by Damali Abrams
It has taken me a week to write this. Everything seems to be going in slow motion. This year one of my goals was to push myself out of my comfort zones. So I am definitely accomplishing that.
I am an adjunct professor at York College so I am now teaching online. The class is half lecture and half studio so teaching online is a new challenge and I am grateful to still be employed and getting paid.
Today was day 2 of a sourdough bread baking class on zoom taught by performance artist Naomi Elena Ramirez.
I have been working on a new collage, live streaming the process on Instagram Live. I have to force myself sometimes but I always feel better after, same with (almost) daily yoga, chanting and meditation.
Every day I make sure to watch something funny and something inspiring. Sometimes I take dance breaks.
Iyanla Vanzant is doing daily live stream inspirational videos at 10 am EST on IG & FB with ideas for adults and children about how to spend this time. She is a gift.
I have lived my dream of dancing with dance Goddess Debbie Allen, and relived a large portion of the soundtrack of my life with Teddy Riley and Babyface – all on IG Live.
I have also been making weekly reiki videos-sending healing energy through video, inspired by Lourdes, one of my favorite youtubers at Rest Relaxation & Reiki. But mine are quarantine/ lockdown themed.
Reiki master Tania Ramirez hosted a zoom reiki circle for practitioners to send out our healing intentions.
I am enjoying a rich life online.
Damali Abrams the Glitter Priestess is a New York City based artist, educator and reiki practitioner. Damali attended the Whitney Independent Study Program and earned her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and her BA from New York University.
Damali is a recipient of the Queens Council on the Arts New Works grant. She has been a fellow at Culture Push, the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, A.I.R. Gallery, and apexart in Seoul, South Korea. Damali has presented her work at School of Visual Art (SVA), Sonoma State University, Soho House, UConn Stamford, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Barbados Community College, New York University (NYU), SUNY Purchase, Hunter College School of Social Work, and Syracuse University’s 601 Tully. Damali’s work has been exhibited at many spaces including El Museo del Barrio, MoCADA (Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art), Rush Arts Gallery, Longwood Gallery, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, JCAL, and The Point. Her writing has appeared on the blogs of art21, Fresh Milk, and Groundation Grenada.
Follow Damali on IG: https://www.instagram.com/damaliabrams/
Damali Abrams: damaliabramsart.com
