Anyone in the DC/VA/MD area can tell you that one of the most popular bands to come out of the area is the phenomenal group known as Fertile Ground. For the past three years, we haven't heard much from the super group although we've seen its members performing as soloists or members of other groups for some time. Thankfully, James Collins, founder of Fertile Ground and a talented musician and producer in his own right updates us on what's going on the group and let's us know when we should be hearing from the group in the near future.
Liberated Muse member Twin Spirit has been wowing audiences around the globe with her sparkling vocals and positive messages. She did a Q & A with SoulTrain.com recently to share about her latest project and give some insight about her perspective on music and life in general. Read the interview HERE
Her limbs, like branches stretched high in sun salutation, extend upwards
eyes closed, warm beams raining down, forming a blanket of warmth
Beautiful, spontaneous, fresh and alive
Her time has come
She has arrived
In this moment and for all time
She is completely free
Mulch of the world's sorrows
Fed, sustained then released her
To unfurl, straighten
Erect and proud
She is completely free
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The LiberatedMuse.com community poem is a frequent activity where members of the network lend verses to create an original poem. Liberated Muse creator Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman, Jimmy DiLorenzo and Sandy Hoar contributed to this poem, titled, "Sun Salute".
Liberated Muse member Gary Young is searching for vocalists to collaborate with on a new electronica project he is working on, a fusion of rock, dance and soul music. Gary is an accomplished musician who collaborated with numerous artists as well as serving as composer on the soundtrack of Liberated Muse's production of the original stage play "Running: AMOK". Message him on Liberated Muse HERE if you would like more details about the project and if you would like to participate. If you are not located in the Washington DC metro area, don't fret. He is open to swapping .wav files with you if applicable.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
All month is Women's History Month, and Liberated Muse will celebrate in grand style, not just celebrating Women's History Month, but SWAN Day as well. SWAN Day/Support Women Artists Now Day is a new international holiday that celebrates women artists. It is an annual event taking place on the last Saturday of March (Women’s History Month) and the surrounding weeks. By focusing attention on the work of women artists, SWAN Dayhelps people imagine what the world might be like if women’s art and perspectives were fully integrated into all of our lives. People celebrate this new holiday by participating in SWANDay events and by making donations to their favorite women artists. The long term goal of SWAN Day is to inspire communities around the world to find new ways to recognize and support women artists as a basic element of civic planning.
We are celebrating SWAN Day on Friday, March 30 during a music concert featuring some of DC's most talented progressive artists who are longtime members of the Liberated Muse network. Come out and bring your friends and family for this music celebration. Dinner and dessert sold.
If you would like more information, email us at LiberatedMuseProductions at gmail [dot] com
Farah Lawal, a contributor to the first anthology, performs at the book release party in 2009
In 2009, Liberated Muse published its first anthology of writings and art from members of the network and across the world. The anthology, Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul, featured cover art by visual artist Sharon Burton and included visual art, stories, poems and essays from Liberated Muse members, including Shanta Monroe, Serena Wills, Margaux Delotte-Bennett, and famed artist Turtel Onli.
Onli provides the cover art for the upcoming second anthology that will be comprised of only poetry and short stories, along with Q & A's with each of the featured writers in the book. Set for a early summer release this year, the second anthology is tentatively titled Liberated Muse Volume II: When Betrayal Wears a Pretty Face and will feature writers Alan King, Kristen Savali, Nick Sweet, Yahia Lababidi and more. Edited again by Liberated Muse founder, writer Khadijah Ali-Coleman who also contributes to the anthology, the book is planned for a preview digital release late Spring.
Writer Alan King is one of about ten writers to be featured in the new anthology in the series
A surprise inclusion in the book will be the four community poems created by members of the LiberatedMuse.com network in 2011. Community poems are poems created by more than one person as contributors take turns adding verses revolving around a prompted theme. Contributors to the poems that will be featured are long-time LiberatedMuse.com members Chenyelu Bomani, Jimmy DiLorenzo, David "Ancient Traditions" Weeks, Margaux Delotte-Bennett, Tony Spires and Colie Williams. Read the first community poem here.
To learn more about the Liberated Muse anthology series and upcoming performance opps in Liberated Muse productions, email LiberatedMuseProductions@gmail.com.
In 2008, Liberated Muse Productions was started after the LiberatedMuse.com network was created. Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman and Maceo Thomas partnered to form Liberated Muse Productions to produce the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest that ran for three successful years before Khadijah and Maceo parted ways in 2010 to produce arts projects and events in the visual and performance arts arena on their own.
Since moving to the District in the mid-2000's, Maceo has been an active member of Ward 7, organizing events to promote community awareness and fellowship, including the monthly Capital Canvases for a Cause which raises monies for area nonprofits while promoting an independent visual artist show. His work as an arts advocate is often coupled with his work as a community organizer.
Maceo is ardent supporter of the democratic process and was very active in the 2008 presidential election. During the Potomac primary, he served as a precinct captain and on election day, he worked the polls in Virginia Beach. Finally, in protest of the congressional threat to DC autonomy, Maceo chose to be arrested with DC Mayor Vincent Gray and other political figures and advocates in April 2011 in front of the US Capitol.
Maceo Thomas arrested in April 2011 for protesting on behalf of DC
Given his prolific work in the community and as an active Democrat, Maceo is running for delegate to the Democratic National Convention. He says,
Maceo Thomas (right) is an active Democrat running for DC delegate
"Also, I am running with a group of committed neighbors from across the city on a slate. The slate is called 51st State for Obama.We
are a group of committed citizens who hope to represent DC well in
Charlotte. Local DC politics has made the news in some not so great
ways lately due to ethical issues, Members of our slate have proven
records of working toward transparent DC government. Also, we have
members of the slate who are committed to getting DC a real vote in
Congress and DC Statehood. Along with me, my slatemate Jeffery
Richardson, was arrested last April in a show of civil disobedience in
front of the Capitol in support of governing autonmony for DC. The
other thing, we're all just regular people committed to our communites. So, I ask that you vote the entire slate. I will
be able to get enough votes to win by receiving votes from my slate
mates' supporters. I ask that you do the same, so that we can send a
powerful group to Charlotte to represent the citizens of the District."
Registered Democrats in the District of Columbia will be participating
in a pre-primary caucus to select delegates for the national convention.
The members of "51st State for Obama" are candidates dedicated to
Obama, statehood, and DC ethics reform:
District 1 (Wards 1, 2, 6 & 8) * Courtney Anderson (Ward 8) * Markus Batchelor (Ward 8) * Adam Bink (Ward 2) * Phoebe Farris (Ward 1) * Susan Meehan (Ward 2) * Hector Rodriguez (Ward 1) * Laura Shin (Ward 6) * Jeff Richardson (Ward 6)
District 2 (Wards 3, 4, 5 & 7) * Alexandra Beninda (Ward 3) * Sylvia Brown (Ward 7) * Franklin Garcia (Ward 5) * Jaime Fearer (Ward 5) * Julia Lara (Ward 4) * Jon Mandel (Ward 3) * Maceo Thomas (Ward 7)
While Liberated Muse is not affiliated with the Democratic nor Republican party, we commend Liberated Muse member Maceo Thomas for his community work and wish him the best with his efforts to become a delegate.
Anyone in the DC/VA/MD area can tell you that one of the most popular bands to come out of the area is the phenomenal group known as Fertile Ground. For the past three years, we haven't heard much from the super group although we've seen its members performing as soloists or members of other groups for some time. Thankfully, James Collins, founder of Fertile Ground and a talented musician and producer in his own right updates us on what's going on the group and let's us know when we should be hearing from the group in the near future.
