Dear Reader, Rage Looks Good On You
It isn’t lost on my ears that the classical performing arts like opera or ballet in the largest houses tend to stay away or keep quiet from art deemed political or the darkness in the industry that goes on, and more so than not, the performers follow suit to try not to get into trouble or blacklisted from booking a performance with their dream institutions. As non-profits I understand there’s a fine fine line with where one can go and the overhanging threat looming down our backs and current times do not make that line seem walkable if you want to keep your funding and safety net.
With that said, it does seem like we are on the precipice of a new era of classical performing arts. The artists and many young administrators are tired of hushed corridors where all our experiences are kept tight and locked by key to keep our places or jobs. Artists are creating more of their own opportunities to be seen, represented, to have fun, be experimental, and embrace the full scope of what it's like to be living in this world right now. It's a big part of why I created Salon Avec Moi and decided to go the LLC route instead of the 501c3 one to be a for profit vs. non profit – I wanted to speak my god damn mind.
It is freeing really to not be an active singer in the industry any longer. I’ve been the young artist keeping myself as a closeted lesbian deeply deeply buried inside of me and “progressive” (lol I just want everyone to have homes and rights) opinions to not “shake the boat” or push away needed donor contributions to support an art form I know needs the money. I’ve been terrified to speak my truth of the slimy men I’ve come across, been groped by, certainly knocked down for their not so secret motives by directors or the simple mistreatment as an artist I had experienced separate from literal sexual harassment. It feels that now I truly have a voice that doesn’t need to be stifled because I own this house, baby, you can’t hurt me, and hope it burns a fire in artists that are actively in the field now to not stifle their own voices as well and have a place they can come to to express it with Salon Avec Moi.
Anyways the point of this, I can never keep anything short (I notoriously send 10 minute audio messages from time to time) but what I’m saying here is I love that Salon Avec Moi can be what we want it to be. It doesn’t have to fit a mold, it doesn’t have to be scared about what we’re going to post, share, support, and talk about. We can just show up as we are. For quite a few salons now we’ve incorporated raffles and activations that donate the funds to organizations we love and care about like The Trevor Project, the NY Abortion Access Fund, G.L.I.T.S, and we’re obviously not going to stop. For this salon Monday, January 19th we will be selecting a mutual aid fund to help families impacted by ICE in Minneapolis, raising funds by raffling off one of the notorious RAGE MAKES ME FEEL PRETTY T-SHIRT as seen by my queen Hayley Williams of Paramore and icon Marisa Dabice of Mannequin Pussy (to be ordered at the salon if you win so it goes right to your door and in the size you want from size XS-XL). These mutual aid funds have been proving to quickly reach their goals each day within 24-48 hours so we will be selecting one to support Sunday evening and will announce at the salon. If you would like to support a mutual aid fund now, The Smitten Kitten is incredibly active on stories posting new funds constantly as the need is undoubtedly high.
With this hellhole we’re living in there’s also so much beauty to cling onto and that’s what I hope for salons to be for us all. For just a few hours, dress the fuck up (and you better), get a drink, enjoy some art, and get to know your community while also supporting it along with the artists performing. What the fuck is a salon? What the fuck is community? What the fuck is showing up for both and looking sexy doing it?
I’ll see you there and I intend to look hot. Take note of it. Only hot people truly know what the fuck a salon is.
Karlye Whitt
Salon Avec Moi Editor-in-Chief & Founder
