Journal by Sharon Lia Robinson
Sculpture Lessons (My First Play)
By Sharon Lia Robinson
Claydance, A Sculpture by Sharon Lia Robinson
I have written a collection of experimental plays. These theatre collages reflect the search for love, self-acceptance and finding a sense of belonging. I wrote the first play, Sculpture Lessons, while I was living in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California, 1973-1974. The performance includes poetry, dialogue and a Greek chorus. The play can also include music, song-poems, and dance. A celebration of finding one’s authentic self and an example of my early literary voice.
This experimental play manuscript is 31 pages, including production notes and ideas for stage direction and music.
Here is an excerpt.
A young woman, in conflict with mainstream versions of acceptable social life, asserts her own way of living.
Chorus: My spirit is cleansed, my body renewed, by this union with others in which I am me. No longer threatened by gurus or thieves, I can speak out because now I can listen.
Ina: Could it be that despite the complexities, the struggles, the death knolls, we grow, we struggle, we survive? We survive to continue to suffer and to laugh and to cry and to love. To be hated for what we are. To be loved for what we are mistaken for. And forever the fortune of time: the power to heal all wounds. The blessed gate of time through which we strive for eternal salvation.
My Creative Legacy
By Sharon Lia Robinson
Assemblage Who Made This Sky by Sharon Lia Robinson
There may be a clue in facing a challenge, a clue that leads one on their path in life to find their purpose. The challenges I experienced in my early years help to define my life search, identity and individuation.
A collection of my creative work is in my archive in the Schlesinger Library on Women’s History, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
My life has led me to spiritual faith and self-acceptance. For my legacy I envision an innovative center, foundation or institute in support of my projects; that will serve as an inspiration for others, educating many in various ways and realms.
In my early twenties, as a student of sociology and psychology, I became aware of the work of Thomas Szasz, R. D. Laing, Rollo May, Carl Jung and Frantz Fanon. Through their writings, I began to appreciate my creative gifts and uniqueness. There were communities at the time, led by R. D. Laing, Rollo May and the followers of Carl Jung.
These innovative centers upheld alternative insights, understanding and compassion for a gentle unfoldment of the creative process for the gifted, the sensitive, for those seeking wholeness and purpose. Knowing that these places were being developed and researching their practices was an essential way for me to know and to honor myself. These centers have given me courage throughout my life as I have developed as a poet, a visual artist, an independent scholar and in my research of holistic health practices.
Dream Child, An Experimental Play (Excerpt)
Dream Child, Collage by Sharon Lia Robinson
By Sharon Lia Robinson
Dream Child, an experimental play by Sharon Lia Robinson, is a series of song poems and dialogue, dance and music. Here are two song poems with notes for the play Dream Child. The actors featured in the cast are Eva Bogislav, an attractive Renoiresque poet and Aaron Hernandez, a homeless street musician.
The play opens with Dream Child, a homeless musician, playing acoustic guitar and singing the following song.
“Living on the Street” song poem by Sharon Lia Robinson
(Aaron Hernandez sings:)
living on the street
sleeping on the beach
waking up to pray
in a stranger’s garden
what about the guy
on the other side of that fence
he won’t let me in
he only asks
too many questions
he doesn’t want my answers
he doesn’t like my message
I am I am I am
living on the street
for the sake of love
living in the name of love
living for the way
the way of love
he doesn’t want my message
he won’t trust the work
he can hear me calling
from the other side of whim
yes I’m living for the sake of love
on the other side of whim
divine high
divine time
divine whim
all of life
is a gift
loving our Creator
love God love.
The following song poem is for Eva Bogislav, with musical accompaniment.
“Wild Child” song poem by Sharon Lia Robinson
(Eva Bogislav sings:)
wild child
come in from the cold
wild child
planting flowers
only you can see
wild child
clinging to life’s tree
wild child
crying out to me
crying out to be
crying out to see
the light of love
you are meant to be.
wild child, when will you find your true song?
Many of my writings portray unconventional, outsider people who search for love and fulfillment. All of these plays and stories are dedicated to Meher Baba, whose spiritual insights help me to accept my otherness.
In this play I portray those of us who desire love as a shelter against the coldness, the social isolation of our being different, to heal and to find a place of safety.
The woman in the play is searching for a companion, perhaps as a mask for an unknown, silent spiritual yearning, an inner depth, unfathomable. My characters find friendship and companionship in unusual and off-beat places.
Dream Child was given a reading in summer, 2011, through Key City Public Theatre. I have also read some of the poetry at open poetry readings.
Hidden Treasure
By Sharon Lia Robinson
This post is about my writings for the anthology, “Shadow on a Tightrope: Writings by Women on Fat Oppression”, published by Aunt Lute Books in 1983. Today is the 30th anniversary publication of the book.
The anthology is the first ever collection of fat feminist writings and I am one of the catalysts and contributors.
(For historical purposes, please note that I have also written under the pen names Sharonah Robinson/Sharon Bas Hannah).
As a visionary artist, I have always sought to create and to imagine new realities and insights in order to create a better world, a more compassionate presence for all.
In 1976/1977, while living in Venice, California, I wrote my ground-breaking poem “whoever i am, i’m a fat womon.”
The poem was inspired by my participation in the early years of the Fat Women’s Liberation Movement in Los Angeles, California and in New Haven, Connecticut, 1974-1978.
I was also deeply influenced by my interest and research in Jungian psychology. The process of Jungian psychology and therapy became an important experience for helping me to discern my authentic self.
The result is that I began to feel more validation in my creative writings, inspiring me to integrate fat feminism into my artistic life.
The essence of Shadow on a Tightrope started in 1976/1977.
