Wanda's Picks

Maria Moore's sister Kayla Moore was killed by Berkeley police one year ago today at the Gaia Building in Berkeley where Kayla lived at the time of her death. A vigil and speak-out are planned this afternoon and evening to commemorate this tragic injustice. Kayla Moore was a transgender woman of color living with schizophrenia who died when Berkeley police entered her apartment in response to a crisis call and forcefully attempted to arrest her on what they knew to be a false warrant. Maria Moore was born and raised in Berkeley, with her sister Kayla (Xavier) and their father. Maria just turned 40, and Kayla would have been 42 this year. Kayla had been suffering from mental illness at a very young age, and Maria and her father tried their best to protect her. Currently Maria lives in Oakland, with her boyfriend and daughter.  The photos are of Kayla is holding her niece. The Rally and Vigil are this evening Feb. 12, 2014, at 6 p.m. at the GAIA Building, 2116 Allston Way (above Shattuck). The Speak Out is at 7 p.m. at the Police Review Commission Meeting, South Berkeley Senior Center 2939 Ellis Street (off Ashby). Info: Berkeley Copwatch at 510-548-0425 www.berkeleycopwatch.org We open with an interview with Margaret Avery, Academy nominated actress for her role as "Shug" in Speilberg's The Color Purple screening 2/14, 7:30 p.m. in a special program @ the Castro Theatre in San Francisco.

Maria Moore's sister Kayla Moore was killed by Berkeley police one year ago today at the Gaia Building in Berkeley where Kayla lived at the time of her death. A vigil and speak-out are planned this afternoon and evening to commemorate this tragic injustice. Kayla Moore was a transgender woman of color living with schizophrenia who died when Berkeley police entered her apartment in response to a crisis call and forcefully attempted to arrest her on what they knew to be a false warrant. Maria Moore was born and raised in Berkeley, with her sister Kayla (Xavier) and their father. Maria just turned 40, and Kayla would have been 42 this year. Kayla had been suffering from mental illness at a very young age, and Maria and her father tried their best to protect her. Currently Maria lives in Oakland, with her boyfriend and daughter.  The photos are of Kayla is holding her niece. The Rally and Vigil are this evening Feb. 12, 2014, at 6 p.m. at the GAIA Building, 2116 Allston Way (above Shattuck). The Speak Out is at 7 p.m. at the Police Review Commission Meeting, South Berkeley Senior Center 2939 Ellis Street (off Ashby). Info: Berkeley Copwatch at 510-548-0425 www.berkeleycopwatch.org We open with an interview with Margaret Avery, Academy nominated actress for her role as "Shug" in Speilberg's The Color Purple screening 2/14, 7:30 p.m. in a special program @ the Castro Theatre in San Francisco.

Today is National Black AIDS Day. Our first guest, Dr. Malcolm John, an expert in infectious diseases, is director of the UCSF HIV/AIDS Program at UCSF Medical Center, one of the most comprehensive HIV and AIDS treatment programs in the country. In addition to his work at UCSF, John is an HIV consultant at the Larkin Street Youth Center, SF. See http://blackaidsday.org/  http://nationalblackaidsday.org/ Charles Curtis Blackwell is a poet, playwright, and performance and visual artist. His exhibit THE ART OF CHARLES CURTIS BLACKWELL, African Roots of Jazz Art Exhibition is up February 10 - April 20. Sunday, February 23 is Mr. Blackwell's Artist Talk @ 2PM on the 3rd floor Meeting Room at the Main Library, 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck in downtown Berkeley, (510) 981-6241 www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org Bryant Bolling and Zakiyyah G.G. Capehart Bolling join us to talk about their evening of Creative Jazz mixed with spoken word poetry at 57th Street Gallery  in Oakland, Feb. 8, 8-11 p.m. We close with an exended interview with Ms. Margaret Avery, Academy Award Nominee for her role of "Shug" in The Color Purple. She will be at San Francisco's Castro Theatre at 7:30 p.m. 2/14.

