Diagnosed with Stage 2b Hodgkin’s lymphoma in November 2010...
Cheryl was a writer, a poet, but I might have first known her as a co-worker at NYU. She worked at the bookstore, I fixed the phones there. Turns out we both hung around with the same band, The Maul Girls. Hanging out turned into into volunteering with the monthly event around the Village called Bra Bar (The brain child of Jane Friedman, who was manager to Patti Smith back in the day). Jane was our mentor, she introduced us to the generation of performers before us, artists like Judy Nylon, Penny Arcade and Brenda Bergman and the Bodacious Ta Ta's. Bra Bar was home to the next generation of performance artists, broke and trying to survive in NYC in the 90's.
Cheryl was sexy, super intelligent and loved surrounding herself with artistic types. She demonstrated a wonderful sense of professionalism in everything she tackled. She was super sensitive, extremely caring, and deep down a really good person. She tackled battles in her lifetime, she was not fearful of change. Instead she wrote about them, and once on paper, was able to share many common themes others wrestled with as well. Her writing gave her strength to deal with her life, and in turn, empowered others.
Cheryl had cancer at a very tender age, she was just really starting to have her dreams realized and come to fruition. She was invited to take part in international performances, wrote a book, and started blogging about her life with cancer. wtfcancerdiaries.com = WTF Cancer Diaries, where she told stories about her illness, the way it weighed down on her, how it affected those loved ones surrounding her. Her honesty is painful, she showed such bravery and was not afraid to share her fears, desires, loves. She was well loved and will be greatly missed...
http://www.callieart.com/Writers/writer_cherylb.html ~ To view her work
http://wtfcancerdiaries.com/about/ WTF Cancer Diaries
http://theblist.blogspot.com/
Cheryl B. ~ a writer, performance poet and literary series producer in NYC.
Contributing Writer/Editor at GO Magazine
Cheryl co-curated Sideshow: The Queer Literary Carnival
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http://www.myspace.com/maulgirls/videos/video/52003849
The Maul Girls! "Chunky Black Shoes" video
After shooting this video at CBGB's they showed up to my Master's Thesis art show at NYU, still in make-up. Good times....
