The First Circle

Storytelling is how I think, write and place stories. Building a growing exhibition and sharing the work across the UK is a privilege.

One pillar of this work is the Circle of Conversation (COC) That brings together intergenerational women from the African and Caribbean Diaspora for a conversation stimulated by text from the first book of my memoir ‘#sheshomebook

At the pilot COC at 198 Contemporary Art & Learning, I was holding a lot of energy, in my head, neck, shoulders, belly – excitement, apprehension, disbelief that the project was finally out of my head! I am in continuous praxis: reflect, act, reflect, act. The work was birthed two summers ago as I listened to a dear friend, speak to with her daughter about the thoughts that had risen as she read my book. Their conversation washed across valleys I had never envisaged; this was my first realisation that “She’s Home’  was a living tool! Hmm. So, from that thought to this moment.

‘When I am in the moment of working with living stories nothing else exists.’

In process:

I welcomed the women, housekeeping, boundaries, wellbeing.  Women who had prepared themselves for this moment by reading two chapters from ‘She’s Home and bringing their thoughts and feelings to this space.

Five minutes were spent watching a video I developed to take thoughts deeper, memories deeper. The video ended with a question for the gathered women, and they pulled their chairs into a circle and began…

At the beginning I always feel like I know nothing, have no tools. However, my projects are all related to this work of excavating, holding, recognising.

It was a powerful experience.