Today is National Black AIDS Day. Our first guest, Dr. Malcolm John, an expert in infectious diseases, is director of the UCSF HIV/AIDS Program at UCSF Medical Center, one of the most comprehensive HIV and AIDS treatment programs in the country. In addition to his work at UCSF, John is an HIV consultant at the Larkin Street Youth Center, SF. See http://blackaidsday.org/  http://nationalblackaidsday.org/ Charles Curtis Blackwell is a poet, playwright, and performance and visual artist. His exhibit THE ART OF CHARLES CURTIS BLACKWELL, African Roots of Jazz Art Exhibition is up February 10 - April 20. Sunday, February 23 is Mr. Blackwell's Artist Talk @ 2PM on the 3rd floor Meeting Room at the Main Library, 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck in downtown Berkeley, (510) 981-6241 www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org Bryant Bolling and Zakiyyah G.G. Capehart Bolling join us to talk about their evening of Creative Jazz mixed with spoken word poetry at 57th Street Gallery  in Oakland, Feb. 8, 8-11 p.m. We close with an exended interview with Ms. Margaret Avery, Academy Award Nominee for her role of "Shug" in The Color Purple. She will be at San Francisco's Castro Theatre at 7:30 p.m. 2/14.

This morning we will be speaking to visual artist William Rhodes, whose exhibit Souls of Water up at th San Francisco Main Library, African American Ctr., 3rd Fl., 100 Larkin Street, through tomorrow, Feb. 6, 2014, 415-557-4277. Rhodes says of his work that it "explores themes of hidden knowledge, iconographic imagery and forms and how they can change meaning in a given cultural context. Explorations into the contrast between these traditional cultures and our modern one have also added depth to the narrative quality to my work." He is a woodworker by trade, an artist by choice. I strive to blend fine craft, sculpture and design with meaning and function. My travels to Africa, Asia, and Central and South America have strongly influenced my work. The people, art and cultures of these societies have inspired me to consider non-traditional approaches to art and sculpture. In every work I choose to start with reclaimed wood as my structural material. I enjoy the process of carving wood into a variety of shapes and sizes. The process of carving drawers and hidden compartments into the wood allows me to incorporate my need for functionality. Each piece can stand on its own as a functional object yet it is art. Mirrors have always been important to my work. I realized how mirrors can draw the viewer directly into the work. Every individual reflection adds to the story of the art. As a child I often asks myself the question of how early Humans saw their reflection? I believed Water gave humans the ability to see themselves. I often think of how water moves and creates circular shapes when I design my sculptures. This organic fluidity is always a part of my wood carving process. We close with a rebraodcast of an interview first taped January 31 with Kendra Kimbrough-Barnes, Laura Elaine Ellis and Gregory Dawson about the 10th Annual Black Choreographers Festival Here and Now, 2/9-3/8/2014.

This morning we will be speaking to visual artist William Rhodes, whose exhibit Souls of Water up at th San Francisco Main Library, African American Ctr., 3rd Fl., 100 Larkin Street, through tomorrow, Feb. 6, 2014, 415-557-4277. Rhodes says of his work that it "explores themes of hidden knowledge, iconographic imagery and forms and how they can change meaning in a given cultural context. Explorations into the contrast between these traditional cultures and our modern one have also added depth to the narrative quality to my work." He is a woodworker by trade, an artist by choice. I strive to blend fine craft, sculpture and design with meaning and function. My travels to Africa, Asia, and Central and South America have strongly influenced my work. The people, art and cultures of these societies have inspired me to consider non-traditional approaches to art and sculpture. In every work I choose to start with reclaimed wood as my structural material. I enjoy the process of carving wood into a variety of shapes and sizes. The process of carving drawers and hidden compartments into the wood allows me to incorporate my need for functionality. Each piece can stand on its own as a functional object yet it is art. Mirrors have always been important to my work. I realized how mirrors can draw the viewer directly into the work. Every individual reflection adds to the story of the art. As a child I often asks myself the question of how early Humans saw their reflection? I believed Water gave humans the ability to see themselves. I often think of how water moves and creates circular shapes when I design my sculptures. This organic fluidity is always a part of my wood carving process. We close with a rebraodcast of an interview first taped January 31 with Kendra Kimbrough-Barnes, Laura Elaine Ellis and Gregory Dawson about the 10th Annual Black Choreographers Festival Here and Now, 2/9-3/8/2014.

