HTBAF: It’s Hot Out Here
Friday, August 23, 7pm
The dog days of summer … and of civilization as we know it? Well, maybe that’s a bit heavy for a Friday night, but the temps are high, the oceans are rising, the reefs are bleaching, the golden frogs are nearly extinct. It’s hot out here, and (as JT said) “here we are, drifting through time and space on the face of a little blue ball falling around the sun.” How do we care for ourselves, for one another, for this terrestrial home we should have learned to share centuries ago? It’s hot out here, and we need to step up to cool things down. Still heavy for a Friday night, but the needs are pressing, time is ticking, it’s later than we think. It’s hot out here, come spend this hot Friday night at How to Build a Fire. Come listen to stories of hope, of healing, of finding balance, of cool breezes, of possibility. It’s hot out here. Let’s make a way together.
STORYTELLERS:
Vanessa Chica Ferreira (she/her) is a multifaceted force in the cultural landscape of New York City. As an educator, poet, playwright, and fat activist, she crafts works that challenge societal norms and invite deep vulnerability. Vanessa co-wrote the play “Live Big Girl,” which captivated audiences at renowned venues such as The National Black Theatre, The Tank, and BAAD, with its bold exploration of body positivity and fat activism. The play’s powerful message resonated through sold-out performances. Vanessa and her co-writer were awarded the prestigious 2023 Bronx Cultural Visions Grant, supported by the Howard Gilman Foundation. This grant enabled the creation of their second poetic play, “Live Big Girl: A Chair That Fits,” which debuted in April 2024 at Lehman College. In addition to her theatrical accomplishments, Vanessa facilitates “The Unlearning Series” writing workshops with NAAFA (National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance), fostering critical conversations and personal growth. Her written work reflects her dedication to exploring the human experience and has been featured in various publications, including *Snapdragon: A Journal of Art and Healing*, *Essential Voices: A COVID-19 Anthology*, *The Acentos Review*, and *Great Weather for Media*. Discover more of Vanessa Chica’s impactful work at www.VanessaChica.com.
Ed Woodham is an elder Southern queer independent conceptual social-absurdist artist, curator, producer, and educator entangled in a mélange of NYC and global activities across media and culture for over 45 years. Woodham employs humor, irony, subtle detournement, and a striking visual style to encourage greater consideration of – and provoke deeper critical engagement – with the urban environment. Ed created the project Art in Odd Places (AiOP) as a response to the vanishing of public space and personal civil liberties. He is a bored certified expert on Nothing.
Rebeca Lois Lucret is a New York based, Puerto Rican-Cuban poet, writer and playwright. Her work explores her Afro-Latino roots, culture and an ever-evolving identity. She has featured at various New York City venues, is the co-writer of a three woman play titled, “Live Big Girl” and has been published online, in literary journals and anthologies, some of which include: The Abuela Stories Project Anthology, The BX Files Anthology, Contemporary Haibun Online (CHO) Lit Journal, The Acentos Review and Brilliant Flame! Amiri Baraka: Poems, Plays, Politics for the People Anthology. Currently when she isn’t writing poems or nesting in Neruda’s pages, you can find her working on her upcoming memoir, Dandelion Strands. She can be contacted at www.rllucretwriter.com.
And more to come…
