Hello to Ireland, Austria, Indonesia, and the Philippines. As you all know this is part 2 of my COVID 19 reflections. It's taken a while to post again since all my classes were converted to ONLINE courses. But that is for the next post . . .
February continued with more images and video posts from Asia and Europe. Many of these images were very alarming. Yet they were extremely informative because of their sometimes graphic juxtapositions of the bizarre. One short video showed a man in a business suit looking face up, dead, on an empty newspaper strewn urban street with a protective mask over his face. Another video showed what looked like a science fiction space age thermometer aimed at people's faces.
Prior to so many startling surreal images, many of us ignorant of current scientific-technological innovations in health care, thought of Wuhan as perhaps one of those quaint film industry generated rural villages high in the mountains with quiet streams filled with wild, but gentle giant khoi fish. Images of a robust modern city under siege by an unknown enemy shocked some of us here out of our ignorance into the reality of modern vibrant Wuhan in the 21st century.
And, available information about the new deadly corona virus from China, the WHO, the CDC, and our own government? It continued to be vague, conflicting, and confusing.
Ironically, most of the necessary information to stabilize our concerns seemed to not only change on a daily basis, but also to change every few hours; and sometimes EVERY HOUR. Many of us kept checking various multi-media platforms as a way to make sense out of the confusion. . . . . . . . MEDIA OVERLOAD!!!!!!!!
I recall that most of late February, I didn't sleep well, so I would work in the quiet early morning hours re-reading chapters for lectures and grading assignments in a continuous flow well into the early daylight next morning when it was time to get up and get ready for work, all the while I listening to and watching news briefs on the situation. My heart echoed "fear" softly as my mind shouted the rationalization that it was important to keep up with shifting news as a necessity to be able to answer student questions.
An odd chilling malaise started to set in as I binged watched corona virus media coverage from all over the world. Very slowly, through the influx of global news coverage that did not carry the same narrative as U.S. media stations, I realized that I was not still feeling ill. To be quite plain, I felt worse from hours of breaking news, news alert, up to the minute news, morning news, afternoon reports, nightly news, news hours, streaming live, news shows for the US and around the world. Don't take me wrong, thankfully we have various available twenty first century news outlets, however, binge watching all that constant information mash-up was making me sicker.
With more performances and appearances in my immediate future, it was difficult trying to focus on what to do when and where. Midterms were coming up; students had legitimate illnesses and the usual "Midterm" flu from juggling life in the dorms, social night life, or daily commutes due to living at home while attending school and working. They began showing strain from long study hours, and based on their nervous questions and comments about the "new scary disease" and what they discussed seeing and reading on various social platforms, they also showing signs of media overload.
I had to hold it together for my students. After all, teaching during the last two H1N1 "epidemics" provided several coping tools to navigate what seemed like a similar viral experience. With tenacity and calmness, the rationale was that like previous illnesses, either it wouldn't reach the United States in such massive case numbers, or that this too would pass, or would it? I don't think I successfully hid my anxiety.
On my calendar several performance engagements booked for February drew closer. I had to research, practice.
Patience, wait it out. Our lives would NOT be disrupted; reassurances of"it won't reach us" and "it's a hoax." seemed to fill the air. Such a short month stretched into intensely disturbing long days and nights, flowing so fast, so surreal. A silent prayer filled my thoughts. . . God help the people of China.
To be honest, as February slowly rolled on, the epidemic's reality began to feel like we were in a old B science fiction apocalypse movie going wrong. I pushed myself look fairly cheerful and nonchalant in order to just get through each lecture without responding with alarm when asked questions about the epidemic that student statisticians asserted WAS coming to the USA. They were adamant. Had I seen the new models? Did I know about several of the competing ideas and projections? Students in the sciences became more sources of research information----ONLINE (check it out for yourself!!), and personal (Do you have a few minutes after class?).
Student attendance dropped. Those who were in class seemed distracted during lectures. I kept preparing for my performances as a tool to be present, on the daily after work.
I had an Afro-Classical piece by Nathaniel Dett that I hadn't performed before an audience yet. And, I was planning to perform a spoken word poem for the Hope For Haiti Benefit presented by San Diego State University's Black Student Science Organization coming up.
BSSO (Black Student Science Organization) provides a nurturing social and academic environment for minorities in STEM and STEAM. The organization, under the guidance of Dr. Estralita Martin, additionally encourages young scholars to give back time and knowledge to the community, being involved in charitable causes, and pursuit of research.
