John Doyle performs in front of quilts created by Marquetta Johnson during ROOTS Week: Atlanta. Video still from John Doyle.
July 2023 | John Doyle
A few years ago, my friend and fellow artist Jeff Mather recommended that I join Alternate ROOTS. He told me how their artistic mission really aligned with my philosophy and work. He especially implored me to come to ROOTS Week. When I finally looked them up, I saw the words art, community, and activism, and I knew this was an organization I needed to check out. I finally joined in 2021. In June of this 2022, Jeff suggested that I share the work that we are developing together at ROOTS Week and experience Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process (CRP). I nervously agreed.
As artists, we are constantly allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. We take a piece of ourselves that no one sees, and we expose it to the world for everyone to have their opinions and judgements. We do this because of a need to share a truth or a perspective of the world we all inhabit. It is daunting to share, even for the bravest of souls. Compound this act of sharing with being in front of an audience composed of peers at ROOTS Week! For me, performing in front of my peers has always been more nerve-wracking than in front of an audience of strangers. This was a group of people who I have never met before, and I was new to the organization.
Daughter House 5 (excerpt) was performed at Alternate ROOTS’ ROOTS Week 2022 in Atlanta. Created/performed by John Doyle in collaboration with Jeff Mather and Marquetta Johnson.
I walked into the Arts Exchange where the Atlanta ROOTS Week was being held not knowing anyone other than Jeff but soon, I began to meet other artists and I quickly felt at home. We started with a community gathering and a grounding exercise. This was helpful because it gave me the opportunity to interact with everyone in a safe way and it also grounded me. We then transitioned into a membership meeting. Since this was my first ROOTS Week, I loved hearing the perspectives of those who have been part of Alternate ROOTS. Hearing them reflect on their experience was enlightening for me. When I looked at the schedule, I saw I would be performing after lunch. The butterflies were beginning to take flight in my stomach. The performance piece that I was sharing is part of a collaboration with Jeff Mather, whose work focuses on community-based site sculptures, and Marquetta Johnson, who creates elaborate and beautiful quilts. I am a storyteller and percussionist. My role in our project is to decipher the quilts and create a story from them. The stories that I am creating are centered on our shared traumas and how we can heal from them.
I set up for my performance. The setup process is very meditative and relaxing. It gets me into the physical and mental space of getting ready to share. I hung each of the three quilts I brought with me and placed my percussion instruments (a cajon, a shaker and conga) in front of each quilt.
When ROOTS Week arrived, I had not shared the story that I was creating with anyone, not even Jeff or Marquetta. Now it was time to share in front of an audience of artists that I just met. But my interaction with my fellow “ROOTers” throughout the day had put me somewhat at ease. I walked into the theater space before anyone else. The stage lights were on and a beautiful mixture of red, blue, and orange hues cascaded onto the stage, the quilts, and my instruments. Once everyone was seated, I shared a bit of what they were about to see and stressed that it was a work in progress. As I began to perform, the energy in the room was palpable. I could feel how everyone was attuned to the sounds of my percussion and my words. I felt uplifted by the audience as I was sharing.
Afterward, the Critical Response Process started. Kathie DeNobriga was the facilitator. I could not have asked for a more gracious and supportive facilitator. Her facilitation created a safe space. She first went over the guidelines for how the CRP would take place. The first part asks what was meaningful to the audience and what aspects of the performance the audience took away. Hearing their comments filled me up! Again, I had not shared any of this work with anyone and to hear the feedback from fellow artists really encouraged me. Next, the audience could ask neutral questions about the work without including any opinion in it. This part was enlightening because it made me look at parts of my performance that I did not take into consideration and hearing their thoughtful questions really helped me to see my work from different angles. The last part of the CRP is a part that I found to be the bravest for both the artist audience and myself. In this step, the audience can offer an opinion, but I could say yes or no if I wanted to hear it. I find it brave on the part of the audience because they are asking to share an opinion about another artist’s work without knowing how the artist is going to receive it. It was definitely brave on my part to hear an opinion on my work that is still in the developing stage from people who I just met. I opened myself up to hear from the other artists, and I am so glad I did. They were very caring in their thoughts but more than that, each artist shared from a standpoint of their artistic sensibilities and hearing their ideas has helped me to further shape our collaborative project.
Our performance piece finally has life! I was able to let it breathe on stage in front of my fellow artists. I felt supported and uplifted. Before Jeff left, I said to him “I see why you wanted me to join Alternate ROOTS. Thank You!”
Photographer unknown
John Edward Doyle Jr. is a Storyteller, Actor and Teaching Artist. He is originally from Burnsville, Minnesota. John moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College and after college John chose to start his professional career in Atlanta. John’s passion is in the arts and education, and he has the great opportunity to blend those two in his career.
In 2000, John was introduced to the world of being a teaching artist at the Alliance Theatre. It was there that John began getting valuable experience as well as extensive training. Over the last 20 years, John has worked with such organizations as: Kaiser Permanente Educational Theater Programs, Alliance Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Upward Bound, Boys and Girls club, Young Audience, Atlanta Street Theatre, Camp Broadway, Fox Theater and many schools across the state. John has had residencies in over 30 school districts in Georgia!
John is an accomplished storyteller as well. Telling, everywhere, from birthday parties, schools, festivals and conferences. John also conducts workshops on how to incorporate storytelling and digital storytelling in the classroom. He is the past resident storyteller at the High Museum of Art.
John is one of 10 artists who were awarded the 2022/2023 Arts and Social Justice Fellowship with Emory University. He is co-teaching a class integrating arts and social justice within the course.
John along with Jeff Mather and Marquetta Johnson, were one of three artistic groups whose project was selected for the 2022/2023 Alliance Theatre Reiser Lab. This project’s final performance will occur May 10, 2023.
John has a variety of educational performances and school residencies that he offers, which can be booked through his website www.aei.agency or call 404-606-7411.