WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.830 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much for being here. 00:00:02.830 --> 00:00:08.039 align:middle line:84% I'm happy to answer questions or evade them. 00:00:08.039 --> 00:00:10.394 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:00:10.394 --> 00:00:11.307 align:middle line:90% 00:00:11.307 --> 00:00:11.807 align:middle line:90% Whatever. 00:00:11.807 --> 00:00:14.633 align:middle line:90% 00:00:14.633 --> 00:00:15.639 align:middle line:90% OK, there you go. 00:00:15.639 --> 00:00:16.139 align:middle line:90% Hi. 00:00:16.139 --> 00:00:17.840 align:middle line:90% Thanks so much, my dear. 00:00:17.840 --> 00:00:22.140 align:middle line:84% Can you talk a little bit about the subjects? 00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:23.670 align:middle line:90% I'm interested. 00:00:23.670 --> 00:00:27.140 align:middle line:84% So there was the poem about the man and the horse, 00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:31.530 align:middle line:84% and that seems like it came out of a lived experience of yours 00:00:31.530 --> 00:00:34.880 align:middle line:90% and his and the horse's 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:39.720 align:middle line:84% The woman character, are they aggregates? 00:00:39.720 --> 00:00:43.160 align:middle line:90% 00:00:43.160 --> 00:00:44.240 align:middle line:90% What informs them? 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:45.380 align:middle line:90% Who informs them? 00:00:45.380 --> 00:00:48.440 align:middle line:90% 00:00:48.440 --> 00:00:52.430 align:middle line:84% I did-- like, actually, most of what I write-- 00:00:52.430 --> 00:00:54.860 align:middle line:84% I did a lot of research for the project. 00:00:54.860 --> 00:00:58.340 align:middle line:84% I read many books, but, in this case, I read many articles. 00:00:58.340 --> 00:01:01.800 align:middle line:84% And there's a particular group of prison wives-- 00:01:01.800 --> 00:01:03.980 align:middle line:84% prison wives and families, strong prison wives 00:01:03.980 --> 00:01:06.320 align:middle line:84% and families-- that do a lot of great work 00:01:06.320 --> 00:01:10.040 align:middle line:84% in trying to create a support system. 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:13.310 align:middle line:84% And I was really lucky enough to be invited into that space 00:01:13.310 --> 00:01:16.020 align:middle line:90% and spend time with them. 00:01:16.020 --> 00:01:18.380 align:middle line:90% So some of it came from that. 00:01:18.380 --> 00:01:19.910 align:middle line:84% Personally, I was with someone who 00:01:19.910 --> 00:01:22.250 align:middle line:84% had been incarcerated for 10 years, prior to us 00:01:22.250 --> 00:01:24.000 align:middle line:90% being together. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:28.850 align:middle line:84% So I do know that space on a personal level. 00:01:28.850 --> 00:01:31.880 align:middle line:84% But I, also, didn't want that to be my story. 00:01:31.880 --> 00:01:35.300 align:middle line:84% I wanted it to be a separate thing, a third thing, 00:01:35.300 --> 00:01:37.730 align:middle line:84% so that I could have, maybe, a little more freedom 00:01:37.730 --> 00:01:45.480 align:middle line:84% to create work and not bring all of my baggage to that page. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:49.970 align:middle line:84% But almost everything is taken from real experiences 00:01:49.970 --> 00:01:50.690 align:middle line:90% on some level. 00:01:50.690 --> 00:01:58.636 align:middle line:90% 00:01:58.636 --> 00:02:00.366 align:middle line:90% I can feel them all. 00:02:00.366 --> 00:02:03.180 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:02:03.180 --> 00:02:05.730 align:middle line:90% It's just you and me. 00:02:05.730 --> 00:02:07.560 align:middle line:90% Then, can you talk about the-- 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:12.570 align:middle line:84% so I'm assuming that this group knows about the poems. 00:02:12.570 --> 00:02:15.720 align:middle line:84% And could you talk about their response? 00:02:15.720 --> 00:02:16.930 align:middle line:90% I haven't shown them yet. 00:02:16.930 --> 00:02:17.430 align:middle line:90% (GASPS) Ah. 00:02:17.430 --> 00:02:17.930 align:middle line:90% Yeah. 00:02:17.930 --> 00:02:19.950 align:middle line:90% I mean, I wanted to-- 00:02:19.950 --> 00:02:21.190 align:middle line:90% they're finally finished. 00:02:21.190 --> 00:02:23.937 align:middle line:90% So we'll see. 00:02:23.937 --> 00:02:25.020 align:middle line:90% We'll see what they think. 