The last few months I’ve been collaborating with the visual artist Kebedech Tekleab. Kebedech was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She came to the United States in 1989. Kebedech once taught at Howard University. I discovered her work when she was profiled in The Washington Post several years ago. This summer we got together and produced work for the Handprint Identity Project (HIP) that is being sponsored by Elizabethtown College. Milt Friedly is the genius behind the exhibit that will open on October 18th. Here is a sweet link.
When I started writing poetry in the late 1960s the Black Arts Movement shaped my work. I was influenced by poets Norman Jordan, Don L. Lee, Sonia Sanchez, The Last Poets, Amiri Baraka and Nikki Giovanni. By 1974 I was reading my work around the city of Washington. I had a number of friends who were musicians who stuck afro-combs in my side and forced me to read a poem while they played their saxophone or bass. Too often there were no practice sessions. I read a poem and someone beat a drum.
This experience did encourage me to do a few performances with the vocalist Arnae. Once I did a wonderful concert at George Washington University with Sweet Honey In The Rock. My best collaborations however has been with visual artists. All my poetry book covers have been done by famous artists like Frank Smith and Edgar H. Sorrells-Adewale. The master Sam Gilliam created a painting that was inspired by my poetry.
Next April when Curbstone Press releases On Saturdays I Santana With You it will feature on the cover the work of Alexandra Dominguez. Alexandra lives in Spain but we met two years ago in Norway. I fell in love with her paintings. Her work is sensual, surreal and musical. I can see Santana’s chords in it. I can hear his colors. I like the North African influence in her geometric shapes. Visit her site: www.alexcaroldom.com.
Do you remember when Thelonious would rise from his piano and do his little Monk dance? That’s what I did when Curbstone Press sent me the mockup of my cover design. Thanks Alexandra for blessing my poems and my life.