audra and jhon organized the last Icarus Mad Gifts week Tour event at the famous collective space Trumbullplex in Detroit on Sun Nov 4th 2007. audra took care of the bulk of the evenings technical needs as well as cooked a brilliant meal for us. jhon coordinated booking, outreach, working the door, and opened the event with a reading of his wonderful poetic writing. thank you so much to the both of them and everyone who came out  and shared their truth.

Here are  audra's blog thoughts on the event. - Madigan Shive

My name is audra, I am an artist, a writer, a poet,  and I struggle with what some call a mental disorder. I have spent many days in sadness, I have feared life,
love, myself, and healing. I have hid myself, hit  myself and allow fear to cripple me. I have lived with a sensitivity that many can not understand ( though  the
more I talk to others, I have the sense that so many of us feel this way). I was very excited when I found out about the Icarus Project, I have often felt like I wanted to share more with friends and family but I was very afraid to let people know that I was hurting. 

The idea of creating a space for the community to share issues on all levels is so important. The idea that there should be some sort of 'check in' so that folks know what is happening in each others lives, enabling everyone to be there for each other. In this world I think people feel so very alone. We sometimes hold some much in, or only share with a partner the fear and anxiety. There is such a need to learn to reconnect with each other. So much of our sadness come from the lack of support we get in our immediate environments. The visit from the folks from the Icarus project was so inspiring.I sat and listened to the them describe the project.  I was moved to hear people talk about the subject of mental health in terms that did not demean or present people with mental health issues as sick. They were using endearing terms.

I know that many of us struggle to stay balanced. Pain and sadness are hard to deal with but in the act of sharing with others there can be a lifting. What a beautiful idea to discuss how to begin to move towards a life style that includes this kind of sharing between friends, neighbors, and the people that live in your area as well gain wealth of support you through connecting with others around the world that
need help managing their, "dangerous gifts."

The people that had come to the gathering that night at the Trumbullplex were a mix of friends and folks from the neighborhood. As I listen to the conversation I noticed that I had not had this type of discussion with a group. Toward to end I started to feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards the people in the room. I expressed to everyone in a bit of an emotional way that I needed them in my life and very much wanted to be able to share my stories and hear theirs. I think everyone felt it. Like everyone knew that we all needed this and that these thoughts and ideas that the Icarus Project was proposing were integral in really supporting each other.

Madigan performing for everyone after we all had talked. She was magic! I did not sleep much that night. I could not stop thinking about how I wanted to help create
this kind of space here in my neighborhood. I am grateful to bonfire madigan and sascha scatter for coming to Detroit and sharing their stories with us. Each day that goes by since the visit I feel more and more empowered. I know that soon I will be able to step up and step back. Become a supporter and be supported.

Just another detroit artist,

Audra

www.myspace.com/audrakubat