from Wilmington Star
October 10, 2002
By John Staton
WANT TO GO?
Who: Alix Olson
What: Spokenword artist
When: 20 p.m. today
Where: Ibiza, 118 Market StreetThere's an introductory quote on spoken-word artist Alix Olson's Web site, www.alixolson.com, from German dramatist Bertold Brecht: "Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it."
It's a quote Ms. Olson, who is appearing in Wilmington tonight at Ibiza nightclub downtown, takes to heart in a big way. On her CD, Built Like That (Feed the Fire Productions), and at her near-constant string of public appearances around the country, Ms. Olson's words chip away at the status quo.
Ms. Olson calls herself a "dyke" with pride, blasts corporate greed and politicians on both sides of the aisle, talks about her love of sex, debunks "myths" from Adam and Eve to Snow White and Cinderella, and extols the virtues of female underarm hair. And she does it all with a smile.
"I think that people have a difficult time grasping that you can be pissed off about the state of the world and still be kind and have a sense of humor about it," Ms. Olson said in an e-mail interview. "Most of the funniest, warmest people I know are radicals, activists, artists."
One of Ms. Olson's biggest assets as a performer is that she comes across as so warm, funny and friendly (not to mention educated, unapologetic and supremely sure of herself). Some impassioned activist-types can seem strident and off-putting. Maybe it's her cute, girlish voice, but Ms. Olson, even at her harshest, seems almost sweet.
The 27-year-old, New York-based writer got her start performing at poetry slams. Since winning the OutWrite National Slam in 1999 she has been on the road, taking her message to colleges, festivals and clubs all over the world. In early 2001, when poetry slams were more in vogue (though Ms. Olson insists that slams are "ever-growing" and not merely a passing fad), she was featured on the cover of Ms. Magazine. She's also appeared on the Oxygen and CNN cable channels, and her writing - poetry and prose - has appeared in numerous magazines
Coming from a family of "political, feminist parents" - her father sang her to sleep with union songs ó she says she feels the need not only to entertain but to educate and examine with her art. "I think art must critique the society in which it lives," Ms. Olson said. "Art is a dangerous vehicle in the best sense of that phrase.
While Ms. Olson performs mostly spoken-word live, Built Like That is a mix of spoken-word and poetry set to music. "Eve's Mouth," which has Ms. Olson sing-rapping to a hypnotic guitar line, cites both history and literature and encourages, "Look between the lines, girls, read beneath the text.
"America's On Sale" is a tongue-in-cheek assault on corporate greed and American imperialism, backed by swap-meet-style banjo pickin'. "America's on sale! Global perspective's 99 percent off! All ethics must go!" Ms. Olson announces in her cheesiest snake oil salesman's voice. "Restrictions may apply if you're black, gay or female.
On the title track, Ms. Olson breaks down her own work: "Some art's all multicolored, till it goes behind the scenes. It comes out all corporate, then it only comes in green. No, my art's not made like that … no, my art's not built like that.
Ms. Olson says she often has trouble getting her views into the mainstream media, which has criticized her for being anti-white and anti-straight (which she denies), or using too much foul language
"It is rare to find voices in the mainstream that work to dismantle the patriarchal/capitalist system, dilute corporate power and re-distribute power to more people," Ms. Olson said. "The media is mostly run by these corporate folks, so why would they want to advertise voices who challenge their ownership?"
We live in a complacent society," she continued. "When times call for 'toning down,' meaning the world is bettering itself, I'll be thrilled."