Sharon Bridgforth's guest appearances

Sharon Bridgforth

Can We Talk for REAL

Austin Art Talk

The ZAMI NOBLA Podcast

Randal Ford

Michael Anthony

Hayley Gillespie

Bayard Rustin

Natalia Sylvester

Trayvon Martin

Emily Galusha

Wade Davis

John Porter

JASON PHELPS

Brian Daly

Chris Rogers

Deborah Roberts

Elizabeth McQueen

Steven Walker

OwlTail

"We need to not only find ourselves but we need to find a way to each other. It’s really hard to show up fully for others if you haven’t shown up for yourself. It’s really hard to have the hard conversations we need to have right now, so that we can move together collectively, so that we can tend our relationships, if we haven’t done that for ourselves. I think it’s really hard to make courageous choices as artists if we haven’t done that work. Because our fear and the things that we are hiding from inside of us will govern us. And it will never be the brave choice. It will never be the free thing. It will never be all that we are capable of. And I think it’s hard to hold onto our wealth if we haven’t done that, because we won’t on some level believe that we deserve it."Sharon Bridgforth is a writer and performing artist who collaborates with actors, singers, dancers, and audiences to share works that explore, celebrate, and put forward African American migration stories and performance traditions. The work is also a form of prayer to tell stories, transform, remember, and pass on language of the heart with the intention to bring us all along and create space to be shaped together.  A strong interest in reading as a child led to a life of writing that was mostly kept hidden for many years. At the insistence and encouragement of others Sharon started to share the work which turned out to be well suited for performance. That was the beginning of a long career which has always emphasized creating and nurturing long term collaborative relationships with people of different backgrounds. These experiences for the performers and the audience allow for deeper connections with others and ourselves. What a treat to be able to sit down with Sharon and talk about living as and artist. Such wisdom and grace and clarity. In the interview we talk about Sharon’s beginnings and there is a big emphasis on the importance of relationships, and financial stability and knowledge. And most importantly what is in the way that is keeping you from living with joy? Have a listen and share any feedback or thoughts you might have and be sure to check out Sharon's writings and performances!Some of the subjects we discuss: Introduction The great migration Family origins Starting to write College classes First performance Predecessors/we  Relationships Transgressing Perfomance/prayer Not one sided Circles of relationship Academic world Connected/dispersed Financial stability Money/wealth dat Black Mermaid Man Lady Home Project Tipping point/jobs love/rituals &amp; rage Living as an artist Playwright residency Genevieve Vaughan Life challenges Self exploration/writing How to live joy A way to each other Role of the artist Prayer and ritual Gratitude Last words Allgo/thanksBanner image by Nia WitherspoonThis interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian Support this podcast.Links:Sharon Bridgforth- websiteSharon Bridgforth - Wikipediaallgo.org | a statewide queer people of color organizationThe Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration: Isabel WilkersonUT College of Liberal Arts: Omi Osun Joni L. Jonesdat Black Mermaid Man LadyHome Project — dat Black Mermaid Man LadyWomen &amp; Their WorkGenevieve Vaughan | Author, Philosopher, The Gift Economy

