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!!! 😦
Large Hatshepsut Ori Crown- Oct work begun, in progress, but… 😦
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!! 🙂
Thank you peeps for all your love and support through this difficult grieving time. It is a roller-coaster ride, and this weekend presented an opportunity for the lowest of lows by the callous, insensitive & unloving actions of others. ☹️
I’ve made some new friends and lost some {I guess they were not friends to begin with} I’ve seen behaviour that shocks me, betrayal close to Judas and Brutus but I’m stating for the record: unlike Jesus and Ceaser getting killed. I still live to tell the tale, (though they try to push me to the depths of despair, lol🤣.) And I will, as it is a good one!!!
Sisters, please watch your backs, not everyone who calls you sister has your back, indeed some covet what you have and will go to any length to attain it. With their clever manipulation and what I now know to be “gas-lighting” tactics one proved my suspicions right, successfully in the most spectacular way possible!! There is a God of justice after all!! 🤣
Yes, it’s a paradox, that I feel victorious even in the face of loss!! The value of one revealing their character and true intention without a shadow of doubt is priceless, pure gold. A lesson for all to learn on how to guard against this in the future. It hurts me that some other friends got hurt because of their action but I guess ces’t lack vie!! You live and learn not to make certain mistakes again.
I have also witnessed and continued to see and enjoy the limitless abundance and supply of grace and blessings from Father God through the universe from the spirit realm. (Still asking where is Mother God?!🙄)
But:
I have had to learn the hard way to;
Protect my table, cast not my pearls before swines, they will rend you!! I will reveal all in my new book, “Church, stop bullying me, the alchemy of suffering” by Lara Rose
It’s not that no one cares, it’s just no one knows what to do!!
It’s not that no one cares, from preacher to absent mothers to doting teachers and self help coaches.
It just that no one really knows what to do to fix the big mess the earth is in!! At the best some bury their heads in the sand or run away, to avoid the pain of reality. At the worse, some claim to have the solution with lofty ideals but unwittingly or sometimes deliberately prey on others. Selah
Both scenarios, and there are more, are only following the flow of nature as it stands today. An amoeba will move away from a region of unpleasant stimulus conversely, a lion will prey on another! C’est la vie!
It seems no amount of motivational training, or positive thinking can change the order of things. Do I sound like the preacher in the book of Ecclesiastis? When he says, “all is folly, just eat, drink and be merry” Aha!
Hence to the dismay of many, clambering at the base of the 3-4-5 triangle.
Scrimping & scratching, and even the guru knows, he or she doesn’t know, and feels like a fraud when eventually reaches out to the ones he seeks to help with a collection tray!
OPPS!!I’m not very good at sorting embedding, etc!! I’ll just keep going on!! So to mark today the Independent Publishers Day, i’m so excited to now have available to download my fun square ebook “30 DAYS OF APRIL – LIVE LOVE SHINE!!! Woohoo!! 🙂
Like stars in the sky, you may not always see them but they are always there.
Likewise at night our nearest star, the sun is not gone but temporary not visible to us.
So our God who cloaks us in the whole universe never leaves us or forsakes us!!
I keep forgetting to share the Victory book.
Self Potrait
LARA ROSE 