Talent Show at the IRC

Melea Lail soulfully belted out “I’m forever yours ever yours faithfully…” at the end of the Interactive Resource Center’s (IRC) Talent Show on April 4th. Every audience members’ eyes were transfixed on Lail, a talented singer and poet with a strong set of pipes. Journey’s timeless lyrics—delivered with such gusto by Lail—served as a fitting ending to the night’s performances.

Lail’s enthusiasm in singing “Faithfully” exemplified the sincerity shown by all the performers involved in the event. She committed wholeheartedly to performing “Faithfully,” including practicing at the Talent Show’s sound check, but most of the night’s performers showed a similar level of commitment. Chris Ward, essayist and special effects makeup artist, sat throughout the afternoon and evening completing gruesome makeup jobs on volunteer models. Kris Schumacher, poet and artist in Artifacts Cooperative, arrived at 8 am the morning of the Talent Show to perfect her drawings and paintings for sale at the event.

 

The types of talents performed were as diverse as the performers who showcased them. These talents included singing, dancing, comedy, visual arts, poetry, personal narratives, and even Chris’ special effects makeup. Performers ranged in age from teenagers to seniors and came from a variety of different backgrounds. Many of these performers were recruited or encouraged during various enrichment programs offered at the IRC and other community organizations. The IRC offers an open arts studio (Art Corner), artist’s cooperative (Artifacts), creative writing programs (Write-On Greensboro; Storyscapes), a street newspaper dealing with issues of homelessness (The Greensboro Voice), and other programs. People who are homeless are not just in need of shelter, food, clothing, and financial assistance. When you lose your home, you may also lose your sense of community. Community can provide inspiration, creativity, and a supportive space to foster your artistic talents. The IRC and other organizations strive to meet these therapeutic and enrichment needs for the people we serve.

 

It was important to the performers and to members of the Talent Show Committee that the event wasn’t promoted just as showcasing performers experiencing homeless—many artists at the IRC and other agencies do not want their artwork or talents to be defined by homelessness. Several artists have expressed distaste for terms such as “homeless artist” or “homeless person” as these labels box them in according to their housing situation rather than their art. Therefore, the Talent Show Committee recruited a diversity of performers, including Americorps members and their families, and used the event to promote awareness of local organizations fighting to end homelessness. An Americorps Partnership to End Homelessness member serving at each affiliated organization spoke about their mission statement and services during breaks between performers.

Americorps members, IRC staff and volunteers, and clients of our affiliated organizations came out in force to attend the show and to help out behind the scenes. Whatever the event at the IRC—be it Talent Show, movie screening, dinner or funding meeting—volunteers and staff are always available to help out with setup, decoration, and take down. Part of the magic behind events like the Talent Show is this sense of community that they foster. An integral part of the show was the collaborative nature of the planning process—we met continually as a Talent Show Committee and every performer decided what they would present and when they would appear in the lineup. Some performers helped each other prepare for the show and/or performed duets. One look at the audience during the Talent Show also reveals this sense of community. Audience members of different ages, ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and housing situations sat side by side—moved by Lail’s singing or scared by Ward’s special effects. Artistic events like the Talent Show offer a universal language—be it music, visual arts, or poetry—that can bind these audience members into a cohesive community.

 

-Frances