mensen.

I draw. I paint. I write. I believe everyone is inherently creative. msmensen.com / [email protected]

[msmensen]

Click here to support Help Tanya Survive, Stay Safe and Heal organized by Tanya's Support Crew

It is with great humility and more than a little trepidation that I share my story, and ask for your support. I am an artist and community facilitator who was based out of Brooklyn, and I have spent most of my adult life working to support youth, women and communities impacted by violence and tr...

>>PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE<< Friends.  It has been a long time since I’ve been on Tumblr.  You can also connect with me on Instagram at @mmmensen, or on Twitter as @msmensen

I am currently surviving and recovering from intimate partner violence and threats to my life. In September 2018, I left an abusive relationship with my ex-partner of 4 years after he had what I believe to be a sudden mental health break that resulted in many forms of violence directed at me. I had to get an order of protection. I have been moving between safe-houses every few days since October thanks to the generosity and grace of my friends and community.  I am currently homeless and unemployed. It is hard for me to find a stable job, because I have been moving so frequently (I am concerned he will find me). I have a double disability (diabetes and an autonomic disorder), and the circumstances I experienced last year severely impacted my physical well being, and I am working on focusing on my health and safety. I am currently trying to do freelance illustration work, and remote facilitation of workshops to help make ends meet, but it’s not really enough to support the incredible costs of my survival during this crisis and as I prepare for the upcoming hearing for my order of protection. You can read the full story of his abuse at the link.

[msmensen]

>>PLEASE SHARE WIDELY<< Are you coming to our opening night party!?! Come celebrate with us. Featuring performances from Linda La Sarabi and Candice Iloh, and a host of amazing women and femme artists and vendors including Tanya Garcia, Grace Mateo, Alex Fields, Alyssa Andrews, Joelle Dianne Riffle, Lindsay Lee Long, Elizabeth Velazquez, Brittany Maldonado, Kamal Badhey, Louiseanne Wong, Gabriella Padilla, Haydee Naula, Eva Neves, Desiree Lee Camacho, Lehna Martine Huie, Shayna Janelle, Stephanie Orentas, Troll Hole NYC, La Liga Zine, Hyrsteria Zine, Mensen, The Web Crawlers and MORE. Admission is a sliding scale, $10-20 with no one turned away for lack of funds. Admission at the door is pooled to split between performers and the Yeah, That's What She Said so we can create future events and opportunities for women and femme artists, activists, and performers.

[msmensen]

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT WORK FOR YTWSS*2016! Yeah, That's What She Said! is a series of women-lead events that build relationships and experiences through the arts and activism. YTWSS centers art and workshops by working class and poor women, women of color, immigrant women, trans women and queer women. We are collectively self-organized and largely funded by community support. In 2014 + 2015, we held weekend-long pop-ups that brought together hundreds of women from across New York City.

@yeahthatswhatshesaidnyc is accepting submissions for our 2016 events!

>>>DEADLINE MAY 15TH<<<

YTWSS*2016's theme is BODY OF WORK.  We will be offering a series of events that are informed by the feminist tradition of investigating the corporeal, from a distinctly intersectional working class/poor, woman of color, immigrant, queer + trans lens.  We are looking for art and workshops that address how women's experiences are informed by the impact of institutional and structural power on our bodies.  This may include work that engages with incarceration, body politics, racism, labor rights, borders, gender representation, ability and illness, the politics of desire,  or reproductive rights. 

[msmensen]

New piece for SEIU 1199! #women's day @ 1199_nj

[msmensen]

Queen Graciela bagged up lots of sprays, body butter, herbal baths and anointing oil! Link in bio to custom order, or join us on December 20th at 1344 Pacific Avenue from 3-6 and get yours! @rubbybulb

[msmensen]

@chriscarthage ep release coming 8/24! Here's another sneak peek... #CCEP

[msmensen]

Another preview for boo @chriscarthage new EP drop 8/24. Follow him! #CCEP

[msmensen]

ChrisCarthage EP 8/24/2015. Link in @chriscarthage bio. (Little bit of illo for the boo's commercial songwriting ep release)

[msmensen]

Interesting panel tonight for Bushwick Film Festival about community, artist and developer relations during gentrification. I talked about the need to invest in grassroots youth and community initiatives, ensure unmediated access to resources for working class and communities of color and respecting self-determination, and the necessity of decentralizing nonprofits as the recipients of funding as well as the urgency of legitimate affordable housing.

[msmensen]

@tresquill

[msmensen]

@tresquill has decided we should keep track of our drama-free days. Luckily the drama between us is pretty minimal- but the rest of the world, that's another story #dramafree one day and counting

[msmensen]

Our here sending off a young man that changed the way I understand who I am and what I do!

[msmensen]

Saturday prep @tresquill @bruvlee

[msmensen]

Shout out to the dedicated community organizers who rallied, marched and camped out at the Rheingold site to hold developers accountable to affordable housing in Bushwick. #fuckgentrification #fuckyourcondo #gohomegentry

[msmensen]

Finally got a chance to swing by interference archives #ifasongwasfreedom show with my favorite freedom songwriter @tresquill

[msmensen]

Rock rock rockaway beach

[msmensen]

Took a walk in the drizzle to the farmers market for herbs for teas and incense. Rue, sage, lavender, lemongrass, mint, rosemary. On the walk back, ran into someone I haven't seen in nearly 5 years. This has happened frequently lately- running into old friends, youth I've collaborated with, organizers and artists. I am reminded of a wisdom my partner shares with me in those moments when it feels like everything is fleeting and unmoored: "The work stays." Reminded of ancient Norse wisdom- we weave a delicate and intricate web behind us as we walk.