Photojournalist explores a history of abuse, trauma and love in Judy: A Mother's Love

It’s not easy baring your soul every day onstage. Let alone two to four times a day.

Yet that’s exactly what Kinfay Moroti is doing in his latest “Art-versation” — an intimate series of shows that combine soul-searching, compassion and an intense, interactive connection with each audience.

Moroti isn’t simply standing onstage and telling his story. He’s talking directly to you. Looking you in the eye. Saying your name.

“I don’t like experiences that are just looked at,” says Moroti, a former The News-Press photojournalist who now documents the work of local nonprofits through photography and publicity campaigns. “I really want you to be a part of it. ... Every single element is almost designed to keep you trapped in the story.”

In the case of his new show, it’s a story Moroti has been trapped inside all his life. “Judy: A Mother’s Love” is a semi-autobiographical work that’s based largely on his own history of abandonment and abuse; his neglectful, alcoholic mother; and a crucial moment of love that connected the two across a span of four decades.

Some of the details have been embellished for drama’s sake, Moroti says. But the story is all his.

“In creating this, I’m spending more and more time with my past, more and more time with my trauma,” Moroti says. “I don’t know, I think I’m creating this to get rid of my trauma.

“For me, that’s therapy. I can’t afford a therapist, so I create (laughs).”

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“Judy” is the third “Art-versation” Moroti has staged in a small art gallery at Fort Myers’ Alliance for the Arts. But he says it won’t be the last.

He’s already planning more “Art-versations” for later this year.

“It’s a regular thing until I think I’m done with stories,” he says. “But I don’t think I’ll be done with stories anytime soon.”

The free show has limited seating for the rest of its run through Feb. 25. Moroti puts on two to four shows daily, Tuesday through Saturday.

Here’s more from our interview with Moroti. The interview has been condensed and edited.

Why are you telling this story? Why did you write and stage “Judy”?

I think because I have to. I think that I have an unquiet mind (like his mother). Even though I’m 52 years old, I still have a lot of trauma from my life — as much as I try to mask it with a smile or mask it with hard work or things of that nature.

I miss my mother, you know what I mean? And I have the freedom now to tell the story a little bit more than I did before in my career.

And also, I’ve got a daughter. She’s 15 now and, you know, she has questions. And I’m trying to find some of those answers to those questions.

I think I just need to tell it right now. I think it’s a good time to tell it. And I think, at this season in my life, I need to get past this. So maybe that’s the real reason why. I think it’s my therapy.

How would you describe this show to someone? I’ve got to tell you: It’s almost excruciatingly intimate. You’re talking to me and saying my name and looking me in the eyes.

I think I’m going to borrow some of your words. Let’s call it Extreme Intimate Storytelling — EIS! (laughs). Let’s just make this up right now.

That’s so intentional. It’s intimate and intentional storytelling. Every single element of this design and the way I set it up is designed to have you immersed in my story and not let you go. The way the chairs are and the way the light is and the way I touch you and the way I keep saying your name. I’m saying it authentically, but it is intentional.

In some ways, this form of intimate storytelling, of hugging you tight, is what I wanted in my life. You see? I felt that if I didn’t perform, if I wasn’t good enough, then you would lose interest and you would move along.

I think the more I share of myself and the more I’m intimate with you, the harder it is for you to leave me.

You’re calling your shows “Art-versations.” Why is that?

For me, it’s about taking art or creating an artistic setting, and then using it to talk about something — in this case, to me, it was love, communication and trust.

And because you are so immersed, because you are sitting in the DCF caseworker’s office (the setting for “Judy”), you are a part of the conversation. You see what I mean?

And then I talk to you and you touch those things (items in the caseworker’s office) and you are a part of it.

The audience for each show is very small. You’re limiting it to five people. Is that so you can make a more intimate connection?

Oh gosh, yeah, most definitely! I think if it gets beyond five people — six to seven people, eight people — then I think it feels more like a theatrical experience, you know? And eight people’s names are tough to remember, you know what I mean? (laughs). I can do five.

I probably could, with this particular one, extend it out maybe to six or seven. But I don’t see myself ever doing these where it’s, like, 10 or 11 people. I’m not afraid of that in any way. It’s just that I really love the intimacy.

I don’t know, would you rather see Babyface at the House of Blues or would you rather see him at the Tampa stadium, Raymond James Stadium? You’d rather see him at the House of Blues, for sure.

One last question: What have you been doing since you left your job as News-Press photojournalist?

I created Hopeful Images. It’s my own initiative, my own business, where I primarily help nonprofit organizations tell their story through documentary journalism, videos or pictures. And then I help build campaigns for them or I might rebrand them.

And then I still cover community events, just because I love photojournalism. I still do that.

— For free tickets, visit bit.ly/3lpGEb1. The show takes place at the Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. For information about the venue, call 939-2787 or visit artinlee.org.

Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. Email him at crunnells@gannett.com or connect on Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), Twitter (@charlesrunnells) and Instagram (@crunnells1). You can also call at 239-335-0368.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Q&A: Photojournalist examines life of trauma, love in Fort Myers show