BCFHN presenters: Laura Elaine Ellis is Executive Director of the African& African American Performing Arts Coalition (AAAPAC), a San Francisco based, non-profit organization, founded in 1995 by a collective of artists who were looking to create better performance opportunities for African and African American performing artists as well as produce shows that reflect the aesthetic and cultural representation of the African and African American experience.  Kendra Kimbrough Barnes, Director, holds a BA in Dance, from San Francisco State University and a MA in Arts Administration from Golden Gate University. She graduated with honors and is a recipient of the "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges" award and as of 2008 the "Who's Who Among American Women".  Guest Choreographer: Gregory Dawson, Dawson Dance SF (2007), has premiered From Bruch to Brahms, Bach Goldberg Variations, Were You There?, and On the Way to the 16th St Bart Station at The Lund Dance Theatre, Valencia for the California State Summer School of the Arts (CSSSA). Gregory Dawson began his studies in Chicago at Ruth Page School of Ballet and then left for Southern Illinois to study ballet and Haitian dance with Katherine Dunham. He moved to San Francisco where he studied with Evelyn Schuert at Shawl-Anderson Dance Studios and with Alonzo King at Dance Central. Mr. Dawson left for New York in 1982 to study with The Dance Theatre of Harlem. From 1983-1986 he danced with Theatre Ballet Canadian, returning to the Bay Area to perform with Oakland Ballet, Berkeley Ballet Theater, Sacramento Ballet, and the San Francisco Opera Ballet. Mr. Dawson joined LINES in 1987 and danced for 18 years with the company.We close with an interview with Mr. Henry Delton Williams, designer for Motown who is bringing Martha Reeves to the African American Museum and Library, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.

BCFHN presenters: Laura Elaine Ellis is Executive Director of the African& African American Performing Arts Coalition (AAAPAC), a San Francisco based, non-profit organization, founded in 1995 by a collective of artists who were looking to create better performance opportunities for African and African American performing artists as well as produce shows that reflect the aesthetic and cultural representation of the African and African American experience.  Kendra Kimbrough Barnes, Director, holds a BA in Dance, from San Francisco State University and a MA in Arts Administration from Golden Gate University. She graduated with honors and is a recipient of the "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges" award and as of 2008 the "Who's Who Among American Women".  Guest Choreographer: Gregory Dawson, Dawson Dance SF (2007), has premiered From Bruch to Brahms, Bach Goldberg Variations, Were You There?, and On the Way to the 16th St Bart Station at The Lund Dance Theatre, Valencia for the California State Summer School of the Arts (CSSSA). Gregory Dawson began his studies in Chicago at Ruth Page School of Ballet and then left for Southern Illinois to study ballet and Haitian dance with Katherine Dunham. He moved to San Francisco where he studied with Evelyn Schuert at Shawl-Anderson Dance Studios and with Alonzo King at Dance Central. Mr. Dawson left for New York in 1982 to study with The Dance Theatre of Harlem. From 1983-1986 he danced with Theatre Ballet Canadian, returning to the Bay Area to perform with Oakland Ballet, Berkeley Ballet Theater, Sacramento Ballet, and the San Francisco Opera Ballet. Mr. Dawson joined LINES in 1987 and danced for 18 years with the company.We close with an interview with Mr. Henry Delton Williams, designer for Motown who is bringing Martha Reeves to the African American Museum and Library, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!