7 April
I flew in from St Thomas on Friday evening into Baltimore and travelled by bus and underground into DC. Its easier to get to Baltimore from DC than it is from what they call ‘Washington – Dulles’ which is really in Virginia and a $40 ride (at least) into DC even by shuttle.
Bloombars is in one of my favourite parts of DC – Columbia Heights.
And now Bloom Bars is one of my favourite ‘spots’.
On the Sunday, I facilitated a poetry workshop, Elsewhere at Bloombars. Bloombars, is a lovely space, a 2 story property purchased by John Chambers who then turned it over to the community. It’s a not for profit space where a range of of workshops and performances take place, run by volunteers.
The weather had suddenly ‘Bloomed’ into a beautiful 80 degrees; the cherry blossom festival had started late because of the cold weather but now that was in full bloom too – and everyone was outside – so the workshops in Bloombars that day, were not as well attended as they usually are.
The objects people brought in for their Elsewhere to start with were very different – a painting, a photo, one person who just dropped in, was given my camera, Gowri added a necklace she wore, a Hindi symbol of protection and I took a piece of African fabric. Gowri’s poetic musings – I’m a definite fan. The imagery in her ‘story’ easily transported us to India. ‘underwater’ elsewhere; café in Italy, Russia, An Ode to coffee (after the workshop). It made me feel is that I want to teach more creative writing workshops again. Maybe I’ll do that when I’m more regularly in West Africa this year.
How do I give Bloom bars the biggest plug I can? Their motto is ’You Bloom ,We Bloom’ This is a space where everyone who works here does it for the love of art, the space and probably DC, for me it is part of the essence of loving this city – they have signs such as ‘keep blooming’ which for a new and or emerging artist to be encouraged with small interventions such as this, goes a long way.
I was the guest reader on Monday night, hosted by Gowri and Joseph Green who runs Poetry Now VA , a new not for profit that teaches children and young people poetry, so he is always on the look out for new, experimental and exciting ways to bring poetry to the youth.
I read poems for about 20 mins and Joseph with his winning ways, and gorgeous voice, subtlely got it out of me that it was my significant birthday year – nobody believed him so I didn’t either! I really enjoyed it, Bloom bars can make the most awkward and shy of performers feel comfortable and welcome on stage, so I’d encourage any newbie shy performers in the area – go to Bloombars; be part of the audience, then be part of the show – it’s all ‘one’.
Grammy nominee, Christylez (pronounced: chris-styles) ‘referrred to as a Progressive Hip-Hop artist and multi-instrumentalist’ from Southeast, Washington, DC. did a number. But that doesn’t really describe him or his style, not REALLY.
I loved his performance and eclectic vibe. The open mic–ers a mix of singers, musicians and musician/ comedians as some regulars and newbies – a singer/musician friend of Christylez from NZ – I wish I could have stayed till the end but had an early morning start, an 8am Megabus to NY the next morning to headline an event at Medgar Evers College, at the Center of Black Literature, and to meet a young woman who had contacted me called Kadija Jalloh.
Bloombars
Bloom bars was founded in June 2008 on the belief that art and artists have the power to transform communities and alter the way individuals think feel and experience.They have won The Washington City Paper’s award for the best arts and culture non-profit for the past 2 years:
Resident Updates: from John R. Chambers Chief Executive Gardener (now wouldn’t you rather be a CEG than a CEO)?
* Artist in Bloom resident Ella aced her audition and interview and has been accepted into Duke Ellington School of the Arts starting this Fall! Congrats!
*Artist in Bloom resident Gabriel “Asheru” Benn just returned from another trip to South Africa where he is finishing recording an album with Bloom Ambassador Hip Hop Pantsula, and they also opened for a Kanye West concert! Making dreams come true! Asheru continues touring the U.S. promoting Hip Hop as an educational literacy tool.