Wanda's Picks August 8, 2012

Today we are continuing our conversation with Fiberalchemist April Martin-Chartrand; we then shift to an interview with three women artists, playwright Mfoniso Udofia, Erin Michelle Washington, Arts Organizer, Soul Productions, and Itero Udofia, director, MoAD Youth Media Project. We conclude with a special conversation with Michael Africa Jr., born 34 years ago, a month after the date of the unlawful detention of his parents, Debbie and Michael Africa Sr., and other MOVE 9 family.

Bios:
April Martin Chartrand, Fiberalchemist, Author, and Illustrator presents "Fiberalchemy" as way to express her artistic creation. Her work ranges from chemical textile painting & sculptural sewing (wall relief) which incorporates found object assemblage, digital art graphics, and poetic expressions. She views textile as object - a finite end in itself that need not seek completion by being part of something else. This medium can be molded into countless forms to express the full range of human emotions and also disrupts that which is precious. This self-taught chemical painting and sewing process allows her freedom to create a wide array of textural surfaces ranging from very soft-paper texture to a thick leather quality which is perfect for the 2-demensional hand-painted and sewn wall sculptures, and mix-media paintings.Ms. Chartrand is a national award-winning fiberalchemist (She placed 1st place in Textile Division at the Atlanta Life Insurance Company’s Annual Art Competition.): Her winning work "Sailing on Motion" is housed in the Atlanta Life Insurance Companies’ private collection in Atlanta, GA. To continue, she is a published author of "Angel’s Destiny: A Novel Story of Poems & Illustrations" (2009 - ISBN 978-061-530-2515) which is currently available on Amazon.com, CreateSpace.com, Alexander Books, and Books Inc. (Market Street & California Street locations) San Francisco, CA. Finally, her "Afikamono" art series was featured at San Francisco City Hall’s – lower level gallery in 2000.

In 2002 Chartrand was a featured artist on KRON TV News Health segment, "Art, AIDS & African Americans" for her "Condom Card Project." In 1999 Chartrand was featured in Emerge Magazine for her community role as an artist and activist. To continue, her radio and television appearances include: KQED Radio Forum, KUSF Radio, KTVU TV #2 10:00 pm News, KTVU TV #2 Bay Area People (Afrikamono Series was featured), and KRON #4 Bay Area Back Roads (‘Travel’s Tails Series’: This segment featured the "Allen Allensworth State Historic Park.").

On April 1, 2010 she received a San Francisco City and County "Certificate of Honor" penned by Mayor Gavin Newsom and July 1, 1997 she received a proclamation day - "April Martin Chartrand Day in San Francisco" penned by Mayor Willie Lewis Brown, Jr.

Mfoniso Udofia is a New York based storyteller, actor, slam-poet and teaching artist. She attended Wellesley College for Political Science and obtained her MFA in Acting from San Francisco's award winning, American Conservatory Theater. During this stay in the Bay Area, Udofia pioneered a youth initiative, The Nia Project, which provided artistic outlets for youth residing in Bayview/Huntspoint and she became a regular player in the underground slam scene. Ms. Udofia is currently completing a trilogy chronicling the lives of a traditional Nigerian family transplanted in America. The first play in this installation, The Grove, is a 2012 Eugene O'Neill National Playwright's Conference semi-finalist. Also, Udofia's feature film Fred, in which she plays VIctoria and, starring Elliot Gould, will headline the 2012 Edinburgh Festival! Follow her @mfudofia and keep up on the scoop at www.mfonisoudofia.com

Erin Washington is currently at Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a Fair Apprentice for the American Revolutions Cycle, specifically focusing on engagement around “Party People” by Universes. She just finished a New Play Producing Fellowship in the American Voices New Play Institute at Arena Stage. She graduated from Florida A&M University with a BA in Theater and later received her MFA in Acting from American Conservatory Theater where she grew her passion for the arts. In 2009, Erin started Soul Productions, a production company that exposes urban communities to emerging independent artists who are pioneering new approaches to music, theater, and film.

Commentaries from Delbert Africa on MOVE 9. He gives us this number to call to demand their immediate parole: 717-772-4343; Mumia Abu Jamal also reflects on the 34th Anniversary of the MOVE 9. Visit prisonradio.org

Music: Billy Harper's Knowledge of Self featuring Amiri Baraka.

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