As we get ready for another Insatiable Sisters on November 14, Catherine Hernandez shares some thoughts on her experience as an artist at last year’s event.
A week before last year’s Insatiable Sisters event, I published in my facebook status that I was making history. And it was the truth. Partly because I was going to be part of a revival of the celebration of womyn’s artistic work within the walls of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre — a much needed come back, specifically since this was inclusive of Black, Indigenous, Trans and of-colour womyn. And partly because it was being produced and performed by history makers. During tech week, everywhere I turned there was another trailblazer of the queer community putting on their costume, waiting in the wings and slapping on makeup. These were news makers: Sex workers. Activists. Pole dancers. Musicians. Shit disturbers. All of whom I have followed so closely and have admired with such adoration. I kept putting my hand on everyone’s forearm as I passed them wondering if they were real; if it was actually possible to have that many magic makers in one space.
And that’s exactly what happened. We made magic. All of us. From lights up to lights down that standing room only became a standing ovation for the power of us.
In my excerpt of The Femme Playlist which I performed that night, I remember slicing the air with my fans as I traveled through the audience to the back of house for my exit. A lot of people don’t know this, but when I rehearse with my fans I can hear the air whoosh past my ears. My fans truly are for me a weather vein for the energy of an audience, and this energy travels past the spokes of each fan into my wrists and towards my chest. That night not only was the audience quiet enough that I could hear the whoosh of the fans, but the pressure against the fans was so intense I knew I was cutting through the thick atmosphere of both community pride and the presence of ancestors.
I am so deeply proud of my chosen sisters, Gein Wong and Kim Katrin Milan for curating magic once again. I will be there at the foot of your path cheering on the flames of the trail blazed below you.
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photo of Catherine Hernandez by Yeemi Tang, makeup by Charm Torres.
Catherine Hernandez
Catherine Hernandez is playwright, performer and award-winning author. She is the author of M is for Mustache: A Pride ABC Book (Flamingo Rampant) and Scarborough (Arsenal Pulp Press). She is the Artistic Director of b current performing arts.