What's MY Inspiration?

Here's the short I created and premiered at last night's Hudson Opera House concert. It's about my experience performing in the underground of NYC. Here are the things I see, the people I meet and the moments that turn my music in collaboration with commuters into it's own version of public art. And why I created the Inspiration Project.

Inspirations from people I meet, spontaneous jams with other artists. Life, humanity and human connection. Filmed throughout NYC subway and train stations by NYCSubwayGirl.

words and music Cathy Grier singerfish publishing SESAC

Question Of Desire, Keep You Out, Cool Trick, Jungle.

Leonie- Graybar; Jeremy- Graybar; Vicky- Grand Central mezzanine; Ruth - Columbus circle; Jimmy-Grand Central mezz; Valerie- Graybar; Graham- 34th st; Fidel-42nd @6th; Sarah-LIRR; Aubrey Lynch-LIRR; Michael Zaleski- Shuttle; Nancy-LIRR; Michael- Grand Central mezz; Cathy- SI ferry terminal; Sonia, German student- Shuttle; Richard Green- Columbus Circle; Jessie- Graybar; Myah -Union SQ; Terry-Union Square; Michael- Grand Central mezzanine; Qainat- Shuttle; Jorge - Columbus Circle; Mustafa- LIRR

and musicians, Break dancers, Poet Myah, Cathy sings duet Amazing Grace, Joshua bucket drummer,Justin sings duet-You've Got A Friend-Carole King, Ray saxophone and Don The Shoe Dude.

Myah subway poet Union Square

I've been pouring through many of my archives of clips and discovered this gem that I never edited.  

I met Myah one afternoon in the Union Square subway station, we chatted about how God and poetry inspire her.  She's also a basketball player, the combination of poetry and sports really inspired me. I asked if she would recite a poem and she took the mic and haltingly recited her poem "Misunderstood."  Make no mistake she truly owned that moment.  These are the beautiful things that happen underground that I love to share. 

Thula Sizwe Inspired Ferry crowd

While performing at SI ferry terminal, a group arrived with some gorgeous large African drums, colorful shirts and warm glowing smiles. They came over and performed a song for people awaiting the 3:30 ferry. Little by little the crowds drew closer until they filled the area in front of the group. This clip is an excerpt and I could only film from my vantage point (I still had my guitar on and was frozen in my feet with amazement).

I later learned the group Thula Sizwe was in America thanks to a wonderful organization Bridges Of Peace and Hope.

Enjoy.

What's Your Inspiration?

Bridges of Peace and Hope is an international network of teachers, students, and friends collaborating on creative, arts in education projects that promote respect, understanding, and communication. You can like them on facebook

Bobby and Me Summer in the country

As the summer intensifies so does the subway and I find myself staying longer in my country get away up in Columbia County....

It was rainy last weekend when I went to visit Bobby 11 Freedom, the rescued NYC Carriage horse, now living at Equine Advocates Sanctuary in Chatham, NY. It's one year since Bobby was rescued from slaughter. Equine Advocates President & Founder, Susan Wagner and the rest of us were caught in a sudden rainstorm, but it didn't dampen the high spirits. 

Bobby was rescued on June 25, 2010 by Equine Advocates and the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages.  He was then shipped to Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary in Chatham, NY where he has been retired. Bobby is sponsored by Cathy and Ron Wong. You can sponsor one of the many equines rescued and living at the sanctuary. contact Equine Advocates Sanctuary

Here's a clip I made of his re-Birthday celebration:

Elizabeth Hess an Equine Advocates board member, avid animal rights activist and author (Nim Chimpsky), brought me along to the party.  We took my two poodles Etta and Lily who loved the attention.

I'll be heading back to the subway after a summer break excited to know Bobby is retired from the city grind living happily at Equine Advocates.  

The birthday celebration was written about in an article about Bobby by Karrie Allen of The Chatham Courier

Here's a previous clip I made from my intial visit to the sanctuary when Bobby first arrived.

Billy and Nigel jam in SI ferry terminal NYC

Musicians Billy Maluw and Nigel Schat with friend Marvin visiting from Amsterdam, Netherlands, arrived inside the SI ferry terminal with instruments on their shoulders. I asked if they wanted to jam. Of course they said yes. They joined in and we had a great time. They jammed on my songs Jungle and then performed on their own. The crowd loved it, including one very enthusiastic dancer.

What Inspires them? Music performing in New York City

check out their What's Your Inspiration? clip I made

Eve Ensler talk, The Girl Cell

Just talking yesterday to my friend Paige (who blogs at The Sister Project) about nycsubwaygirl and how as I continue to develop it, want nycsubwaygirl to be so much more than about me and my adventures in the subway. nycsubwaygirl is I hope eventually a state, a place to build strong community, it’s form created by the collaboration of others. To that extent I think “are you a NYCsubway girl?” Today another friend Cheryl sent me a TED talks link of a speech Eve Ensler gave about girls and the idea of a girl cell. Hmm I thought,

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Healthcare? Why should I care?.... We should all care!

The day after Obama’s healthcare speech and after Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) screamed out "You lie!" here are my comments sent along with my signature of a petition created by MoveOn.org (yes that one-you now know my lefty leanings, if you didn’t already) asking Congress to move ahead with a healthcare bill. Me: Please do the right thing for all Americans. We cannot afford to be passive. Too many

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