Artist Statement

I am a multidisciplinary performance artist & activist of *Kpelle (Liberian) and Euro-American descent. My work is movement-based and centers women of the African diaspora, as well as my feminist, antiracist and decolonial politics. My movement comes from Afro-diasporic, West African and Contemporary dance techniques.

The magical worlds, experiences, and knowledge of the African diaspora are at the center of my work. I'm most interested in putting voice to our shared experiences, creating spaces for our healing, and facilitating our community-building. Afro-centric is a literal definition of the work. Afro-centric is a politic, it is a creative process, it is a theory, it is a faith.

I am making artistic rituals that critique the world we live in while they carve away towards a Black utopia of our collective creation. I believe there is a future in which Black, Indigenous, People of color are thriving, not just surviving. I try to manifest that future in my work.

I use multidisciplinary methods to create complex representations of a complex world. Body, voice, technology, text, food, and energy are some of my mediums. My performance work manifests as evening-length, durational, site-specific, and interactive pieces.

My work serves as a catalyst for change, holding a mirror to societies that are poisoned by white supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism and colonial nightmares, and simultaneously highlighting the richness of Black culture that is so often marginalized. I create art and share space with my communities to call us all to action. As my ancestor, Nina Simone, said “An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times”. I follow Ms. Simone’s lead and attempt to fulfill this duty.

*As I continue my journey of decolonizing mind, body, spirit, I see where my beliefs are not supported by standard language i.e. referring to where we are from as it relates to geographies, especially nation-states, and especially using the names of colonizers/settlers. So following the lead of indigenous activists of Abya Yala and Turtle Island, I try to detach from these labels.

More About Me…

I am many “things”. There are many “me’s”

Performer, curator, space-maker, community organizer, thinker, educator. I am is an activist in my communities, and combine my dedication to issues of race/gender/class with my art.

I am currently collaborating with several artists globally, including my participation in Kukily- International Afrofeminist Arts Collective, along with 3 other women. Kukily creates interdisciplinary work (especially live performance, film and installations) exploring our Black womanhood.

I received a BA in Dance (contemporary practice and composition) and Cultural Anthropology at Bates College in Maine, USA. I am well versed in Afro-diasporic, West African and Contemporary dance techniques. Colleen have studied dance with several Kpelle dancers; United States artists such as Carol Dilley, Rachel Boggia, Nancy Starke Smith (Contact Improvisation), Kathleen Hermsdorf, and Darrell Jones; Mexican artist Omar Carrum (Piso Movil); Guinean artist Mafila Kouyate (Guinean dance); and Argentine artists Lucas Condro (Asymmetrical Motion), Gustavo Lesgart (Passing Through an Flying Low), Martin Piliponsky (Flying Low), Quio Binetti, and Emmanuel Luduena. I have performed in the works of Fabiana Castro (BRA), Giltanei Amorim (BRA), Carol Dilley (USA), Omar Carrum & Claudia Lavista (MEX), and the Urban Bush Women (USA), among others.

My solo work has been presented in several venues and site specific locations in the United States and Argentina. My latest solo work ndemeh was presented at Real Art Ways (US), Feb 2018; Performática Festival (MEX), March 2018; Casa Muñecas (ARG), April 2018; Club Cultural Matienzo (ARG), July 2018; Tierra Violeta-Feminist Cultural Center (ARG), August 2018; Theater Festival “Mujeres a las Tablas” (ARG), September 2018 and Centro Cultural de la Memoria Haroldo Conti (ARG), November 2018.