Lyrical Lifelines for Mental Health and Sobriety
Living Arts of Tulsa
May 25, 2024
In the Tulsa Arts District on a humid May evening, electric as a storm cloud and ominous with tornadoes on the eastern horizon, the brightly lit Living Arts building was a beacon.
Inside, Lyrical Lifelines offered a stark contrast to the moody skies. Curated by Phetote Mshairi, Claire Campo and Dr. Autumn Slaughter, this event centered poetry as a safe space to discuss mental health and sobriety, featuring art created by people who have weathered the storms of addiction and mental illness and want to offer shelter through their shared experience and expression.
The effervescent Campo, a longtime Tulsa poetry luminary, emceed alongside her charismatic co-host and fellow Tulsa poetry legend Phetote Mshairi. Together they deftly guided the audience through an evening of unfiltered emotions from a wide range of local writers, musicians and artists.
As thunder and lightning crackled outside, poets like June Ricks laid bare their souls, their words searing the hushed crowd. “I’m an addict,” Riggs said, “My joy is dangerous.”
Mshairi has borne witness to some difficult realities and expressed them powerfully in the poems he performed. “I hate that addiction kills dreams,” he said in one of them. “I hate [addiction] so much I’ll do whatever it takes to help those I love.” He described a motivation to help people suffering in the depths of dependency, hating the behavior and not the addict.
Rapper Bambi deftly handled grief and self-care in a song with chill vibes and a vulnerable soul. Madison Riggin’s original song about depression resonated authentically, and Shuntel Barnes harmonized beautifully on a track about finding joy after pain to close out the evening.
Vendor tables lined the periphery, offering resources and support for attendees during intermissions. CREOKS Health Services offered friendly smiles as well as fentanyl testing strips, color-changing cups and boxes of Narcan that fit remarkably well in a purse. The Coalition Against Prescription and Substance Abuse of Tulsa (CAPSAT) had representatives on hand to chat about everything from addiction to sexually transmitted diseases. A collage artist brought vibrant pieces emblazoned with positive affirmations like “I’m sorry for the stories I made up about you in my head” that added a touch of lightness to the room.
Lyrical Lifelines went beyond a typical poetry reading or arts event. Produced in partnership with the Tulsa Health Department and CAPSAT, it was a practical application of the transformative power of art, hope and community. The gathering had the vibe of neighbors sharing shelter in a storm, especially against the backdrop of Oklahoma’s ongoing raging opioid and meth crises. The night was a sanctuary, a reminder that even in the face of adversity, healing is possible through connection and shared experience.
Next at Living Arts: Brandy Green, Jon O, and Fahimeh Foudazi, opening June 7
