a few notes i wrote after the workshop

8/6/2019 A Few Notes I Wrote After the Workshop

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A Few Notes

I WroteAfter the Workshop

Magdalena Gmez


2/16

A WaterwaysProject

Publication

Richard SpiegelBarbara Fisher

co-directorsThomas Perry

administrative assistant

Jack GiordanoSite Teacher

Alan WernerPrincipal, NYC VTC

Loretta WhiteAssistant Principal, NYC VTC

Richard OrganisciakSuperintendent

Alternative, Adult and Continuing EducationSchools and Programs

with funding support fromLearn and Serve America,

The New York State Council on the Arts,

A Few NotesI Wrote

After theWorkshop

MagdalenaGomez


3/16

Orientation and IntroductionDialogue on Writing Interests

Students were introduced to the following poets:Joy Harjo (I Give You Back)Jimmy Baca Santiago (Excerpt fromMartin)Sandra Maria Esteves (In Praise of Live)Langston Hughes (I, too)

Discussion of Poetry in terms of mood, feelingsevoked, messages conveyed. Some backgroundinformation on each poet. We focused on theterritory of feelings and emotions in the world ofcreativity:

the uses of poetry, creative writingand other arts in overcoming fear,peer pressure; using writing as atool to deal with unresolved issuesor unexpressed emotions as in thecase of connecting with someonewe miss because of death or otherseparation; the use of memories increation; using poetry as a tool forempowerment, self-expression,building community, healing.


4/16

We listened to music as a tool for embracing themuse: The STUDENTS first reflected on andnamed uses of music:

to have feeling; to escape (release);music makes you high; to relaxthinking about the past; soul healingdepending on type of music, it will make youfeel different ways; to escape from loneliness

to think about the future

We then listened to an introspective work:Cristofori's Dream (David Lanz). We wore blind-folds so that we could enter the music moredeeply, without distractions. We listened for the"story" inside of the music. Afterwards we began

our writing:(Exercise One)

After listening to the musicblindfolded, we removed blind-folds, remained in silence, and

wrote all of the images we saw,felt,remembered. (Writing as reflec-tion) We shared our writing withone another.


5/16

(Exercise Two)

We wrote as we listened to joy-

ful steel drum music. (Writingspontaneously in the moment)Again, we listened for the story inthe music.

(Exercise Three)

We experimented with writingto a familiar tune with lyrics tosee what feelings, memories orideas would be evoked. Respectby Aretha Franklin. By this pointthe students were ready to dance;

we took a five minute break.

After break, we played some theater movementand vocalization games using some of the samemusic, as well as new selections.

This was an introduction to creating characters

and improvised dialog.We discussed the value of oral tradition.

Following the games we returned to oral shar-ing of our writing.


6/16

We then worked with theater improvisationgames to introduce the idea of "point of view" and"voice".

All of the students participated in the writing,movement and theater work.

Participant Excerpts

Participants were told to forget all the rules:grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. to write fear-lessly and free style.

V.J.

(Exercise One)

The music makes me feel so relaxed, that everything comes at once in mind, likes, memories,sadness like holding some one in your arms andnot wanting to let them go. It also makes youfalling in sleep, with your mind clearly, likeescape loneliness while listening to it.

(Exercise Two)It makes some one or any one want to get up andexpose their emotion and feeling. It's like if youhave such memories, from the past.


7/16

Arturo V.

(Exercise One)I was loneliness with nobody at side of meno friends and having no familysuffer with painand it's a damn shameI'm the only onebut at the end I have

a loving caring in myselfbut doesn't matter I stillsuffer and wishthis never happen to me

(Exercise Two) - Steel Drums

I feel like in a paradise islandwith a lot of people dancingeveryone is having a great timelike I never be here before thenthe next day I feel like a kingwith girls and eating fruits.It looks like all the people like

me and I think it means that I'mthe God.


8/16

Lockert W.

(Exercise One)As I listen to the music,the way in which it was played,reminds me of my last relationship,that I had.

The good times we shared,

the bad times we've had,the love we had.

This type of music also remindsme of the horror of waking upone morning, seeing my mother dying

for air.

Allen P.

A girl dancing in a forest covered by snow and ice.She's dancing on a frozen pond. A young man

walks by and is hypnotized by her beauty as wellas her dancing. Not really on a search for lovebut comes across her and is overwhelmed.Watches her dance and joins in, which starts thebeginning of their life.


9/16

Angelina R.

