Wanda's Picks

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! 

1. Rennie Harris, choreographer, joins us to talk about his work, Lazarus, commissioned by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Cal-Performances for AAADT's 60th Anniversary (1958-2018).

Program A, performed Tuesday, April 9 at 8pm and Saturday, April 13 at 8pm at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall, features the Bay Area premiere of hip hop dance pioneer Rennie Harris’ Lazarus (2018), inspired by the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey. The work is the company’s first two-act ballet and was a 2018 recipient of the New England Foundation For the Arts prestigious National Dance Project grant. With Lazarus, which has a score by Darrin Ross, Harris addresses the racial inequities America faced when Ailey founded this company in 1958 and still faces today. True to tradition, the program closes with Revelations, Ailey’s 1960 masterpiece celebrating the African-American experience.

2. Rebroadcast of Wed., April 3, 2019: Erik Lee & Latanya Tigner, Mazin Jamal, Dr. David Campt, Shelley Davis Roberts

1. Erik Lee and Latanya Tigner join us to talk about new work premiering at Dimensions Dance Theater this weekend: We Have Ourselves, April 5-6 at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts theatre. For tickets visit dimensionsdance.org or (510) 465-3363

2. Mazin Jamal, Professional Life and Leadership Coach, is the founder and director of Holistic Underground (2014), a community organization providing personal and professional development to leaders, creatives, and change agents. This weekend he is at MAPP performing as Tarawa with Seoulstice 

 

3. Dr. David Campt, White Ally Toolkit designer, (@thedialogueguy) is a nationally renowned in the areas of civic engagement, dialogue and deliberation, and collaborative decisionmaking. Events

4. Shelley Davis Roberts  Lead Designer for “divine the darkeness”  Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Shelley Davis earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and a Master of Architecture Degree from U.C. Berkeley.  Her multi-disciplinary interests in architecture and continued dedication to the arts has guided her work and exploration in diversified community development, identity and culture while working as a visual & performing artist, designer, educator and project manager for  twenty years.

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!

1. Jessica Hicks is the Programs & Community Partnerships Manager at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, CA, joins us to talk about Tinkerfest, Sat., April 13. 

2. Darryl V. Jones (LHT Acting Artistic Director) joins us to talk about A. Zell Williams's The Urban Retreat Mar. 22-Apr. 6 at the Burial Clay Theatre, 762 Fulton Street, SF, at the AAACC. Visit lhtsf.org

3. Michael Fried – In collaboration with Monday Night Playground, Co-Founder & Artistic Director, Planet Earth Arts & New Play Festival, joins us to talk about the 5th Annual event, Monday, April 1, 8 p.m. (7 p.m. artist talk), at Berkeley Rep. playground-sf.org/monday 

4. Alice (Aziza) Jefferson, Artistic Director, Sankofa Akili Dance Ensemble 2019 Spring Benefit, Sat., April 13, 12 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at deFremery Recreation Center, 1651 Adeline Street, Oakland

www.BigPictureAnthems.com

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! 

1. NATALYA SHOAF & DAZAUN SOLEYN, GRAHAM LUSTIG re: Black Choreographers Festival 2019; Oakland Ballet's upcoming Jazz Vistas (4/5-6 at Berkeley High School's Florence Schwimley Little Theater.) Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com.

Call: 510-893-3132, [email protected], or visit www.oaklandballet.org

2. Encore conversation with Mariam Diakite, lead vocalist, percussionist, dancer and Erich Huffaker, Guitar, orchestragold.com They have a EP release coincert at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Center, Friday. March 29, 8 p.m. (dance class), 9 p.m. (concert)

-

–

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! 

1. Leah Joki, No Joke Theatre at LAC-California State Prison, Lancaster, CA

2. L. Peter Calender, Director, Black Eagles by Leslie Lee at African American Shakespeare at the Marine's Memorial theatre Sat.-Sun., through March 31. Visit https://www.african-americanshakes.org/productions/black-eagles/

3. Rebroadcast of interview with Devin Cunningham and Robert Thomas Simpson re: Black Eagles (Feb. 20, 2019).

1. Rev. Kamal Hassan, facilitator, OneLife Institutes' "Healing Black Lives": A special day of healing and renewal for people of African Descent" at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church. https://www.onelifeinstitute.org/healing-black-lives. 2019 dates: Saturdays, March 16, June 8, Aug 17 & Dec 7  (9:30am-4:30pm)

Kamal Hassan, OneLife Board Member & Spiritual Co-Director is also a spiritual leader, educator, and community servant. He currently serves as Pastor/Teaching Elder at the Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church in Richmond California, a position he has held since 2008. Before this call Reverend Hassan spent more than three decades as both a public and private school educator, community organizer and religious worker. Kamal is a founding member of both the New Afrikan People’s Organization and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. He has worked for social justice and Human Rights locally, nationally, and internationally.

