Success means understanding who you are.

This most recent Midnight Tea was named A Season of Contentment after a work of art by fellow Trinidadian artist, Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné, who generously offered her artwork to the fundraising efforts that led to the manifestation of this event. Thank you to the many people who made this project possible with their contributions!

On Saturday, July 25, 2015, 13 women gathered at Java Cafe & Gallery in Phnom Penh for a art ritual dedicated to self-care. Most of the women who participated heard about the event from a close friend or from the Facebook event page, but all were bravely taking a risk to meet with me at midnight.

How do you care for yourself? Submit your response via email to mikokuro@gmail.com.

How do you care for yourself? Submit your response via email to mikokuro@gmail.com.

 

Local makeup artist, Apple Love, guided participants in Ritual Adornment using red or black lipstick to transform each of the guests into their new personas.

Self-Care Ritual Adornment: Black or Red Lipstick

Self-Care Ritual Adornment: Black or Red Lipstick

During the 3-hr ritual, guests were given specific roles and assignments to complete. Many roles involved working in pairs or groups. The event was a multilingual one with poetry, memoir, and fictional elements incorporated and performed in Khmer, English, French, and Japanese. Java Arts Goddess, Dana Langlois, generously photographed the event in addition to opening up her cafe/gallery for the event. Please see more images here.

Midnight Tea Guests, Maria and Olivia with Miko Kuro (Gold Mask).

Midnight Tea Guests, Maria and Olivia with Miko Kuro (Gold Mask).

Before the event, I was part of a performance called The Stones Are Awake at Meta House. I had never split my creative energy in this way on the evening of a Midnight Tea, because preparations for the Tea are quite all consuming. Also, this was my second night in Phnom Penh and my jetlag was just starting to settle in. This 37th Midnight Tea challenged me on many levels but in the end, I received as much (if not more) than I was giving.

The women of Phnom Penh are truly generous and deserve whatever kindness, gentleness, and care they can afford themselves. They are still helping me to heal myself.

A Network of Miracle Makers

in

I am very fortunate that my creative frequency is in harmony with so many amazing human beings. Sometimes, I think it's just dumb luck, but then certain things happen and it feels like the fringe of magic is cupped in my fingertips.

On July 2nd, I began fundraising for the Self-Care Ritual for Women in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and yesterday, I was able to purchase my ticket! Five days is remarkable. And the work is just beginning.

Original artwork above created by Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné.

Original artwork above created by Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné.

PROJECT BACKERS RESPONSIBLE FOR MIDNIGHT TEA IN CAMBODIA:

HAILEY HIGDON (Snohomish, WA)
TAMARA BOYNTON (Seattle, WA)
DAVINA CAMARDO (Seattle, WA)
ANGEL ANONYMOUS (Seattle, WA)
LIA CRAVEN (Tacoma, WA)
MICHAEL SORIANO (Seattle, WA)
BOB REDMOND (Seattle, WA)
TANYA SHIRLEY (Kingston, Jamaica)
LUNAR MAMA CRAFTWORKS (Brown Deer, WI)
LAURIE FRAZIER (Gorham, ME)
DAEMOND ARRINDELL (Seattle, WA)
LAUREN ALLEYNE (Dubuque, IA)
BEVERLY NAIDUS (Seattle, WA)
MARTHA LUCAS (Tacoma, WA)
PHOENIX TEA SHOP (Burien, WA)
SHAYLA LAWSON (Bloomington, IN)
HAROLD TAW (Seattle, WA)
TANYA HOLTLAND (Tukwila, WA)
VIC OBLAS & TINA HOGGATT (Issaquah, WA)
RACHEL HARRISON (New York, NY)
MEAGAN BROTHERS (Ashbury Park, NJ)
JESSICA LUDESCHER IMANAKA (Seattle, WA)
SHIELA SIDEN (Seattle, WA)
JOCELYN MACDONALD (Seattle, WA)

Thank you for supporting me, my work, my life-- they are all the same and I am so grateful.