2. These amazing people
(+ Matthew & a couple elsewhere) unified and
created a foundation of support that would allow
me to pivot away from stasis toward re-claiming
my ideal life. I am an artist. With a project…
Couldn’t be more grateful to be brought together with such
a dynamic, talented, and empathetic group.
4. The Creative Sector has a vital role to play in
cultural development.
Art impacts people who are not otherwise being reached,
and impacts everyone in ways they are not otherwise being
reached.
There is an urgent need for new sources of
information and diverse perspectives to address
critical social issues.
5. So what’s the ideal format?
Citizens’ Journalism is defined as: “Public citizens
playing an active role in the process of
collecting, reporting, analyzing, and
disseminating news and information.” (Hat Tip,
Wikipedia)
Performance Poetry is a synthesis between
literary and theatrical art forms.
Unlike actors, “spoken-word” poets perform their
own original writing allowing their cadence and
presence to drive home the intention and
context of the writing with no secondary
interpretive filter.
Note: Modern poets have assumed a bold posture with
regard to artistic license, frequently speaking on topics rarely
represented in mainstream media and taboo issues other
artists are hesitant to address.
Exposing audiences to uncommon truths is the currency of
performance poetry. This makes it the ideal complement to
Citizens’Journalism—the union of the two practices is
seamless.
6. This Guy: a veteran stage performer, educator,
production coordinator, event producer, and social justice
advocate, Graham Hackett fully comprehends the power
and potential of art as a cultural resource.
After a very full decade traveling the country as a
professional character actor in over 40 stage plays, Graham
applied the techniques he acquired to perform his own
original poetry.
As a seasoned
performance poet who
has made hundreds of
featured appearances
across the country, he
brings an authentic voice,
refined technique, and
passionate delivery to
every word.
"The knock out fling was flung by Graham Hackett, who gives us
a spoken word piece that will be long remembered. It is masterful
in both writing and delivery, in content and style.
Show stopping..."
- Jim Cavener, Asheville Citizen-Times Theatre Critic
7. Which is all great on paper… but stepping into this
new role in a truly immersive way, requires a deep
dive.
If I’m to go public (in a very big way) as a
professional artist, it’s mandatory that I’m
grounded in a firm sense of self, acknowledging
my faults and my powers in very clear terms.
After a very full decade traveling the country as a professional
character actor in over 40 stage plays, Graham applied the
techniques he acquired to perform his own original poetry.
So the journey part of this endeavor begins,
as project development continues….
9. Already facing imminent threats from crippling
poverty, when a family issue lands on my path… I
choose to step away from everything to regain
perspective. Turned out to be a wise choice!
Being entirely offline and fully engaged by the
stunning beauty I encountered travelling across
the country, re-set my equilibrium.
Anyone who thoughtlessly trashes the planet
has clearly never SEEN it.
11. The WEB: To exist in the modern world one must
have a web presence. Rallying allies and compiling
masses of information and media, www.loosidity.com
is nearly complete.
It struck me… I’ve done a lot of stuff.
Before I can fully develop the CIVILIAN
project, an inventory of my experience is
paramount.
12. The WEB: Digital life is a dynamic and multi-faceted
phenomenon. Even with an abridged cross-section
of programs and platforms I’m putting to use,
there are a great number of places I need to
interface.
Suddenly, I’m flooded with learning new
formats, urgent need for content, and
practicing networking strategies.
13. But it’s time… Following the protocols of “rapid
prototyping” I’m rolling out a draft this coming
month. After a dozen edits…
CIVILIAN is a quantum stride forward in
the field of edu-tainment, deploying fine
art techniques with the principles of
citizens’ journalism to create an
informative TED-style presentation
spliced with dynamic poetry
performances.
At the cutting edge of
the emerging Artivist
movement, this unique
project engages an
audience with visceral
aesthetics while addressing
critical social issues of
classism, race, women’s
rights, juvenile justice and
living in wartime era.
The CIVILIAN narrative
seeks to inform, uplift and
inspire audiences to
proactively engage social
justice efforts and
celebrate the vibrant
diversity of our culture
through shared
experiences.
14. The Campaign is a springboard to make
this dream a reality.
No shortage of TO-DO’s here.
16. Deploying all of my skills as a performer,
educator and coordinator…
I’m going to reach
out as far and wide
as possible with a
message of how
creativity,
community-building,
and empathy can
inform our cultural
development.
And I’m going to do
it poetically.
CIVILIAN is preparing to LAUNCH.
