Latest news with #TakeMeWithYou
5 days ago
- Entertainment
Late poet Andrea Gibson's life, love story featured in upcoming documentary
The late poet Andrea Gibson is the focus of the highly anticipated documentary "Come See Me in the Good Light." Gibson, who died Monday at the age of 49, a month shy of their 50th birthday, stars in the film alongside their wife Megan Falley, as they navigate Gibson's terminal ovarian cancer diagnosis. The late wordsmith, the poet laureate of Colorado, was known for their live performances and poetry that centered feminism, LGBTQ+ issues, mental health, gun reform, spirituality and more. During their lifetime, Gibson authored six poetry collections, including "Take Me With You," "Lord of the Butterflies" and "You Better Be Lightning." Their 2019 collaboration with Falley, "How Poetry Can Change Your Heart," was their first nonfiction book. Below, read more about Gibson's upcoming documentary. What is 'Come See Me in the Good Light' about? "Come See Me in the Good Light," directed by Ryan White and produced by comedian and writer Tig Notaro, Jessica Hargrave, and Stef Willen, features the personal story of Gibson and Falley as they embark on "an unexpectedly funny and poignant journey through love, life, and mortality," as described in the 2025 Sundance Film Festival's program. Author Glennon Doyle, retired soccer star Abby Wambach, singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, comedian and actor Kevin Nealon, author Galia Gichon and singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile are among the executive producers for the project. The documentary premiered at Sundance in January, where it won the Festival Favorite Award. "We love Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley. They're just the best people. Their story needs to be seen, needed to be told and I just feel so grateful that we got to be a part of it," Wambach told "On The Red Carpet" in January. "This film is so stunningly beautiful," Bareilles said separately. "And I think the message of the film and the hope that is embedded in it will be such incredible medicine for everyone who gets to see this film." In a December 2024 Instagram post, Gibson wrote about being approached for the documentary and revealed they said "yes" to the project quickly. "From early on in my diagnosis, my deepest wish has been to turn the experience into something that could help others," Gibson wrote in the caption at the time. "Being a public writer is vulnerable," they added. "Inviting strangers into your life -- every three weeks for several days at a time -- during the rawest, period imaginable is vulnerability on an entirely different level. But it took only one day with this incredible team to realize that filming this doc would become the most profoundly loving artistic experience of my life." How to watch 'Come See Me in the Good Light'
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and identity, dies at 49
The film — exploring the couple's enduring love as Gibson battles cancer — is directed by Ryan White and includes an original song written by Gibson, Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile. During a screening at Sundance in January that left much of the audience in tears, Gibson said they didn't expect to live long enough to see the documentary. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Tributes poured in Monday from friends, fans and fellow poets who said Gibson's words had changed their lives — and, in some cases, saved them. Many LGBTQ+ fans said Gibson's poetry helped them learn to love themselves. People with cancer and other terminal illnesses said Gibson made them less afraid of death by reminding them that we never really leave the ones we love. Advertisement In a poem Gibson wrote shortly before they died, titled 'Love Letter from the Afterlife,' they wrote: 'Dying is the opposite of leaving. When I left my body, I did not go away. That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here. I am more here than I ever was before.' Advertisement Linda Williams Stay was 'awestruck' when her son, Aiden, took her to hear Gibson perform at a bar in San Francisco a decade ago. Their poetry was electrifying, lighting up the room with laughter, tears and love. Gibson's poetry became a shared interest for the mother and son, and eventually helped Stay better understand her son when he came out as transgender. 'My son this morning, when he called, we just sobbed together,' Stay said. 'He says, 'Mom, Andrea saved my life.'' 'I know,' she responded. Gibson's poetry later helped Stay cope with a cancer diagnosis of her own, which brought her son back home to St. George, Utah, to help take care of her. They were delighted when Gibson accepted their invitation to perform at an event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in southern Utah. 'It was truly life-changing for our community down there, and even for our allies,' Stay said. 'I hope that they got a glimpse of the magnitude of their impact for queer kids in small communities that they gave so much hope to.' Gibson was born in Maine and moved to Colorado in the late 1990s, where they had served the past two years as the state's poet laureate. Their books included 'You Better Be Lightning,' 'Take Me With You' and 'Lord of the Butterflies.' Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Monday that Gibson was 'truly one of a kind' and had 'a unique ability to connect with the vast and diverse poetry lovers of Colorado.' Advertisement In a 2017 essay published in Out magazine, Gibson remembered coming out at age 20 while studying creative writing at Saint Joseph's College of Maine, a Catholic school. Identifying as genderqueer, Gibson wrote that they didn't feel like a boy or a girl and cited a line of their poetry: 'I am happiest on the road/ When I'm not here or there — but in-between.' Comedian Tig Notaro, an executive producer on the documentary and Gibson's friend of 25 years, shared on Instagram how the two came up together as performers in Colorado. Hearing Gibson perform for the first time was like witnessing the 'pure essence of an old-school genuine rock star,' and their words have guided Notaro through life ever since, she said. 'The final past few days of Andrea's life were so painful to witness, but simultaneously one of the most beautiful experiences of all of our lives,' Notaro said. 'Surrounded by real human connection unfolding in the most unlikely ways during one of the most devastating losses has given me a gift that I will never be able to put into meaningful words.' Gibson's illness inspired many poems about mortality, depression, life and what happens next. In the 2021 poem 'How the Worst Day of My Life Became My Best,' Gibson declared 'When I realized the storm/was inevitable, I made it/my medicine.' Two years later, they wondered: 'Will the afterlife be harder if I remember/the people I love, or forget them?' 'Either way, please let me remember.'
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Poet Andrea Gibson passes away
Andrea Gibson, an award-winning spoken word poet and author, has passed away at the age of 49 following a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Gibson, who used they/them pronouns, was widely recognized for performances and writings that addressed topics such as gender, mental health, illness, and LGBTQ+ identity. They published several poetry collections, including Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns, Take Me With You, and Lord of the Butterflies, and were a prominent figure in the slam poetry community since the early 2000s. In 2024, Gibson was the subject of the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, which chronicled their life and final year. The film explored Gibson's experience with illness and their role within a close-knit creative and activist community. Throughout their career, Gibson performed internationally, built a strong following on social media, and frequently shared messages about mental health and personal reflection. In recent years, they spoke openly about their cancer diagnosis and treatment. News of Gibson's passing has prompted messages of remembrance and appreciation from readers, artists, and organizations.
6 days ago
- Entertainment
Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and politics, dies at 49
Andrea Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist who through their verse explored gender identity, politics and their battle with terminal cancer, died Monday at age 49. Gibson's death was announced on social media by their wife, Megan Falley. Gibson and Falley are featured in the highly anticipated documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' a favorite at this year's Sundance Film Festival that will air this fall on Apple TV+. The film is directed by Ryan White and includes an original song written by Gibson, Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile. 'Andrea Gibson died in their home (in Boulder, Colorado) surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs,' Monday's announcement reads in part. Gibson was a native of Maine who moved to Colorado in the late 1990s and had served the past two years as the state's poet laureate. Their books included 'You Better Be Lightning,' 'Take Me With You' and Lord of the Butterflies." 'Renowned for inspiring poetry, advocacy for arts in education, and a unique ability to connect with the vast and diverse poetry lovers of Colorado, Andrea was truly one of a kind and will be deeply missed by personal friends as well as all who were touched by their poetry,' Colorado Governor Jared Polis posted on X.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and politics, dies at 49
Andrea Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist who through their verse explored gender identity, politics and their battle with terminal cancer, died Monday at age 49. Gibson's death was announced on social media by their wife, Megan Falley. Gibson and Falley are featured in the highly anticipated documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' a favorite at this year's Sundance Film Festival that will air this fall on Apple TV+. The film is directed by Ryan White and includes an original song written by Gibson, Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile. 'Andrea Gibson died in their home (in Boulder, Colorado) surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs,' Monday's announcement reads in part. Gibson was a native of Maine who moved to Colorado in the late 1990s and had served the past two years as the state's poet laureate. Their books included 'You Better Be Lightning,' 'Take Me With You' and Lord of the Butterflies.' 'Renowned for inspiring poetry, advocacy for arts in education, and a unique ability to connect with the vast and diverse poetry lovers of Colorado, Andrea was truly one of a kind and will be deeply missed by personal friends as well as all who were touched by their poetry,' Colorado Governor Jared Polis posted on X.
