Mars

Mars hit the open mic poetry scene in Chicago in the early 90's, reading mangled manifestos and timid tirades at Anotha Level @ Lit X, the weekly gathering in the basement with the leaky toilet and the best performance poets in town working out their craft.
Having been a political activist since 1983, Mars quickly learned the true power of the Spoken Word: to Teach, to Unite, to Inspire and to Incite. When arrested as an agitator during a 90s protest with CHA residents against the housing Lockdowns --
Cop: Are you carrying any weapons?
Mars: My only weapon is my mouth.
Cop: I believe it!
Soon known on the scene as the Mumia poet who continually fought to keep the name Mumia Abu-Jamal on the political and cultural maps, she performed at rallies, benefit shows and conferences more often than the usual coffeehouses. Mars organized a cadre of other politically-minded local spoken word artists known as Poetic Service Announcement. These artist/activists agitated through their art on State Street during holiday season, to crowds in line for a show, on a 1999 benefit CD (Renaissance Street productions) and in several Bud Billikan parades. That year she also was part of the Chicago Mad Bar team in the National Poetry Slam.
Mars also became known for weaving song throughout spoken word. She has studied improvisation (with Michael Zerang,) violin (ages 10 - 17,) Madrigal singing (high school,) djembe (with John Yost,) and Japanese taiko drum (at Tsukasa Daiko.) Her addiction to rhythm led her to Vegas and Reason, her beat programming tools of choice.
Red Eye Renaissance, a duo with jazz bass player Darius Savage, experiments live with programmed rhythms, vocals, contrabass, and sound effects both high and low tech.
She Laughs, an improvisational poetry/percussion/musical mob of Chicago women, produced a beautiful CD, "Elements of Life, Love and Action" along with appearances at a Performance Art Festival and several radio stations from 2001 - 3. Members were Carolyn Aguila, Genine Coleman, Mars, Sache Garrett, Elizabeth Marino, Alicia Matthews, Shelley Miller, Nicole Mitchell, Kelly Norman-Ellis, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, Cecile Savage, and Jamie Topper.
Red Planet Productions (a.k.a. Renaissance Street), her production company dedicated to promoting and inciting art aimed at political change, has organized events (such as the 1999 Day Of Art For Mumia show at Hothouse) and has produced 4 CDs, with her debut solo work due in Nov 2007. She continues to work as an early childhood + youth teaching musician, and mother of a Rebel-In-Training.
Mailing List:
http://www.soundclick.com/MarsCaulton.
Performance Review:
http://chicagopoetry.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=New s&file=article&sid=569
Buy She Laughs songs:
http://www.mp3.com/she-laughs/artists/20027276/songs.html
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