Edith C. Armstrong

Description

I am often called the Singing, Signing, Spanish-Speaking, Percussion Playing, Storytelling Speech Pathologist. I come as a package deal.

Work Sample

This is a bilingual (Spanish/English) multidisciplinary storytelling performance (2021) of the Cuban Folktale, "The Barking Mouse." This 9 min, 15 sec performance, was accompanied by drummer Babu Atiba Walker, Founding Member and Associate Artistic Director of Muntu Dance Theater. The performance, dedicated to the natural beauty, power and will to survive of cultures of the African Diaspora, is followed by a slideshow of paintings and photos of personal friends. They reflect their life, color, artistry and love. The images included colorful, twirling dancers, fathers with their children, a stoic grandmother and others in Cuba. The story is about a family of mice who on a lovely day decided to enjoy an outing at the park. After laying out the meal, the children ran off to play while the parents enjoyed a bit of peace alone. But while away playing in a meadow, having fun of their own, the children encountered a cat, who began to pursue them. After running back to their parents, through their mother's cunning, she saved their lives. The song, "Las Caras Lindas," (the beautiful faces) written by Puerto Rican composer Tite Curet Alonso, is sung in Spanish by Mama Edie as background to the visual images.

This 14-minute multi-disciplinary performance was provided when my colleagues and I received the Cultural Connections Award by Changing Worlds, an arts-in-education organization. It was requested that we collaborate to incorporate storytelling, music, spoken word and visual art to produce a performance that reflected the mission of Changing Worlds: to bring to light the beauty, power and potential in all cultures. Performed via video presentation at the Changing Worlds annual fundraising gala in May of 2020, the audience was provided an urban tale too often experienced by disenfranchised people in Chicago, across the country and around the world. The collaboration demonstrates how various art media can come together to tell the same story, providing the advantage of different perspectives and ways by which to connect audiences to each other and to the theme.

I believe that this question is responded to in my answer regarding my history above.

History

While in college at Northern Illinois University in 1972, I participated on the forensics team, performing prose and poetry in intercollegiate competition. In 1978, I began writing stories and songs as a speech and language pathologist for my predominately African American and Latin students who knew very little about themselves as children of African descent. They had also learned quite well, like so many others, from the major media and insensitive teachers, to regret their natural assets: the texture of their hair, the color of their skin, facial features, etc. So, I began to write stories and songs that helped them to see the beauty that I saw in them that they could not see. I wrote stories and songs of bravery for children who were afraid and of hope for those who had none. I created the stories that my children needed to hear to inform them of the gifts they are to the world, of the beauty and strength that they possessed and of the faith I had in them to do great things. These stories then extended to adults as well.

Artistic Vision

The vision of my work is that it reflects the natural beauty, power and potential of all people. This is true especially, however, of those of acknowledged indigenous descent, as they have been historically challenged by messages that would attempt to convince them otherwise.

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

As a speech and language pathologist, I have worked wide a wide variety of disabilities. Speaking Spanish also helps me to reach these communities as well.

Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement

As an African American storyteller, my performances reflect, uplift and encourage the people of my community.