Rounding Out Black History Month: Weekend Events

Ain'a That Good News!
February 27 - 7:30 PM - Hanes Auditorium at Salem College - Winston-Salem
Piedmont Chamber Singers joins with One Voice to explore the magnificent legacy of music by African Americans. From spirituals to jazz and modern Gospel, black musicians have been at the core of America’s musical culture. The concert includes works by such notable composers as Harry T. Burleigh, William Levy Dawson, and Moses Hogan. From quiet meditation to rousing merriment, this program will include both the familiar and the new in a heartfelt tribute to a great musical tradition.
Cost: . 722-4022.

La Revue Negre: The Josephine Baker Story
February 27 at 7:30 PM and February 28 at 3 PM -Greensboro Historical Museum- Greensboro
Celebrating both Black History and Woman's History Month, Actress Ashanti White's one-woman review shares the story of the life and accomplishments of Josephine Baker. Ms. White has been hailed as the Zora Neale Hurston of her generation. She is an actress, dancer, poet and published author with local connections who currently lives in Atlanta.
Cost: $5.00.

Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation
Through March 5 - Friends of the UNCG Library - Jackson Library at UNCG - Greensboro
A new traveling exhibition opening on Jan. 25 traces Abraham Lincoln’s gradual transformation from an antislavery moderate into “The Great Emancipator.” In conjunction with the exhibition, the University Libraries are bringing several speakers to campus.
Call 334-5304.

The One-Eyed Monkey

Powerful video by storyteller Mallika Sarabhai who believes the best way to effect change of many kinds is through art (thanks to Doug Borwick for the link to the video!)

Local Notable Blog Posts

From the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership

From ARTStem

Young Americans: The Performance

I headed on over to the Anderson Center this weekend for Young Americans: The Performance. Andre Minkins has written a play, which he also directed over the weekend, inspired by the photographs of Sheila Pree Bright. The play was performed by WSSU and high school students as well as adult volunteers. It was so heartening to see members of our community working with local students to elaborate and expand upon work from a nationally renown artist.

Another great feature of the matinee performance was the collaborative effort of a few key community organizations to get the news out there and show their relevance to the project. The performance Young Americans was not only inspired by the exhibit but also the writings of students involved with Authoring Action, a youth authors institute cofounded by Nathan Ross Freeman and Lynn Rhoades. StoryLine was also out showcasing the bus and providing support for the event. And of course, Diggs Gallery's exhibit served as inspiration.

I haven't had a chance to check out the exhibit yet at Diggs but from the few photographs I've seen, it seems to portray a subtly strong message that America's youth are mature in their expression of who they are and understand well their relationship to America, however varied it may be from young person to young person. The actors in Young Americans: The Performance seem to have also better shaped their understanding of what America is, and will be, as they become adult leaders.

Mark Your Calendars!

For those interested in creating community arts projects, mark your calendars for the first ever Amnesty International Human Rights Arts Festival! Scheduled for April 23-25 in Silver Spring, Maryland (right outside D.C.), this is a rare opportunity to view work by over 90 artists and 50 arts organizations in theater, film, dance, visual arts, and music who all are presenting work related to human rights.

You really must check out the list of participants, as many of the organizations and artists are well known for their socially-minded art. Who is up for caravaning to D.C. for the event?

Social Innovation Fund: Matching Grants

The Social Innovation Fund, a new public-private collaboration created by the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, is designed to create new knowledge about how to solve social challenges in the areas of economic opportunity, youth development and school support, and healthy futures, and to improve our nation’s problem-solving infrastructure in low-income communities.

Community organizations will receive financial support from intermediaries on the order of no less than $100,000 per year for three to five years, as well as strategic support in areas such as management, and evaluation. Community organizations must also provide a 1:1 cash match for the total amount—Federal and private dollars—they receive from the intermediaries.

The Notice of Funds Available is scheduled to release in February 2010.

What an excellent opportunity to venture into a well-funded project that solves community issues through the arts. Not too many details are available right now on the Corporation for National & Community Service website, but be sure to check back in February.

Piedmont Interfaith Council Activities

Piedmont Interfaith Council invites students to join the Children's Tapestry Chorus any time. Rehearsals just started January 5th. However, you can't miss out on "Loving God--Loving Neighbors," the once-a-year observance of World Religion Day, which will be held this Sunday at 3 PM. Check out the above links for more details.

World Religion Day 2009 by Sharon Hodgson