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. Joanna Macy, Ph.D., Ann Marie Davis, and Ty Blair join us to speak about Lberation Dharma in the Time of the Great Turning, a program hosted by the East Bay Meditation Center this Friday, Oct. 28, 7-10 PM at the First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison @27th Street, in Oakland. Visit http://eastbaymeditation.org/

2. We close with a conversation with Krissy Keefer, Artistic Director, Dance Bridgade, about the Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Liberation Upon Hearing, Friday & Saturday, Oct. 28-29, at 7:30pm; Sun., Oct. 30 at 6pm at 3316 24th Street, San Francisco, (across from the 24th Street BART Station). Oct. 30 is a benefit for Tara Mandala Retreat Center and features guest artist Jennifer Berezen and a 4pm silent auction. 

Tixs are: $23-$30 Fri-Sat; $15-($50 Sunday) brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-838-3006  Use CODE: "Wanda" to purchase tickets today for Sat./Sun. For information: dancemission.com or 415-826-4441.

Music: Rene Marie, Regina Carter, Meklit & Quinn, gina breedlove.

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!

1. Albert Woodfox, Angola 3, rebroadcast upon his release from prison. He speaks about the Black Panther Party. 

Music: Zion Trinity's "Prayer for Elegba," Wadada Leo Smith's "Spiritual Light".

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. Krissy Keefer, Artistic Director, Dance Brigade and Grrrl Brigade and Stella Adelman, Theater / Adult Program Directorat Dance Mission, join us to talk about the Great Liberation Upon Hearing: A Journey through the Bardo via the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Oct. 28-30, 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m. at Dance Mission in SF. www.dancemission.com

2. Rebroadcast of Wanda's Picks October 7, 2016.

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. Jovelyn D. Richards, who joins us to speak about "Tootsie's Juke Joint" (a.k.a. The Mother), is a international solo performance artist, director, independent film maker, and writer. Ms. Richards work has been produced by: Central Eastern University, Afro Solo, National Black Theatre Festival  & the Los Angeles Women's Festival. Her body of work she refers to as the :Nappy Headed Love Stories, Black Love & Intimacy

She is a radio host for Pacifica Radio 94.1.  Jovelyn holds both an MA & MFA in the humanities. Ms. Richards first indie novel Tulips for Evening was published this fall.  A copy of her novel will be auctioned off at her reading of her play October 20th at the Exit Theatre on Eddy Street in San Francisco as a part of The SF Olympians: Week 3: The Cradle, Oct. 19-22.

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. Deborah Vaughn, Co-founder and Artistic Director of Dimensions Dance Theatre, joins us to talk about Project Panther, premiering at the Malonga Casquelord Center for the Arts Sat., Oct. 15, 8 p.m. https://www.dimensionsdance.org/history.html

2. Frantz Jerome, Haitian political analyst, joins us to talk about the Island Nation. Frantz is very knowledgeable and has been a frequent guest on Flashpoints, Sojourner Truth and other radio programs discussing Haiti. He is a former professor at CUNY, well-known and respected in the NY community where he was the coordinator of a coalition of 80 Haitian grassroots organizations during the 1990's.  http://www.haitiemergencyrelief.org/Haiti_Emergency_Relief_Fund/home.html

3. Wanda Ravernell, Director, Omira Institute, joins us to speak about the National Museum of African American History and Culture opening weekend, Sept. 23-25.

4. Stogie Amir Kenyatta, One Man Show on the life of Paul Robeson. “The World is my Home – The Life of Paul Robeson,” at Berkeley Black Rep, 3201 Adeline Street, Oct. 28-29, 2016. http://www.blackrepertorygroup.com/ www.PaulRobesonOnManShow.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!

Theo Aytchan Williams, Artistic Director,SambaFunk!. Soul of Oakland, Lead Strategic Planner 

He is a native of Oakland,California with Southern roots in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Graduate of Clark Atlanta, in Public Relations,Theo’s vision is to share African Diaspora culture through dance, drum and music with new audiences and to make conscious contributions to the theories that link African cultural traits and traditions to African Latino, African Caribbean and African American cultures.

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. Hodari B. Davis, Dir., Youth Speaks; Duane Detterville, Oakland Maroon Arts Collective; Eric Murphy, Joyce Gordon Gallery

2. Patricia Montgomery & Michael Ross

3. Iconic Black Panther Art Exhibition

4. John Santos, Sacred Roots of Latin Jazz Concert Oct. 23 at the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland.

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

About the Co-Director/Co-Producer Bob Hercules

Bob Hercules is an independent filmmaker whose recent films include Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance and Bill T. Jones: A Good Man. The Joffrey film, narrated by Mandy Patinkin, tells the full story of the groundbreaking ballet company and their many rises and falls. It premiered in January, 2012 at the Dance on Camera Film Festival at Lincoln Center and aired on PBS’ American Masters December, 2012. A Good Man aired on American Masters in 2011 and played at many film festivals including IDFA, Silverdocs, Full Frame, DOXA and the Southern Circuit. Hercules acclaimed Forgiving Dr. Mengele (2005) won the Special Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival and has been seen in film festivals around the world.

 

About the Co-Director/Co-Producer Rita Coburn Whack 

Rita Coburn Whack is an independent filmmaker with Emmy Award winning documentaries for Curators of Culture, Remembering 47th Street and African Roots American Soil. Other documentaries have aired on C-Span and the History Channel. Under her direction Maya Angelou’s Radio Show for Oprah Radio was awarded the Women in Radio and Television Gracie Awards, “Best Radio Program” 2008, “Best Radio Host” 2009 and the “Silver World Medal” in radio New York festival

2009. Author of the novel Meant to Be (Random House Strivers Row 2002) her company RCW Media Productions, Inc. produced Maya Angelou’s Black History Month Specials distributed by Public Radio International 2011, 2012 and 2013.

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. Cephus Johnson, a.k.a Uncle Bobby, is a social justice activist at the forefront of ending police brutality in America.  He joins us to talk about the Love Not Blood Campaign.

2. Aldo Billingslea, (Othello, Ensemble), Cal Shakes production of Othello through Oct. 9.

3. Brothers Size at Theatre Rhino through October 15 at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco.  We speak to Gabriel Christian (Oshoosi Size) and LaKeidrick Wimberly (Ogun Size).

4. We close with Kirsten Johnson, director, "Cameraperson," which opened theatrically this past weekend in Landmark Cinema in San Francisco, Berkeley and at the San Rafael Film Center.