Wanda's Picks Wed., November 18, 2015

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!

Link: http://tobtr.com/s/8044801

1.Interdisciplinary artist Lindsay C. Harris was born in Southern California in 1986 and raised in Santa Fe, NM.  Receiving her B.A. in Africana Studies; Art from Vassar College and M.A. in Arts Politics from NYU, she is an arts educator, writer, critical thinker, cultural worker, comedian, designer, and performer.

Her Evoking the Mulatto is a multiplatform narrative and visual art project examining black mixed identity in the 21st century, through the lens of the history of racial classification in the United States.

The series culminates Thursday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 pm in a screening of all four episodes of Evoking the Mulatto followed by a panel discussion featuring Harris, a project interviewee, and New School Director of Office of Civic Engagement and Social Justice Judy Pryor-Ramirez at the YouTube Space NY. The panel will be moderated by cultural programmer and arts administrator Maura Cuffie. The event will be live streamed on NBPC’s YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/user/NBPC

"Blue Ink Trees," Malik Seneferu, artist

2. Malik Seneferu, internationally renowned artist, joins us to talk about "Home Coming," his current exhibition at the African American Art and Culture Complex in San Francisco, opening Nov. 20. Home Coming showcases several of Seneferu's explorations into art making. Mostly known for his paintings this exhibition concentrates on Seneferu's ballpoint pen drawings and miniature hand carved sculptures made from ivory soap and wood.


3. Isaura Oliveira, respected and celebrated Brazilian choreographer and educator, brings Bahia to the Bay Area this month culminating with free programs this week.

Ms. Oliveira- Artistic Director and choreographer, was born in Salvador-Bahia, the cradle of African Brazilian culture, where African traditions and the arts are constantly maintained and nourished. This is exactly from where and how Isaura built her cultural-artistic experience. Isaura also has a BFA in Dance from Universidade Federal da Bahia, where she worked as performer, researcher and community dance instructor. She has devoted her extraordinary talents to work in academic, artistic, community, educational and health venues. A multidisciplinary artist, Isaura is an actress, dancer, choreographer, costume designer and cultural educator.

Isaura appeared in a PBS and BBC-TVs documentary "Dancing #5: New Worlds, New Forms" in 1993, as the representative for Brazilian dance. Her classes, lecturers, and performances left a lasting impression at Smith, Radcliffe, Wellesley Colleges; Brown, Wesleyan University, University of Massachusetts-Boston, Stanford, UC Riverside University; as well among several community venues such the Motion Pacific in Santa Cruz-CA, Spontaneous Celebrations and The Dance Complex in MA.

Isaura performed ANCESTRAIS - her acclaimed solo performance of dance, theater and multi-media, on the Festival Cantar da Costa in Genoa, Italy and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Kresgie Auditorium in 2001. In California, Ms. Oliveira choreographed Dimensions Dance Theater for Down the Congo Line Project:"CONGO IN BRASIL". As cultural educator, she teaches and choreographs for youth and adults. While Oliveira's work as a performer and choreographer demonstrates deep ties to the language of dance, music and experimental theater, the concept and narrative of her creations are genuinely rooted on the spirituality and culture of African Brazilian roots.


Week three:  

Friday, Nov. 20- FREE Concerts:  
6:30pm Teatro Brasileiro de Dança: the Bahia in Oakland Collective: "de corpo e alma"  and  
7:00pm Namorados da Lua- Brazilian Band
Hosted by Friday's @ OMCA -Oakland Museum of CA.

Sunday, November 22: Closing Festival

11 am - Introductory remarks by Dr. Yvonne Daniel & Dr. Sheila Walker.
Guest of honor MESTRE ACORDEON,  speaks on History of Capoeira and his many stories not told yet

 In acknowledgement to the work of: Mestre José Lorenzo e Mestre Themba.

2 p.m. Live Samba de Roda and fresh African-Brazilian cuisine included the ACARAJÉ of Baba Carlinhos  @ Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland, CA

Further info: isaurabrasil@hotmail.com  Facebook: Teatro Brasileiro de Dança: the BAHIA in OAKLAND Collective