celebrating women

as part of a celebration of women in the arts in Pittsburgh, the Hazlett Theater organized a series of interview sessions between women working in the arts in Pittsburgh in three categories: founders, pioneers and instigators. in my usual fashion, i didn't really prepare for my video session (little makeup, black sweater, jeans and brown boots) only to arrive to find that impeccably dressed, distinguished, beautiful and very smart, Carol Brown was my interview partner.

If you don't know her, she is one of those amazing women. the kind with long lists of accomplishments. strong and beautiful. poised, always together. articulate and smart and very, very passionate. best known here as the founder and first president of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. It hadn’t occur to me to ask who my interview partner would be, figuring that whoever it was, we'd just talk and answer the questions. to my surprise it turned out to be one of Pittsburgh's (and nationally) respected women in the arts; and all i could think about was that my nails weren't done and my hair was doing its best of bad hair days.

well as always (perhaps the "good luck" kicking in) the conversation/energy between us was fabulous. Inspiring. we didn't need the interview questions (which worked out as i had only glanced at them briefly!) we just started to talk. about women and the need for models. for opportunity. about how times have changed. there are more women in the leadership positions in the arts today than before; more models to inspire young women.

anyway, it occurs to me that i have in fact been very fortunate. i've always had strong women models in my life. we are a family of women. i have four sisters. my grandmothers and my aunts are all independent. strong. opinionated and beautiful. my mother is amazing (crazy at times in that sort of crazy, west indian, black woman sort of way) and amazingly resilient...as young girls, we had many examples of ways to be, to live.

perhaps its my single sex education, but being a woman has always felt particularly powerful for me. i've had allies. from my "big sister" at oakland catholic who told me to unfold the waist of my skirt because it was too short. i was a freshman, it was my first week of school and my mom didn’t hem my skirt, it didn’t even occur to me to hem it. until i arrived at school and the girls in typical private school fashion had raised the lengths of their skirts above the approved below the knee limit. so i decided to "roll" my skirt as the others had done. and shiree (i don’t remember my last name) pulled me aside and told me i didn't have to act like everyone else, i could (and should) be myself. i don't remember her words exactly, but it left a lasting impression. not so much what she said, but that she took the time and had the courage to say it.

its been that way ever since. lots of women, pulling me aside, whispering kind, supportive, words of wisdom and encouragement. Always reminding me that i'm special, strong, and talented; deserving of all of the best things life has to offer. perhaps i'm lucky after all.