Katie Kay Chelena

How do you currently describe your practice?

I'm a theater artist, writer, and educator. I make plays, performances, and poems that invite folks to laugh, kiss, cry, rave, and riot. On the daily, my practice looks like consistent writing exercises, embodiment work, and constantly choosing curiosity. My biggest rule is show up and stay curious. From this, I can create work that playfully smashes together forms as disparate as living newspaper, southern gothic, queer punk performance art, slam poetry, and slapdash DIY installation. My practice is staying open enough to let the work tell me what it is. My practice is staying boundaried enough to work towards a better theater industry. My practice is knowing when it's time to step away from the page and dance with my people for a while.

What has been your favorite moment of your Arts Politics experience?

The people. The relationships. Everyone here has a big heart and does a million things. Being able to build relationships with passionate, brilliant, multifaceted folks from all over the world has been such a joy this year. Each time the full cohort has presented our work to one another has been a golden day- I've learned so much from people who work in different mediums, different languages, different cultural contexts, all with similar orientations towards justice and freedom. At the end of the day though, the best moments have been laughter. Release. Ease. Breath.

What has been most challenging during your time in Arts Politics?

Coming back to school six years after undergrad has been both a gift and an immense challenge, especially since the pandemic is still kickin'. Part of the work I've done at APP this year has been research on trauma and theater education, and what emerging strategies and pedagogies we can use to create a better, safer theater culture. Through this research, I also have more language to describe my own educational and directorial principles. This year, I learned that I can stay true to those principles, ethics, and pedagogies even under high pressure. I've developed a relationship with my integrity that makes me proud. I finished undergrad with both a degree and PTSD- it was a challenge to return to the role of student within a large university. I'm reminded of the fortitude of students- the vulnerability, guts, strength, imagination, openness, and commitment it takes to learn. I was reminded of all of that within myself, too.

What are you working on post-grad?

Immediately after graduation, I'm jumping right back into my joy. This summer, I'll be writing and performing with the New York Neo-Futurists, teaching my summer theater program at North Carolina Governor's School, and adding a summer session to my yearly poetry workshop, Bad Poet. These are spaces of community, heart-centered work, and transformation for me. I'm grateful to have a full plate this summer, but I'm also thinking about rest, abundance, and ease in ways that have really solidified during this program. What am I working on post-grad? Work, yes. But also, my garden. Learning to play the singing saw. Biking. Slowing down.

How has the Arts Politics program unfolded or shifted how you approach your work?

I can feel that there have been tectonic shifts. I'm still letting myself get to know those shifts.