown or as others putting a positive spin on it call it, artist retreat!! To date in my practice as research project looking at the influence of Yoruba (Edekiri) culture on artistic (afropolitan) practices in Leeds, i have:
-Started and stopped creating a mud Ori head sculpture (work in progress) –Started bits of installation ideas for a scheduled exhibition at East St arts (cancelled) -lost access to own studio, university 3d studio and music studio
However;
I created a lock down exhibition series of small marquettes as shown above using masking tape, found confectionery packaging, discarded perfume bottles, etc.
I have also recorded close to 30 pieces of music in logic pro x informed by the various aspects of Yoruba culture eg the concept of Ori, Iwa Pele and honouring ancestors. This also includes creating songs for the Nomad Woman musical, depicting Osun the goddess of love, Ori Olokun, Ogun, etc as they journey alongside Yoruba peoples I feel in disguise within the spiritual practices we often find ourselves involved in at church, etc!!
I have also created new lyrics, poetry and narrations and in the middle of completing my next book in response to the BLM crisis.
I have created music videos documenting the process of creating the sculptures.
i have written up two case study drafts, a 10,000 word document on Afropolitanism, collated a Yoruba world migration history timeline (and still working on), a host of reflexive writings including this blog, posted on Instagram and twitter.
Performed finally on Zoom events and aim to resurrect my radio show.
etc, etc, etc……………
I did get a 2 week umbrella of access (socially distanced, on my own with mask, following the COVID protocol) to the 3d studio at university where I’d started to create two large sculptures based on the crown Ori mini maquettes until my card was blocked from entry into the studio leading to a mini break down on campus!! I really do not understand why I am not allowed continuous access!!! Nothing makes sense, the lock down conditions say University remains open and we have confirmation from the VC that we can come into uni!!! 😦
Anyway, given up hope on that now and will focus on more writing, chapter outlines, case studies of carnival queen and carnival messiah.
I’ll continue to attend online seminars, lectures, q&a and i gave a presentation about my research at the last research cafe!! yay!!
oh wow, Lawrence just brought me some yummy food so break time!! 🙂
Afro futurism
Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science and philosophy of history that explores the developing intersection of African diaspora culture with technology. It was coined by Mark Dery in 1993 and explored in the late 1990s through conversations led by Alondra Nelson. Wikipedia
Afropolitan
Afropolitan is a term constructed from the name Africa and the ancient Greek word πολίτης, meaning ‘citizen’. It is an attempt at redefining African phenomena by placing emphasis on ordinary citizens’ experiences in Africa. Afropolitanism is similar to the older Panafricanism ideology. Wikipedia
Melodies, plural of melody
Melody A melody, also tune, voice or line, is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. In its most literal sense, a melody is a combination of pitch and rhythm, while more figuratively, the term can include successions of other musical elements such as tonal color. Wikipedia
OMG!! What a time we are in!!
Words depart from me
I dare not speak out
words return to me
i must, i must speak out
silence me no more oh woes of distant pasts
silence me no more ye voices of the present blast
i will, i will speak out
i must i must speak out
Inspired by Sharena Lee Satti Zoom Poetry group 23rd aug 2020
Today, todaaaaaaaaaaay, toddddddddddddddddddddddddaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy is Friday!!! 🙂
LARA ROSE 