"We need to not only find ourselves but we need to find a way to each other. It’s really hard to show up fully for others if you haven’t shown up for yourself. It’s really hard to have the hard conversations we need to have right now, so that we can move together collectively, so that we can tend our relationships, if we haven’t done that for ourselves. I think it’s really hard to make courageous choices as artists if we haven’t done that work. Because our fear and the things that we are hiding from inside of us will govern us. And it will never be the brave choice. It will never be the free thing. It will never be all that we are capable of. And I think it’s hard to hold onto our wealth if we haven’t done that, because we won’t on some level believe that we deserve it." <a href="http://www.sharonbridgforth.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sharon Bridgforth</a> is a writer and performing artist who collaborates with actors, singers, dancers, and audiences to share works that explore, celebrate, and put forward African American migration stories and performance traditions. The work is also a form of prayer to tell stories, transform, remember, and pass on language of the heart with the intention to bring us all along and create space to be shaped together. A strong interest in reading as a child led to a life of writing that was mostly kept hidden for many years. At the insistence and encouragement of others Sharon started to share the work which turned out to be well suited for performance. That was the beginning of a long career which has always emphasized creating and nurturing long term collaborative relationships with people of different backgrounds. These experiences for the performers and the audience allow for deeper connections with others and ourselves. What a treat to be able to sit down with Sharon and talk about living as and artist. Such wisdom and grace and clarity. In the interview we talk about Sharon’s beginnings and there is a big emphasis on the importance of relationships, and financial stability and knowledge. And most importantly what is in the way that is keeping you from living with joy? Have a listen and share any feedback or thoughts you might have and be sure to check out Sharon's writings and performances! Some of the subjects we discuss: Introduction The great migration Family origins Starting to write College classes First performance Predecessors/we Relationships Transgressing Perfomance/prayer Not one sided Circles of relationship Academic world Connected/dispersed Financial stability Money/wealth dat Black Mermaid Man Lady Home Project Tipping point/jobs love/rituals &amp; rage Living as an artist Playwright residency Genevieve Vaughan Life challenges Self exploration/writing How to live joy A way to each other Role of the artist Prayer and ritual Gratitude Last words Allgo/thanks Banner image by Nia Witherspoon This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by <a href="http://stankillian.com/main/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stan Killian</a> <a href="http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Support this podcast.</a>Links:<ul><li><a href="http://www.sharonbridgforth.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sharon Bridgforth- website</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Bridgforth" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sharon Bridgforth - Wikipedia</a></li><li><a href="http://allgo.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">allgo.org | a statewide queer people of color organization</a></li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679763880/sdg07d-20 " rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration: Isabel Wilkerson</a></li><li><a href="https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/caaas/faculty/profile.php?id=jij2555" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UT College of Liberal Arts: Omi Osun Joni L. Jones</a></li><li><a href="https://www.datblackmermaidmanlady.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dat Black Mermaid Man Lady</a></li><li><a href="https://www.datblackmermaidmanlady.com/home-project/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Home Project — dat Black Mermaid Man Lady</a></li><li><a href="https://womenandtheirwork.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Women &amp; Their Work</a></li><li><a href="http://www.genevievevaughan.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Genevieve Vaughan | Author, Philosopher, The Gift Economy</a></li></ul>

Episode 52: Sharon Bridgforth - Circles Of Relationship

Wednesday, June 26  Can We Talk 4REAL, is excited to welcome to the cozy seat Sharon Bridgforth, playwright, poet, activist, singer, performer, public speaker did we miss any? Sharon Bridgforth is a resident playwright and has captivated a many young and old minds with her many styles of writing and works. She is known for drawing her audiences into her stage performances with ease. She will be joining CWT4R co-hosts Ina, Michelle and Terry Boi as we talk to her about her work bull-jean and the one most recent growing work River See. We invite you to be caught in her web as you listen to some of the songs and bits from the bull-jean stories. Listen as she tells you about River See and how as Sharon puts it she combines jazz technologies, polyrhythms, breaking form with bodices moving in circles and performers who are thought out the audience. That along will make you want to go to the next Sharon Bridgforth show so that you too be an audience artist.Listen as Sharon tells you how she creates real live performances with audience participation. Per Sharon, We all work to serve SEE as she tells her story. Tune in and find more about River See and how Sharon uses a black tradition which brings people together no matter what the ethnicities, religion, gender, background or sexual identities.Sharon Bridgforth has a BIG Fundraising Campaign on USA Projects for River See, which will premiere in Chicago at Links Hall in 2014. Listen in and get all the information first hand.Call in on 347-215-8985 at 10:30 pm eastern time, 9:30 pm central standard time, 8:30 pm mountain time and 7:30 pm pacific time Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Press 1 to speak. This year Sharon is flying to the next level, you may want to buy a ticket and ride along. She has paved the way for many to come behind with her way with words and performances. I am sure she joins us when we say at CWT4R Silence is not an OPTION.

Bull-Jean Stories, River See and Sharon Bridgforth 