The Black Student Science Organization has presented a benefit for Haiti since the 2010 magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated that Island nation. Despite concern over rumors about school closing and cancellation of classes, BSSO (Black Student Science Organization ) http://www.bsso.org/BSSO/About_Us.html decided to continue the tradition.
Various organizations and personalities from San Diego State University and the community donated their talent and/or finances in support of this year's benefit. Continual supporters from previous years arrived early to get seats in the audience.
Hope for Haiti supporters and Philanthropists Ron Pickett and wife
Student support was really exciting to see. Their enthusiastic response reflected the fact that one's positive energy at such event is an important part of the effort to assist those who are struggling to help themselves against overwhelming odds that demand perseverance. I choose one of my early poems to perform for the benefit:"For Tommie." http://www.dreamagic.com/cgi-bin/PoetryGen.cgi?author=Delores_Fisher&html=fisher6&title=For_Tommie&number=0012
Still weak from the flu that attacked over the weekend, and feeling a little foggy from media overload because I was now checking my emails to read updates on changing campus policies due to the virus, I made up my mind to wait however until intermission to leave. I wanted to see a really dynamic young poet perform. Those who know her call her Jazz. She had performed at the SDSU Ted Talks. A solo artist, she was recently working on a new performance style and had formed a duo, Jazz and Imani.
When the lights faded to red, Imani and Jazz took the stage.
Jazz's distinctive poetic delivery called all ears to attend her words. Imani's soulful voice riffed in hearts grabbing plaintive commentary on Jazz's words. They shared a poem with an odd feel of deja vu and yet prophetic warning in light of May's future George Floyd plea for mercy as he lay dying in broad daylight with a policeman's knee on his neck, as George Floyd lay handcuffed and gasping into the Milwaukee pavement.
Captured video replay of his phrase, "I can't breathe! "is one that hauntologically echoes from our past, resonates here in Jazz's and Imani's present spoken word mixed media dialogue on stage and would reverberate in shattered heart's of horrified people in global solidarity against social injustice. "I can't Breathe.!!!!!!!"
Jazz and Imani
Their honest, rawness at this Friday evening benefit for Haiti helped me continue through the weekend.. I went home, practiced for the recital and went to bed tired but inspired to switch from my role as lecturer, and spoken word performance artist, to pianist on Saturday.Words from the 23rd Psalm, often associated with the concert piece I was going to play whispered all through the night in my spiritual inner sonic space.
Saturday morning, I slept in, but practiced again for about a half hour talking myself through negotiating stiff back and leg muscles while reviewing important sonic moments in the piece. Grateful for several patient professors' masterful, mentorship on performance through my various disabilities: concertizing musician /composer deceased Louis Salerno, now retired San Diego State School of Music and Dance professors Dr. Mitzi Kolar, Cynthia Darby, and deceased Professor Emeritus Dr. Conrad Bruderer, I felt Nathaniel Dett's challenging score resounding in my soul.
All the previous weeks' of practice, research, and contemplation was flowing through the music: I could emote easily inside sonic ideas in Dett's composition that I decided to play for Bobby J. Hearns' bi-annual recital.
Bobbie J. Hearns is one of those old school piano teachers who builds up and give back to the community and musicians in San Diego. Her Winter Breeze Recital for February 15th was titled "Finding the Right Key" This was her 21st recital at the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library& Performing Arts Center. She played a piano arrangement of "Besoma Mucho."
Here's an excerpt:
Bobby J. Hearns
Etta Martin at the piano
Jaidyn Robinson, Michael Jackson Tribute
Veteran Singer Alice Winston
Noted writer Gloria Verdieu and (me, delores fisher)
Nathaniel Dett is one of my favorite composers. His Eight Bible Vignettes are accessible, but emotionally challenging for me. I enjoy working with the aesthetics of emotion in music.
Dett's "Desert Interlude" from his Eight Bible Vignettes is a go to piece for concerts for me and I am working on another work from the Vignettes "As His Own Soul." A few years ago I became attracted to his "Madrigal Divine." I decided to research it and play it for the recital this year.
Bobby J. Hearns and me relax and talk as we celebrate her successful 21st community recital
After the recital, we had a chance to talk music, people, future projects and reminisce about her encouragement for others and me in the arts during refreshments. Surprise of surprises . . . award winning Kwanzaa poet Johnnierenee Nia Nelson was quietly serving refreshments to the community.
We would later perform our poetry at a virtual event for San Diego's World Beat Center.
Bobbie J. Hearns may be planning a virtual Summer Concert. She loves to explore new ways to present music and community.
