She Diva Died. & Come Again?, 2014

This production in two acts used poetry, movement, video and music.

Synopsis: In another life, He Mama was a fascinating person that everyone called She Diva. He Mama doubts that She Diva ever truly existed. But, raising a Black boy is surreal. She begins to understand that this is an art form unto itself. Everyday, no matter what she does, the world around her sends negative subliminal messages about Black males.

He Mama witnesses as her son spends the majority of his early life dressing as anything but a Black boy. One night, Billy Strayhorn visits her in a dream with a very special message. Inspired by this dream, she begins to trying to unravel the mystery that is this child.

This performance art piece is a love letter to my son and Black boys everywhere. It is my formal declaration to nurture and support and encourage him as a future leader, innovator, creative, healing force in for this world. My journey to understanding that my children are the most beautiful thing I will ever create.

This was an interesting collaboration. It was difficult for me to balance my feelings about the use of art to pave the way for gentrification. As an uncompromisingly liberated Black artist, I brought my full self to the project which gave it a certain element of tension. The problem with that, however, is authentic tension is often not being sought by the funders of these pieces. There's this video. It gives me a laugh because a good portion was edited out. The character I created for myself was Ghost Of Prosper's Mother Who Is Also The Spirit Of The Hill. My son, Windafire, in his second collaboration with me, created the character of Prosper, a young boy who was displaced by gentrification.

I am happy to have the documentation of the origins of a poem which was later published in Eyedrum Periodically. Read the poem here! Here are the notes I took from one of the collaborator's meetings.

Natasha Marin's Miko Kuro's Midnight Tea is an experimental art "happening" that involves time, technology, and tea. Guests collaborated with featured artists (The Mumbai Twelve) to create a one-of-a-kind art ritual.

12 Artists

12 Hours

Once in a Lifetime.

This event began at the Tao Gallery in Worli on Saturday and ended at the Lakeeren Gallery in Colaba on Sunday.