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Archive for the 'Inspiration' Category

Praying For Michael Jackson’s Spirit

I am wishing Michael Jackson Happiness in Flight.

Peace Light Grace Joy Beauty Sweetness Harmony Music Angels Blessings on The Journey……..

Love

Convocation: Artist Gathering in Austin, TX

Convocation
A Gathering of Interdisciplinary Artists Sharing Resources/Building Community Austin, Texas
June 12 - 14

The Artist Convocation will be held in the Winship Building on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. The Winship Building is located just west of San Jacinto at 23rd Street.

The cost for attending all or part of the convocation is $12
Payment can be made by cash or check during registration or at the Convocation site.

The  Artist Convocation is an opportunity for Austin based artists of all experience levels to come together to build community as they develop professionally through a series of workshops, panels, art making and networking sessions. The workshops are centered around specific disciplines and are facilitated by Austin-based artists. Some discipline based workshops offer sessions for the new and emerging artist while some are directed towards the more experienced practitioner. In addition to the discipline based workshops the Convocation brings together panels of arts professionals to discuss issues that affect artists’ careers.

The Artist Convocation is sponsored by  (A/TRC) in partnership with Sharon Bridgforth; the Department of Theater and Dance; the Center for African and African American Studies, and the hard working artists of this community who are willing to give of their time and expertise. For more information call: 512-236-0644 Schedule/Registration and more at: A/TRC.

I’m A New Dramatists Member!

I just got the big juicy news that I’m a New Dramatists! Class of 2016!
My fellow classmates are: Qui Nguyen, Michael Golamco, Sally Oswald, Richard Maxwell, Andrea Thome.

For more about New Dramatists CLICK HERE

This is a Dream come True….LIFE IS GREAT YA’LL!!

S’Kin Deep at Dixon Place

I’m elated to say I’m in dis show ya’ll….

Fridays & Saturdays, May 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 & 23* @ 7:30pm
Tickets: $20 (general), $15 (student/senior)
At Dixon Place (NYC)

*Special S’kin Deep Event!
- Reception with artists at 6:30pm +talk back after show =$30
SKin DEEP postcard
S’Kin DEEP is a soulful dance refracting notions of heritage, beauty, tribal energy and ancestral memories. Baraka de Soleil / D UNDERBELLY’s newest project summons up indigenous physical & ambient sensations from Africa, Australia & the Americas, as SK’in DEEP interweaves a powerful landscape of spirited loose-limbed bodies energized by jazz theater pioneer Sharon Bridgforth’s poetic text & innovative percussionist Jmy Lopez’s otherworldly rhythms.
SKin DEEP
D UNDERBELLY exists as an ever-fluid underground network of artists of color celebrating its tenth year of developing performative experiences for theatre, dance, site-specific and alternative spaces. Founded by award-winning choreographer, performance artist & curator, Baraka de Soleil, this network has premiered a dynamic range of projects including: Tagg’n, N This Hous, First Dark Drama, Koool-aid Luv Odyssey, Egress and has been in residence at: Brooklyn Arts Exchange; Dixon Place; Ontological Hysteric Theatre; Tribeca Performing Arts Center; & Queens Museum of Art. Currently based in Brooklyn, Ny, D UNDERBELLY’S continuum spans a multidiscipline range of artists - from spoken word performers to musical artists - who are very engaged in the act of inter-disciplined exploration in order to develop investigative practices & processes that allow for communal exchange and enlightening discovery. The name references ‘the underbelly of a slave ship’; excavating the energy that surfaces from our cultural experiences.

BARAKA DE SOLEIL has been involved in the experimental movement, music and performance art scene, throughout the country and internationally, for the past 15 years. His artistry reflects moving images excavated from the multilayered traditions of the African diaspora, immersed in an urban contemporary reality; actively crafting from ancestral memories, post-modern aesthetics and cultural legacies He currently curates the multi-disciplined series, Studies N Black, and freelances as a teaching artist throughout the country. For his choreographic work on Sango: Lord of Thunder, Baraka was awarded the prestigious Katherine Dunham choreography/AUDELCO for excellence in Black Theatre at the 34th annual VIV ceremony.

