Citing an email I sent to participants about the Seasoned Right Here(s) project:
"[In this space] we can really talk. Not hold back. Enjoy some freedom, truth, and care with a small cohort of other cool BIPOC"
"...No pressure is connected to this project. Just breathe, support, and appreciation for you"
Sow
Each person - Keith Haynes, Vivian Kim, Samantha Salters, Yan Pang, and me - filled this project with truth and care every time we came to this space. Truth and care were the main ingredients, the main seasonings, each artist brought, covering our conversations with grace and strength.
Reap
What came from these conversations were places to breath, find support, and appreciation in ways that our group needed. The support was ample; It was not fixed, trying to adhere to a standard of who "deserved" the support. If you came to this space, you deserved it and we were delighted to offer it. Though not on the "agenda," career, community building, and health insights abounded in this space. We freely shared our knowledge.
In this space we made with and for each other, we reframed how conversations about race should happen and what topics should be included as we discussed the weight of "race" and how we each understand it in our day-to-day lives. We got the opportunity to come as we were, "however [we] need[ed] and want[ed] to; make up off or on, mascara running or fierce, and foundation newly set or fading because not only is sweat and racism real, but my shine, glow, and hard work are real too".
The Seasoned Right Here(s) video captures some of the thoughts and body experiences of artists in response to this project through dancing, choreography, and music. When I look at it, the video is a true reflection of our conversations: artists coming together, however we wanted and needed to and using our art to uplift, collaborate, and reframe.