(Exercise One)Grass/wind blowingflowers/flower petals flying everywherelittle girl/water fallslittle girl spinning and spinningand runningfoggy/rocks

high up on a hill (or mountain)

(Exercise Two)Party/carnivaldancing/laughingsmiles/fire

jungle/animals everywhereChinese peopleeating a really big dinnerlike if someone just got marriedchildren playing/balloons/family together

(Exercise Three)

Donuts and Coffee shopbugging out/jumping aroundsinging in the shower/dancing


10/16

Kathy G.

(Exercise One)Two people destined to be together had a terriblefight causing them to go in separate directions.Then the man had been in an accident and beeninjured badly. The lady rushes to see him and isin shock because of condition. She sat with himeach night sharing memories with the man she

loved while knowing he wasn't really there buthoping for a miracle. Soon it has come to turnwhere she was asked to make a horrible decision.She thought it out over and over and finally comeabout her answer. She had to let him go. She satand watched them pull the plug. Now facing the

worst pain she's ever had to endure she is crying.She claims that she had to die but only her bodywas left to live. Years went by and though shewas still deeply saddened she finally realized shehad to keep going in order to maintain her sanity.And so she lived.

Piano - to set surroundingsViolin - to set mood


11/16

(Exercise Two)I'm on the island of St. Thomas dancing in agroup of my friends. Family I never knew came

about and I am happy. Everybody's dancing vigor-ously and are all excited. I've never felt how theymake me feel until now because I was told theywere dead. A whole new chapter in my life hasopened making me, a person who has never feltwhole feel complete.

(Exercise Three)A bunch of women together stating their peace.Telling all those children trying to be men to growup and treat them right. Also to give them therespect they deserve.

Free Association Poem:Finding a story in the music

Fired Down Below, The Native Steel Drum

Block parties/Spanish foodmany people/dancinginstruments/a nice daypalm trees/Jamaica.


12/16

Pachebel

Placing ourselves inside the music; what are you

doing inside the music

I am an outsider who should feel at home in thisland I call My mother but I don't come from here.Seeing sights never seen before h as me in aweover the customs and traditions of this land. As I

look over myself watching everything in sight nomotions are made, just my face full of delight. Isee a beautiful woman sitting not far away. Asmile from her face could brighten up even thedullest day. I think she noticed me for a minute.Yes! No, I was mistaken.

I see myself once again too shy to approach abeautiful woman.

but maybe today will be different. I approach herwith only words from my heart. A conversationbuilds.

Whata ya know . . . I see myself changing.


13/16

Experimenting with Similesrough like gravelsmooth as your fingernail

rough as sandpaperas light as an empty paper cupas brown as dirtbeautiful like art

Experimenting with Fantasy

I was not always on this planet. I come fromanother planet. My species is vastly populating.Increase of my population is tearing my planetdown. We need more space for living, so wedecided to acquire earth. You would never knowwho's from my planet on earth. We disguised our-

selves too perfectly. The take over of the earth iscoming.

V.J.Magdalena this is Vijay I didn't talk a lot,because I didn't grow up in a popular place orcountry. Where I came from I had no friends, I

didn't go to a real school. I have to go to thefarm every day, I didn't h Ave much communica-tion with people. Right now I am shy to talk andalso I don't like to make comment of people. I amvery honest person.


14/16

Working with Sea Shells as Muse

Kathy G.

My shell is hard like an erect maleIt is pointy as a porcupineIt makes a soundlike a cool breeze on the ocean frontMy shell is like me/calm in my sleep

Lockert W.

I see the sun so bright and clearrising in the morningshining in my hair

creatures both great and smallare waking upfor a brand new day

Birds singing songsof peace

and love in the atmosphere

we all grow to love


15/16

Angel R.

I see the ocean and what used to bea hermit crab with spikesto protect itnow I seeseagulls while me and my popschillin' on a fishing boatin sheepshead bay

me throwin' used baitto the seagullswatching them flydown and catch it

A Death Scene and Funeral in the

Barrio

This was the first time I have ever seen some oneget shot. It happened on July 4, 1994 I was chill-in' with my boy, and we were playing with thefireworks and a drug dealer I knew he had this

crack head shot for trying to steal his sons ring Isaw the whole thing every one ran down thestreet I could see the crack head in a pool of bloodI watched this whole thing as if it were a moviebefore my boyz mom told me to get inside.


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A Waterways Project Publication1998

a few notes i wrote after the workshop

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