00:02:25.020 --> 00:02:29.640 align:middle line:84% I think, right now, one of the things that I wanted to do 00:02:29.640 --> 00:02:32.280 align:middle line:84% was make sure that the world I was creating 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:36.120 align:middle line:84% was space enough to be, both, lyrically powerful 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:40.200 align:middle line:90% and stay true to that life. 00:02:40.200 --> 00:02:43.560 align:middle line:84% But I also wanted to give space for myself, as the artist 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:46.950 align:middle line:84% and as the creator, and, also, my own experience, being 00:02:46.950 --> 00:02:49.005 align:middle line:90% in a situation that was similar. 00:02:49.005 --> 00:02:54.200 align:middle line:90% 00:02:54.200 --> 00:02:55.700 align:middle line:90% I can probably just shout. 00:02:55.700 --> 00:02:57.800 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:03.230 align:middle line:84% So I want to know if there are other poem in progress 00:03:03.230 --> 00:03:07.130 align:middle line:84% and if any of those involve women 00:03:07.130 --> 00:03:09.671 align:middle line:90% as the incarcerated person. 00:03:09.671 --> 00:03:12.340 align:middle line:90% 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:13.180 align:middle line:90% It's interesting. 00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:15.550 align:middle line:84% I got so attached to this project 00:03:15.550 --> 00:03:19.000 align:middle line:84% as I was writing that it was really hard for me to not write 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:20.630 align:middle line:90% more. 00:03:20.630 --> 00:03:24.490 align:middle line:84% So I think there are more poems coming. 00:03:24.490 --> 00:03:29.410 align:middle line:84% I would imagine those poems would be coming. 00:03:29.410 --> 00:03:33.040 align:middle line:84% I don't know for sure, but, yeah, that would make sense. 00:03:33.040 --> 00:03:34.840 align:middle line:84% The project I spent the most time with 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:39.910 align:middle line:84% was with the retired horses at Blackburn Correctional 00:03:39.910 --> 00:03:40.420 align:middle line:90% Facility. 00:03:40.420 --> 00:03:43.930 align:middle line:84% So that was my one-on-one experience, 00:03:43.930 --> 00:03:45.320 align:middle line:90% but I could see that happening. 00:03:45.320 --> 00:03:48.790 align:middle line:84% I wanted to write, also, from the left space because 00:03:48.790 --> 00:03:50.740 align:middle line:90% of my work in South America. 00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:53.050 align:middle line:84% Most of the people that I talked to-- 00:03:53.050 --> 00:03:54.850 align:middle line:84% because it was, primarily, men that 00:03:54.850 --> 00:03:56.530 align:middle line:90% were imprisoned or killed-- 00:03:56.530 --> 00:03:57.310 align:middle line:90% were women. 00:03:57.310 --> 00:04:01.420 align:middle line:84% So that was, primarily, why the voice was originally a woman. 00:04:01.420 --> 00:04:10.180 align:middle line:90% 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:10.680 align:middle line:90% Yeah. 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:13.895 align:middle line:90% 00:04:13.895 --> 00:04:15.770 align:middle line:84% (FAINTLY) How would you encourage people that 00:04:15.770 --> 00:04:15.840 align:middle line:90% Where's-- 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:15.910 align:middle line:90% --have-- 00:04:15.910 --> 00:04:16.055 align:middle line:90% --a-- 00:04:16.055 --> 00:04:16.200 align:middle line:90% --experience-- 00:04:16.200 --> 00:04:16.540 align:middle line:90% --mic? 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:17.320 align:middle line:90% --with what you say-- 00:04:17.320 --> 00:04:17.820 align:middle line:90% I'm sorry. 00:04:17.820 --> 00:04:19.410 align:middle line:90% Can you wait for the mic? 00:04:19.410 --> 00:04:22.100 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:04:22.100 --> 00:04:25.470 align:middle line:84% (LOUDLY) How would-- sorry, I'm not used to using this. 00:04:25.470 --> 00:04:28.710 align:middle line:84% How would you encourage people to speak from their experiences 00:04:28.710 --> 00:04:31.020 align:middle line:84% and also to write in the way that you have 00:04:31.020 --> 00:04:33.038 align:middle line:84% and to be able to call on that courage? 00:04:33.038 --> 00:04:34.830 align:middle line:84% Because it's something that a lot of people 00:04:34.830 --> 00:04:39.010 align:middle line:84% here might have experience in, and I, myself, too, as well. 00:04:39.010 --> 00:04:40.740 align:middle line:84% And it's something that people should 00:04:40.740 --> 00:04:43.110 align:middle line:90% use as a healing mechanism. 00:04:43.110 --> 00:04:46.290 align:middle line:84% And it also will inspire you to change the world in the way 00:04:46.290 --> 00:04:48.840 align:middle line:84% that you do, because everyone, here, will 00:04:48.840 --> 00:04:50.730 align:middle line:90% share what you've done today. 