The Art of Creation

Recently, I was lucky enough to be invited by long-time friend and colleague Sharisse LeBrun to take part in an ongoing research project entitled ‘The Art of Creation’.

This is an arts-based translation program and public exhibition project that uses art to explain the importance of being healthy before and during pregnancy to the public, policymakers, and social and healthcare providers. So, my fellow movers and I were given a series of poems to respond to with…whatever. These were then filmed and are going to be part of a small local gallery before being shown in The Art Gallery of Hamilton.

All in all, it was one of the most playful nights I’ve had in a long time. I was tasked with a poem about a dad explaining the sad reality that his daughter cannot be a mermaid. Relating to the daughter’s disappointment I embodied her, twisting my legs wishing that they could magically turn into fins. As a former baby homosexual, and current adult homosexual I have often wished I could be a mermaid, but until I get enough cash to buy those insane mermaid tales on Amazon…that dream is still a dream.

After our more “serious” process of creation, we moved on to creating a puppet theatre piece that more directly discussed the research and its goals. Somehow…this became the silliest part of the evening. In between film takes we would play with our little puppets. Giving our embryo funky hair-dos, hurling little lighting bolts, and making too many stupid jokes with the many MANY sperm puppets at our disposal.

So often art and creation are my career, and I try to approach it so carefully and with some kind of insightful and important point of view. This night really encouraged play, and while we all took what we were doing seriously, we always made room for play and joy. That play also led to a ton of creative shots we may have never considered before, at least that’s how I justify tormenting a family of shadow puppets with a horde of giant sperm.

Xoxo