Daring to dream
Image description: I am wearing a pink crochet poncho with fringes . My arms are spread out like wings. Chairs are beside and behind me. I am outside. It is night. Light comes from a streetlight not pictured, to the left.
Today I had the pleasure of the first TWUC mentorship meeting with a poet who applied to have me mentor her. It was a delight. I have wanted to do this program for years, but nobody ever took me up on it. This year 3 writers asked. I am super grateful that it's happening. I find it rewarding to work with a poet to help her get her poetry collection into the world. As an editor, I think my most important role is allyship. I am on your side. I will help make your dreams come true.
I have two very big dreams. The first is that I want to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Vispo Bible with a book, readings and exhibitions. While the anniversary is next summer, this dream is going to take a few years to accomplish. Unfortunately I have tried to discuss this dream with a few people who have supported the Vispo Bible in the past and they are not responsive at all. I can't do this alone. I could be disheartened and talk myself out of trying to get support but I won't. I'll keep looking. I need a confirmation letter from a well known publisher interested in publishing the book. I need at least one confirmation letter from a gallery curator willing to out on a show. I need a couple of editors. Once I have all this in place, I'll apply for funding for all collaborators. Slow and steady, as they say.
2nd dream: to be the artistic director and administrator of a queer crip art series that centres queer crip writers and musicians. A hybrid event in an accessible space, it should be curated by presses/series/organizations in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, three times a year. All participants must be paid: me, curators, artists, technicians etc. For that I need to start an arts collective with more than 50% local residents. I would apply to the City of Ottawa for project funding. This may take at least a year before I'm ready to apply for funding. Also it's got it's challenges but I think it's a much needed series and unlike any other series here, it centers queer crip artists. That means all performers must be queer and crip. If you know of any models for this anywhere, I'd love to hear. Please don't tell me why it isn't possible. I'm done with that bullshit.
I owe a debt of gratitude to dear friend
who is in the process of fulfilling their dream to open a bookstore, and who has dealt with so many obstacles over the years, from health to financial to logistics. Obstacles are just part of the journey. If we want to make this world a better place, we have to face obstacles. We have to stop listening to the naysayers. We have to find kindreds willing to join in on the dreaming to make good stuff happen. We have to help kindreds make their dreams happen. We have to respect and understand that some folk are dealing with their own shit and just because they don't have time or energy to help us accomplish our dreams, doesn't mean they don't care. So let's dream. Let's make the world better.
Image description: a chess table with Tuesday written on it in white. 4 green stools around it. Leaves on the ground. Trees with yellow leaves.
Go for it, Amanda!