I am filled with anticipation although we have not talked in person since the recital.
pre COVID Remembrances February 2020, Hope for Haiti Benefit Part 2
delores fisher
BSSO (Black Student Science Organization) provides a nurturing social and academic environment for minorities in STEM and STEAM. The organization, under the guidance of Dr. Estralita Martin, additionally encourages young scholars to give back time and knowledge to the community, being involved in charitable causes, and pursuit of research.
The Black Student Science Organization has presented a benefit for Haiti since the 2010 magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated that Island nation. Despite concern over rumors about school closing and cancellation of classes, BSSO (Black Student Science Organization ) http://www.bsso.org/BSSO/About_Us.html decided to continue the tradition.
Various organizations and personalities from San Diego State University and the community donated their talent and/or finances in support of this year's benefit. Continual supporters from previous years arrived early to get seats in the audience.
Student support was really exciting to see. Their enthusiastic response reflected the fact that one's positive energy at such event is an important part of the effort to assist those who are struggling to help themselves against overwhelming odds that demand perseverance. I choose one of my early poems to perform for the benefit:"For Tommie." http://www.dreamagic.com/cgi-bin/PoetryGen.cgi?author=Delores_Fisher&html=fisher6&title=For_Tommie&number=0012
Still weak from the flu that attacked over the weekend, and feeling a little foggy from media overload because I was now checking my emails to read updates on changing campus policies due to the virus, I made up my mind to wait however until intermission to leave. I wanted to see a really dynamic young poet perform. Those who know her call her Jazz. She had performed at the SDSU Ted Talks. A solo artist, she was recently working on a new performance style and had formed a duo, Jazz and Imani.
When the lights faded to red, Imani and Jazz took the stage.
Jazz's distinctive poetic delivery called all ears to attend her words. Imani's soulful voice riffed in hearts grabbing plaintive commentary on Jazz's words. They shared a poem with an odd feel of deja vu and yet prophetic warning in light of May's future George Floyd plea for mercy as he lay dying in broad daylight with a policeman's knee on his neck, as George Floyd lay handcuffed and gasping into the Milwaukee pavement.
Captured video replay of his phrase, "I can't breathe! "is one that hauntologically echoes from our past, resonates here in Jazz's and Imani's present spoken word mixed media dialogue on stage and would reverberate in shattered heart's of horrified people in global solidarity against social injustice. "I can't Breathe.!!!!!!!"
Their honest, rawness at this Friday evening benefit for Haiti helped me continue through the weekend.. I went home, practiced for the recital and went to bed tired but inspired to switch from my role as lecturer, and spoken word performance artist, to pianist on Saturday.Words from the 23rd Psalm, often associated with the concert piece I was going to play whispered all through the night in my spiritual inner sonic space.
Saturday morning, I slept in, but practiced again for about a half hour talking myself through negotiating stiff back and leg muscles while reviewing important sonic moments in the piece. Grateful for several patient professors' masterful, mentorship on performance through my various disabilities: concertizing musician /composer deceased Louis Salerno, now retired San Diego State School of Music and Dance professors Dr. Mitzi Kolar, Cynthia Darby, and deceased Professor Emeritus Dr. Conrad Bruderer, I felt Nathaniel Dett's challenging score resounding in my soul.
All the previous weeks' of practice, research, and contemplation was flowing through the music: I could emote easily inside sonic ideas in Dett's composition that I decided to play for Bobby J. Hearns' bi-annual recital.
Bobbie J. Hearns is one of those old school piano teachers who builds up and give back to the community and musicians in San Diego. Her Winter Breeze Recital for February 15th was titled "Finding the Right Key" This was her 21st recital at the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library& Performing Arts Center. She played a piano arrangement of "Besoma Mucho."
Here's an excerpt:
Bobby J. Hearns
Veteran Singer Alice Winston
Nationally renowned artist Brenda De Flanders
Artist Lanetta Wilkes
Dett's "Desert Interlude" from his Eight Bible Vignettes is a go to piece for concerts for me and I am working on another work from the Vignettes "As His Own Soul." A few years ago I became attracted to his "Madrigal Divine." I decided to research it and play it for the recital this year.
After the recital, we had a chance to talk music, people, future projects and reminisce about her encouragement for others and me in the arts during refreshments. Surprise of surprises . . . award winning Kwanzaa poet Johnnierenee Nia Nelson was quietly serving refreshments to the community.
We would later perform our poetry at a virtual event for San Diego's World Beat Center.
Bobbie J. Hearns may be planning a virtual Summer Concert. She loves to explore new ways to present music and community.
I am filled with anticipation although we have not talked in person since the recital.
pre COVID Remembrances February 2020, Hope for Haiti Benefit Part 2
delores fisher
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