Knowledge of Self

By taking in the world around her, MaryLee McGough has learned to better understand the person within

By Chhun Sun

MaryLee McGough sees people as unique colors on a canvas.

“ I have a canvas and I’m ready to paint, and I have two colors,” McGough said, smiling. “What kind of picture can I paint?”

“ But if I have 10 colors, then I have more opportunities to depict something more beautiful.”

This idea is one of the many reasons that stimulated the Poetry Jam Production, which brings together students, faculty and community members to share their talent of spoken words with others. The Poetry Jam, McGough said, was her means of uniting the many cultures she saw when she arrived at Fresno State in 2000.

“ I walked on campus with thousands of people, and I didn’t know them, so I wanted to learn about the people, the community I shared with,” McGough explained. Her words are soothing, and they often are accompanied by hand gestures, such as fingers snapping.

McGough, who is a post-baccalaureate student, coordinates the program with a committee of about eight that meets twice a month to make decisions regarding their upcoming shows. In its fourth year, the committee is promoting their multi-cultural event “The Gardens of the Mind,” which is open to the public the first Wednesday during each of the next three months at the CoffeeHouse & Pub (except for the April 7 show, which will be held at the Henry Madden Library).

Born in Humbolt County, Calif., McGough has explored life on a global scale. For 20 years, she learned and benefited from living in Kenya, Italy and London.

In Italy, for example, she developed a love for art.

“ Italians believed in the idea of beauty,” McGough said. “So it was the Italians that taught me a lot about the importance of art, the importance of harmony and behavior.”

This knowledge of art, harmony and behavior has traveled with her to Fresno State.

McGough often recites poems about her experiences as an African American. In one such poem, entitled “They Call Me Lucy,” she reads her poem in a soft, gentle voice at the back of the coffeehouse as a dancer traces each spoken line in movements to the crowd of people watching and listening—all the while the dancer hides behind an African mask. The poem illustrates the journey of Lucy, the oldest woman bone discovered in Africa.

McGough enjoys writing about social issues she sees while watching CSPAN, spending time in the library and reading newspapers. She encourages students to do the same.

“ I want students to learn as much as they can, so they can have a basic understanding of what’s going on,” McGough said.

Last semester she did her own share of learning—she “ran away” to Los Angeles.

“ I wanted to get inspired, I wanted to write something new,” McGough giggled.

She spent four days writing and relaxing, and even made time to recite poetry at Magic Johnson’s Starbucks. Ultimately, she wrote a new story entitled “Text and Movement” for the University Dance Troupe.

McGough is now contributing in several campus projects, such as the film “Reparation Lost,” in which she portrays Grandma Nay-nay. She encourages students to watch the film—which premiered Feb. 20 at Fresno State—and discuss its content.

To celebrate Black History Month, McGough will wear her hair in its natural state for the majority of the month. She said, according to her research, “our heads are normally hot and to wear our hair naturally keeps it cool.”

As a tribute to her roots, you may find McGough in African clothing. For example, she was covered from head to toe with “Afro-centric wear” in the Feb. 4 show of “The Gardens of the Mind.”

Though she is a busy woman, she keeps the Poetry Jam as a priority because she said she believes “everyone has a story to share.”

“ We want to make people feel like they have that opportunity to have a slice of that pie that’s up there at Mars,” said McGough, pointing to the ceiling of the CoffeeHouse & Pub. “I tell students to aim for the highest of the high.”

The next chance to catch “The Gardens of the Mind” is March 3 at 7 p.m. in the CoffeeHouse & Pub. The Women’s Resource Center, Women’s Alliance, University Student Union, University Awareness Program and Associated Students sponsor the event. For more information, call the Women’s Resource Center at (559) 278-4435.