During that time, Aldebaran (Vivian Mayer) and I were searching for a title for the initial manuscript of writings we had collected and co-edited for a fat feminist anthology.
We decided to call the anthology, Shadow on a Tightrope, from a line in my poem, ”whoever i am, i’m a fat womon.”
The poem was first published in my 1978 poetry chapbook fat womon/renaissance. The chapbook was included that year in the resource material distributed by Fat Liberator Publications in New Haven, Connecticut, along with some of the other Shadow articles.
As the initial fat activist material became more widely known, we finally found a publisher, Aunt Lute Books..
I am honored that the editors, Barb Wieser and Lisa Schoenfielder, decided to keep our initial title, Shadow on a Tightrope, when the anthology was greatly expanded and published by Aunt Lute Books in 1983.
In 1986, I donated my Fat Activist papers to The Schlesinger Library on Women’s History, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
My archives there include the original Shadow On A Tightrope manuscript; writings selected and edited by Aldebaran (Vivian Mayer) and myself in 1976/1977.
I am delighted and grateful that my poem is included in the beginning of the Aunt Lute Books published anthology, along with two of my essays from the initial collection, “Fat Women As Dancers” and “The Human Potential Movement: Judging People’s Humanity By Their Looks.”
When Shadow on a Tightrope was first published in 1983, I was living in Somerville, Massachusetts, creating poetry, theater and dance to portray fat women in new and visionary ways; integrating the ideals of fat feminism with my artistic spirit. Several younger fat women were my dance students.
In restaurants and concerts today, I sometimes observe younger full-figured women dressed in great outfits, and reflect to myself, or comment to a friend, “I think I played a part in giving that woman a chance to wear her lovely clothes and be seen out in public as a beautiful woman.”
Throughout the years, I have continued my creative work.
Hidden Treasure
By Sharon Lia Robinson
with patience
with pain
I have carved you
out of the seaweed
out of the snow
to my deep surprise
your hidden reflection
long forgotten
now comes alive
appearing in times of uncertainty
seeking its own hidden treasure
finding a long- lost reflection.
The Crowning of Mary, Divine Mother
By Sharon Lia Robinson
When I saw the following notice in the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Bulletin, I was intrigued and decided to participate.
The notice said, “Mary Crowning Procession and Song, Saturday, May 11, 9:30 am to noon. Bring flowers, a snack and laughter to share. We will make crowns (materials will be provided) and celebrate in song, recognizing and honoring the mother of mothers.”
At the gathering to celebrate the Divine Mother I shared several of the 1942 Pentecost Novena poems by Edith Stein.
In 1998, Edith Stein became Saint Teresa Benedicta. Her statue outside St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome depicts her holding both the Torah and the Cross.
A convert from Judaism, she died a Catholic martyr in Auschwitz in 1942. In my research of Edith Stein, I was very moved by the 1998 canonization speech of Pope John Paul ll.
The story of Carmelite nun St. Teresa Benedicta is a reminder of the trials and the suffering in Christ, and also of the joy and unity in faith.
In our age, Avatar Meher Baba also offers us an opportunity to share in these aspects of His Advent.
At the Divine Mother Celebration, we made wreaths of flowers to wear and sang Catholic devotional songs to honor the Crowning of Mary.
For the women’s gathering my friend Jane McKann brought her statue with an image of Mother Mary, surrounded by shells and stones in a natural wooden setting, Jane was inspired to create the art piece to honor her experiences of motherhood. Jane calls her statue The Great Mother.
My friend Helma Gumpp brought her statue of the Madonna and child to the gathering. The statue is originally from her family home in Munich, Germany. Inspired by the music, the singing and the images of the Divine Mother that we brought for the gathering, I danced on the outdoor labyrinth courtyard.
fine & watchful I dance
gently the breeze
carries me
Jane’s Madonna
Helma’s Statue. Photo by Sue Cook
Rubenesque Landscape
Excerpts from a Poetry Collection by Sharon Lia Robinson, with Photography by Steven R. Johnson
Rubenesque Landscape, Collage by Sharon Lia Robinson
In Rubenesque Landscape, the photographer Steven R. Johnson collaborates with me to portray various aspects of my life and personality.
We began our project in 1997, as a way to publish a book of my poetry with his photography, and to also have an art gallery exhibition.
I feel that the photos taken by Steve give me the chance to be seen, acknowledged and recognized as an imaginative and interesting person. These photos help me to find and to appreciate my authentic self.
Steve’s awareness as a gifted photographer helps me to explore ways of seeing that may otherwise have been endangered, lost or overlooked. I am grateful to Steve for his collaboration with me on this project, his dedication to art and our friendship. The collaboration was shown at Edge of the Sea Gallery (1998-2003) in Port Townsend, Wa.
I believe that we need to preserve the mystery of the hidden, the unusual, the other.
Sharon Lia Robinson in Series Rubenesque Landscape Photography by Steven R. Johnson
The Will To Go Forward Is Connected to the Chance to Move (Inspired by Paul Eluard)
she is born without shadows
her body has no illusions
no mirrors of rejection
where hope discards itself
she is born where love
grows without lies
an intimate forest
stars of flaming black
full-colored crimson white
her own sea weaves
slowly the passage
that first stage pulsation
of trembling free
a red reflection of blind abandon
and safe in her own sea mirror
large and true she can live
full within her own hope
full without shadows
dancing a practical dream
a beautiful dream without losers.
Sharon Lia Robinson in Series Rubenesque Landscape Photography by Steven R. Johnson
where am I?
by Sharon Lia Robinson
where am I?
in most places
yet I’m not supposed to be
in the eyes of a Greek orange cat
I bellydance
in robin’s nests and tree seedlings
I meander.