Shay Youngblood, in my home studio photo credit: Carolyn Miller
In the most challenging two years of my life (2018-2020), I moved 5 times (twice during the pandemic) experienced heartbreak, loss, health issues, etc. During the pandemic I have had the opportunity to spend quality time with myself asking:
Who am I in this moment now?
How do I choose to live?
How do I choose to love?
How will I move forward to create a sustainable life for myself and contribute my skills to my community?
We live in a new world. Our lives have changed dramatically from the pandemic and righteous protests against police brutality, a devastating economic downturn and political chaos. Zoom is a verb and we are both burnt out and able to extend our reach world because of it.
Grateful to 2020 for these highlights
- My new home in Atlanta is SANCTUARY, KITCHEN LAB and CREATIVE STUDIO
- Made deeper connections with my TRIBE of women friends, my blood and chosen family and made new friends
- Emory University’s Rose Library acquired a portion of my personal and professional ARCHIVES
- Published a graphic novel about a black female superhero/sex educator
- Sold two illustrated children’s books to Chris Myers at Make Me A World and, Porsha Burke at Convergent (RANDOM HOUSE imprints)
- My novel Black Girl in Paris was optioned for film/tv by Natalie Baszile the author of the novel Queen Sugar
- In a creative learning/ experimenting spree, I made a series of drawings about the meaning of HOME during the pandemic, took ukulele and piano lessons, a manifesto writing workshop, weight training and yoga classes and streamed hours of classic opera from the MET and podcasts on subjects ranging from the esoteric to the erotic. I also cooked the most amazing meals and invented recipes.
- Celebrated Georgia turning BLUE, thank you Stacey Abrams & Fair Fight Action, and the election of Biden and Harris
- Velina Hasu posted a lovely interview with me on her blog highlighting Women Theater Artists https://matchabook.wordpress.com/2020/12/09/this-is-shay-youngblood-her-eyes-have-seen-and-the-seeing-continues-to-soar/
2021 is all about FOCUS and RADICAL SELF-LOVE
New Events and Adventures in 2021
- Launch of Youngblood Arts Second Sunday Genre Bending Literary Fitness writing workshops in MARCH!
- Excited to teach writing workshops for VONA Feb 27-28 and July 2021
- Artist Residency with Indigo Arts Alliance (Portland, Maine) TBA
SELECTED READING LIST
Black Futures, edited by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham
Accra Noir, edited by Nana-Ama Danquah
The View From Breast Pocket Mountain, Karen Hill Anton
What’s Your Story, Rebecca Walker and Lily Diamond
African Look Book, Catherine McKinley
Everything Inside, Edwidge Danticat
Rise, Marcus Samuelson
Resist, Veronica Chambers
ARTISTS on my RADAR
Robert Pruitt, Deborah Roberts, Carolyn Miller
*Please support Black and Independent Bookstores and BIPOC artists
