Dear friend,

We received this breathtaking song today entitled Weeping Mary, performed by Alva Rogers and written by Matthew Petty—two of our Lucas Artists Fellows. I’m humbled to share this gift, and Alva’s message, as our hearts ache and hope for a more just world:

You and everyone at Montalvo are always in my heart. You may share it with any and everyone who may receive a healing.

Weeping Mary was composed by Matthew Petty after spending time in Weeping Mary, TX and meeting the eldest descendants of those freed slaves whose land was stolen.  Mr. Petty asked me to record the song in his studio while we were Lucas Artists Fellows at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, CA. It was recorded in 2018, and today we can feel the profound resonance for the times in which we are living.  It is time to be shared.

Listen, weep, mourn, love and keep moving.

Love,

Alva 

alvasworld⋅com

Montalvo vows to do our own necessary work on anti-racism. We plan to host a series of conversations from our Lucas Artists Residency on a path forward. We commit to keeping these conversations alive over the months ahead, and for as long as it takes to rebuild a more just and equitable community. We know that our artists will play a critical role in bringing together our neighbors in Silicon Valley as we envision a more inclusive future.  

I know that culture transforms slowly. Today, I am hopeful that we are witnessing a sea-change for equity in humanity. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Tony McDade—and too many others whose names we cannot stop saying. Black lives matter. Now we must all work to show that we believe it.