Made possible with generous support from The Greenwall Foundation, the Jerome Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Laurie Carlos & The Austin Project

The Austin Project
Jam Sessions Performance/Poetry/Movement

Took place April 26, 2009 at the Off Center
with: Lidia Marte, Elvia Mendoza, Samiya Bashir, Stephanie Lang, Senalka McDonald, Matt Richardson, Jacqueline Smith, Czarina Thelen

Producer: Joni L. Jones/Omi Osun Olomo
Anchor Artist: Sharon Bridgforth
Director: Florinda Bryant
JAM INDEED THEY DID!!! What a time! Thanks to Ana Lara for the photos

TAP09.jpg

These photos are from The Performing Blackness Series Presentation of:
Washed Written and Performed by Laurie Carlos
With an opening presentation by The Austin Project/Featuring:
Lidia Marte, Elvia Mendoza, Samiya Bashir, Stephanie Lang,
Senalka McDonald, Matt Richardson, Jacqueline Smith and Czarina Thelen
Saturday, April 18, 2009 8PM

These events are sponsored by The John Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, University of Texas Austin

Black Lavender Experience

A staged reading of con flama was directed by the legendary Robbie McCauley (for more about con flama see my scripts page) during The Black Lavender Experience, at Rites and Reason Theatre April 2nd thru April 5th, 2009. It was an AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!

I plan to attend every Black Lavender Experience/always! Below is what went on this year. Stay tuned for future BLX at: Rites and Reason
Black Lavender 2.jpg

Sippn On Ink

I’ma be on Sippn On Ink: The Colored Chronicles blog radio tonight 3/4/09 at 8PM EST. The host is Kat Williams ….check us out.
You can also download the podcast from iTunes.

Robbie McCauley Performed In Austin!

Legendary Theatre Artist Robbie McCauley performed a workshop presentation of Sugar at UT Austin, Thanks to the Department of Theatre and Dance and The John Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, UT Austin.

For more about Robbie http://www.emerson.edu/admission/graduate/academics/Robbie-McCauley.cfm”> CLICK HERE

Four Women of Color Receive Tenure


Congratulations to the big four: John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies Faculty/Women of Color who were promoted to Associate Professors with tenure!
Dr. Juliet Hooker, Government
Dr. Deborah Paredez, Theatre and Dance
Dr. Shirley Thompson, American Studies
Dr. Jennifer Wilks, English
These photos are from a Celebration in their honor February 6, 2009 at the ISESE Gallery/Warfield Center.

These exemplary scholars embody the highest standards of academic excellence that characterize the work of the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies.

The Warfield Center is working with Art and Art History to hire an
Assistant Professor of African Diasporic Art.

Assistant Professor. Art of the African Diaspora. Candidate will join
African-Americanist, Africanist, Chicano/a specialist, and Latin
Americanist in 22-member art history division with notable strength in
modern art and large MA and PhD programs. Candidate will bridge
departmental interests linguistically, regionally, and theoretically.
Candidate should have a Ph.D. and demonstrated excellence in research
and in teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Salary
commensurate with experience. Start September 1, 2009. Responsibilities
include undergraduate and graduate teaching (typically two courses a
semester), scholarly research, student advising, and professional
service. Large MA and PhD programs.

FOR MORE GO TO: CAAAS

Ana Sisnett

I met Ana around 1991. Ana’s hard work and vision are part of why Austin is such a progressive and cool place to life. I am Blessed to say that Ana played an instrumental role in my Live as a queer woman/artist of color here in Austin. Back in the day when I was terrified of reading in public/Ana used to hold my hand and tell me I could do it (this happened many times at La Pena as I hyperventaled just before reading)…she was the person that showed me how to use the internet…she gave me access to my first Apple computer (back then it was a two ton big ole thing)…she was the first blogger that i worked with (2003)…she was always there/always encouraging me-and so many others…Ana has always been an Angel…she is now our Mermaid in the Sky….Love Light Peace Blessing on Your Journey Ms. Ana


Austin American Statesmen
Austin Chronicle

Ana Sisnett’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to one of the following causes in Ana’s honor:

The Care Communities
7215 Cameron Road
Austin, Texas  78752

Austin Free-Net
2209 Rosewood Ave.
Austin, TX 78702

Contributions to cover Ana’s medical expenses and final arrangements may be made to:
Priscilla Hale
P.O. Box 6149
Austin, TX 78762

For more information go to: allgo.org