2. Deborah Santana, editor, All the Women in My Family Sing (recorded 07.03.2018).

3. Dina Zarif, curator, Iranian artist, join us to talk about "Music of the Banned" concert March 16, 2019. http://redpoppyarthouse.org/event/motb-20190316/

4. Amara Tabour Smith, Nkeiruka Oruche, Amber McZeal join us to talk about: House/Full of Black Women's Black Women Dreaming "divine darkeness" March 24-April 14, 2019 visit http://www.deepwatersdance.com/

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! 

1. Cheryl Fabio has been working in documentary film since 1976. She attended Fisk University, (BA/Sociology/Photography); then Stanford/Communications/Documentary Film program. Then freelancing when eventually she became a producer/director bringing many projects to fruition for KTOP TV and other community-based organizations. She was Program Director at Black Filmmaker’s Hall of Fame, Inc. (Oakland, CA), she taught at City College of San Francisco and Managed EATV, Operations Manager at KTOP TV – City of Oakland, and in 2009 she graduated from John F. Kennedy School of Law. Her non-profit, Sarah Webster Fabio Center for Social Justice, is co-producer of Evolutionary Blues … West Oakland’s Music Legacy. https://www.swfcenter4sj.org/  She joins us to talk about her film and conversation series: Resilience, Resistance, Anticipation: A Fresh Look at the Black Arts Movement at the Oakland Public Library, 1021 81st Avenue. 

2. Michael Wayne Rice (Geoffrey Dean) joins us to talk about Lucy Thurber's Transfers, directed by Ken Savage currently at Crowded Fire through March 23 at the Potrero Stage.

http://www.crowdedfire.org/transfers/

Music: Meklit Hadero's "Call."  http://tobtr.com/s/11238443

1. Nicia De'Lovely, Oakland native, is an acclaimed published Poetess, Multifaceted Artist, Antichild molestation/ trafficking/ exploitation ARTivist, spirited Survivor and Entrepreneur.

2. Mariam Diakite –Lead Vocals, Percussion, Dance with Orchestra Gold and Erich Huffaker, guitar, multi-instrumentalist. They have a show 3/9 at Starry Plough & 3/29 an EP Party at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Center, both in Berkeley. 

3. 25 Annual Collage des Africaines continues, 3/8-10, with a concert Sat. evening, 3/9. Naomi Gedo Diouf is the Artistic Director of Diamano Coura West African Dance Company. She is joined Mabiba Baegne, an internationally acclaimed dancer, dance teacher and choreographer of traditional and contemporary African Dance.

4. Transfers through March 23, Crowded Fire Theatre cast: Caleb Cabrera (Christofer Rodriguez), David Everett Moore (David DeSantos), Victor D. Ragdale (Clarence Matthews).

1. We speak to Zachary Whelan, ED, Avary Project, and director, John Beck, to talk about Invisible Bars, the effects of mass incarceration on children. The hour-long documentary Invisible Bars is a rare look at families caught in generational cycles of imprisonment - and those who are determined to break those cycles. The film debuts on KQED on March 19, 11 p.m., and screnes again on March 20 at 5 a.m. and on March 21 on KQED Plus at 10 a.m.

Black Choreographer's Festival Here and Now 2019:

BCF Co-founder Kendra Barnes, (KKDE), who has made a dance for a quartet of women. Set to the sultry voice of Jennifer Johns, the piece, titled ReD zONE, explores various healing rituals for survivors of sexual violence, while tackling subjects like gaslighting, catcalling and the silencing of women. Shawn Hawkins, choreographer, joins us to talk about the duet for himself and Nafi Thompson titled "Stages of Love."

Julia Hughes, choreographer, together with her husband Julio Remelexo, directs a large ensemble of dancers, musicians, actors and capoeiristas called Tô Aí: We Are One People. The two set the choreography of Brazilian artist Dayse Brasil on their company. It's a dance and musical performance about the Orishas Exu and Pombagira, divinities in the Afro-Brazilian religious tradition, Candomblé.

We close with Laura Elaine Ellis re Soul to Soul at Walking Distance Dance Festival 2017 at ODC, 5/12-19/2019 this year.

http://tobtr.com/s/11191933