00:04:50.730 --> 00:04:54.090 align:middle line:84% And I will too-- hopefully, with the video that was recorded-- 00:04:54.090 --> 00:04:56.490 align:middle line:84% because this is a learning experience 00:04:56.490 --> 00:04:59.670 align:middle line:84% and a project for everyone here if they're trying to heal. 00:04:59.670 --> 00:05:01.462 align:middle line:84% And this is exactly what I felt. And I just 00:05:01.462 --> 00:05:03.003 align:middle line:84% want to thank you for your time here. 00:05:03.003 --> 00:05:03.510 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:05:03.510 --> 00:05:04.010 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:05:04.010 --> 00:05:06.030 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:05:06.030 --> 00:05:07.920 align:middle line:84% I think that every study that they've 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:15.780 align:middle line:84% done about creative writing, it has always shown that it helps. 00:05:15.780 --> 00:05:19.410 align:middle line:84% All the James Pennebaker studies have proven, again and again, 00:05:19.410 --> 00:05:22.290 align:middle line:84% that even if you are in talk therapy, 00:05:22.290 --> 00:05:27.180 align:middle line:84% the addition of writing improves, immediately, 00:05:27.180 --> 00:05:29.290 align:middle line:90% the outcome. 00:05:29.290 --> 00:05:31.470 align:middle line:84% And so I think that, sometimes, it's 00:05:31.470 --> 00:05:33.600 align:middle line:84% a disservice when we talk about creative writing 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:38.580 align:middle line:84% not being healing, because I truly believe it is healing. 00:05:38.580 --> 00:05:42.660 align:middle line:84% And I also believe it's a way to increase empathy. 00:05:42.660 --> 00:05:46.620 align:middle line:84% It's hard not to enter a space where art is being made 00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:50.230 align:middle line:84% and not feel what someone is going through. 00:05:50.230 --> 00:05:51.218 align:middle line:90% So I would say-- 00:05:51.218 --> 00:05:53.010 align:middle line:84% my advice would be to, first, give yourself 00:05:53.010 --> 00:05:55.830 align:middle line:90% permission to do that. 00:05:55.830 --> 00:05:57.330 align:middle line:90% To know that it is healing. 00:05:57.330 --> 00:06:00.300 align:middle line:84% To know that you can also write, and throw it away. 00:06:00.300 --> 00:06:02.100 align:middle line:90% That's a beautiful thing too. 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:05.010 align:middle line:84% Sometimes, if I'm going through something really, really tough, 00:06:05.010 --> 00:06:07.590 align:middle line:84% in my own personal life, I can write it 00:06:07.590 --> 00:06:10.670 align:middle line:84% and not have to give it to the public 00:06:10.670 --> 00:06:12.420 align:middle line:84% and not have to give it to another person. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:15.450 align:middle line:84% But I can just write it and feel better, immediately, 00:06:15.450 --> 00:06:16.680 align:middle line:90% just having written it. 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:19.705 align:middle line:90% And that, in itself, is power. 00:06:19.705 --> 00:06:21.330 align:middle line:84% And I think, sometimes, we forget that. 00:06:21.330 --> 00:06:21.960 align:middle line:90% We think, oh, no. 00:06:21.960 --> 00:06:23.066 align:middle line:90% It needs to be a polished thing. 00:06:23.066 --> 00:06:24.300 align:middle line:90% It needs to be a done thing. 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:25.515 align:middle line:90% It needs to go out into-- 00:06:25.515 --> 00:06:29.130 align:middle line:84% But, actually, just the act of creating, 00:06:29.130 --> 00:06:31.570 align:middle line:90% that's where the magic happens. 00:06:31.570 --> 00:06:35.340 align:middle line:84% That's the real moment, I feel like-- 00:06:35.340 --> 00:06:37.230 align:middle line:90% to have that ability. 00:06:37.230 --> 00:06:40.020 align:middle line:84% To give yourself permission to just write 00:06:40.020 --> 00:06:45.490 align:middle line:84% and it doesn't always have to be for everybody else. 00:06:45.490 --> 00:06:47.880 align:middle line:84% And I think that's a hugely, important thing-- 00:06:47.880 --> 00:06:49.740 align:middle line:84% that we can also be secret with our art. 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:52.110 align:middle line:84% We can protect it, and let it do, 00:06:52.110 --> 00:06:53.730 align:middle line:90% for us, what we need it to do. 00:06:53.730 --> 00:06:56.590 align:middle line:90% 00:06:56.590 --> 00:06:58.440 align:middle line:90% Thank you.