Art is my primary form of communication. I make art because it allows me to communicate ideas words cannot encompass.

I am a writer, who writes performance art scores. I write recipes to create poetic moments. Sometimes I carry out these recipes. Sometimes I do not. Sometimes I am in my performances and sometimes I am not. But either way, I compose them, like Coltrane composed music. Either way, I choreograph them, like Ailey choreographed dances.

Like Coltrane and Ailey, I try to make these recipes flexible enough to stand the test of time. I try to make them structured enough to convey a particular feeling or to ask a particular question. I try to make these recipes in a way that highlights the unique beauty of each person who acts them out. I try to make them gather information, about black women, about what we think is beautiful about each other, and also about the changes that are taking place in our worlds. I try to make them engaging so that others will want to experience these moments and learn to see in black women what we already see in each other. I try to make them joyful. I am opposed to making black women frown.

I am committed to reaching audiences that do not normally feel comfortable in museums or galleries. I will endeavor at all times: to speak plain English, so that I can be understood; to use first hand sources, so that each can decide what s/he believes for her/himself.

I believe in the power of performance art, because performance is action.

Actions are the result of philosophies.

I believe actions embody the philosophies they are the result of.

I believe you can learn a philosophy by engaging in an action.

I believe actions can become habits.

I believe habits can become customs.

And I believe customs can perpetuate a philosophy through space and time.

(c) Aisha Cousins 2010