Pearl Cleage brought Charles Winter Wood Theatre alive when she opened The Artists in Bloom Festival Jan. 29, reciting “An Essential Conversation.”
Cleage is an Atlanta-based award-winning playwright, journalist, poet, and novelist. She began the evening with poetry followed by a question and answer segment with the audience. Most notable for her works “What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day,” an Oprah Book Club selection; “Flyin’ West,” the most produced new American play in the country in 1994; and “Blues for an Alabama Sky,” included in the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival, Cleage had the audience hanging on every word.
The College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (CSSAH) presented Cleage as a part of the fifth annual Artists in Bloom Festival, celebrating art, film, music, theatre, literature, and health awareness.
“We have been trying to get Pearl Cleage here for 20 years,” said Associate Director of Theatre and Performance Luther D. Wells. “It has finally come to fruition, and we are honored to have her.”
English, journalism and theatre students had the opportunity to learn from Cleage during a writing workshop, and theatre students participated in “Ask Me Anything,” an exercise on truth telling on Thursday.
Constance Moore, a supporter of FAMU arts and theatre anticipated learning more about Cleage’s writing process and inspirations behind her works.
“FAMU brings sensational artists. When I heard she [Cleage] was opening for the festival I wanted to come, open my mind, learn and be inspired,” said Moore.
Cleage shared her perspective on African-American history, passion for writing, and influences on her becoming a writer, citing Alice Walker as someone who “pushes her to the next thing.”
“The advice I have to share is less about how to run a movement. It’s more about how to survive in the world as a free person ultimately responsible for yourself and your own ideas of right and wrong, good and evil,” said Cleage. “The 10 best pieces I can give you: (1) work hard, (2) love harder, (3) eat your vegetables, (4) travel light, (5) pay cash, (6) be kind, (7) buy time not stuff, (8) bring your own birth control, (9) register and vote in every single election, (10) do not lie, EVER.”
The festival runs from through April 2, with various events on FAMU’s campus.
Other events:
March 26
Wellness Day 5K Run/Walk, Children’s Pavilion & Outdoor Zumba – Quadrangle – 8 a.m. to noon
March 30
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company – Lee Hall – 7:30 p.m.
April 2
Gospelfest – Quadrangle – noon.
J-School Journals, Designs by Niiamar – Lee Hall – 4 p.m.