DC North | June 2007 | Arts Briefs

Arts Brief

by: Brandi Forte

The Third Annual National Underground Spokenword Poetry Award Show took place on June 2, in Arlington, Va., and honored several DC spokenword artists, authors and poets for their commitment, talent and creativity to preserve poetry as a global art form. With breathtaking performances by rapper/actress/activist Princess of Controversy, to presentations by WHUR’s radio host Joe Gorham of Joe’s Place, local artists were represented from 14th and U, NW to Brookland Station, NE.

“This is our Grammy’s,” said Larry Neal Award Winning Playwright Papi Kymone Freeman. “This is a beautiful platform where our people can be free, where we can pay homage to the art form of poetry.”

Both Freeman and Princess are respected artists, who, in addition to using their poetry for self-promotion, are artivists: a raw combination of an artist and activist. Princess continuously delivers her hip-hop/spokenword message as an educator with the Latin American Youth Center and as a public speaker who travels to District schools delivering messages of self-esteem and destiny.

Freeman – a local playwright, poet and educator – is noted for his award-winning play, “Prison Poetry,” that speaks to the lives of three men who divinely share the same jail cell for one night, and in that experience they articulate their struggles and triumphs.

Kanniki Jakarta, founder of NUSPA, understands the purpose and the future of poetry as it is already a global phenomenon.

“Poets are making this craft visible in every talk of life from coffeehouses to Broadway. With all the accomplishments being accumulated by our contemporaries, we at Great Publishing saw it both as our opportunity and duty to establish this ceremony in honor of those who have plowed the field, tilled the soil and planted the seeds that are blooming before the eyes of the of the world in what we know as spokenword,” said Jakarta.

With 16 categories and a wealth of nominations, presentations and anticipated performances by local spokenword artists, authors and writers, the NUSPA Award Show is the only local and national poetry and spokenword award show in the country.

“NUSPA is about maintaining the integrity of the art/artists. NUSPA is about letting talented individuals and groups know that their gifts do not go unnoticed. Last and most importantly, NUSPA is about encouraging you to continue forging the paths that make room for others to dream,” said Jakarta.

For more information on NUSPA, go to www.greatpublishing.com. To contact Papi Kimone Freeman, e-mail kymone@prisonpoetry-theplay.com. To contact Princess of Controversy, e-mail princessofcontroversy2004@yahoo.com

DanceAfrica DC Celebrates its 20th Annual Festival
DanceAfrica DC’s 20th annual festival celebrates the dance and music of the African Diaspora from June 9-10 at the Dance Place in Northeast, DC. Hosted by Chuck Davis, artistic director and festival griot, the festival honors African dance in its traditional heritage and its transformation into contemporary forms.

The vitality and richness of African culture is experienced through dance, music, visual arts, food, clothing and crafts. Through master classes, outreach to school children, a performance series and an African marketplace, DanceAfrica DC promotes a greater understanding of African culture and illuminates its importance to this city and the nation. This event is sponsored by Target and supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the many foundations that support Dance Place/Next Generation Programs.

Tickets for Target Family Series matinees: $15/advance, $20/day of, $7/children 17 and under. Each paying adult may reserve a free ticket for one child 12 and under. Tickets for evening performances: $25/advance, $30/day of, $10/children 17 and under. To reserve tickets, call the box office at 202-269-1600.

Dance Place is located at 3225 Eighth St., NE. For more information, call 202-269-1600, or visit www.danceplace.org.

ART in Bloom

CVS/Pharmacy Supports DC Youth Artists With Disabilities
WVSA ARTiculate ARTists Apprentices are displaying 30 original artworks, in 30 major DC-area CVS/pharmacy stores, to promote their June 14-Aug. 9 show, “ART in Bloom,” which is being sponsored by CVS All Kids Can and VSA arts.

WVSA (formerly Washington Very Special Arts) is a private alternative school for students with disabilities that encourages learning through the arts. This show will give these students an opportunity to share their artwork with the public, while allowing them to demonstrate the life and career skills gained from the ARTiculate Employment Training Program at WVSA. Students receive a commission on the work they sell, and the remaining revenue supports the program.

Now CVS/pharmacy customers have a chance to enter their most compelling photographs to win a free commissioned painting. These ARTiculate ARTists Apprentices will transform the four most creative photographs to a painting. Winners are invited to the gallery opening to view their paintings for the first time and meet the artists.

Opening night reception is on June 14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. At the opening reception, commissioners and the general public will view commissioned images for the first time, meet the artists and enjoy live music and refreshments. The gallery, located at 1100 16th St., NW, is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more info on WVSA arts connection, call 202-261-0233 or visit www.wvsarts.org.

“Under the Radar”: A Survey of Afro-Cuban Music
The Black Docs Film Series presents “Under the Radar,” a documentary film that introduces viewers to the history of Afro-Cuban music and samples Cuba's current music scene. The documentary will be screened on June 28 at Landmark Theatre’s E Street Cinema, located at 555 11th St., NW. The film's producer/director, jazz saxophonist J. Plunky Branch, documents and highlights the musical collaborations of Afro-Cuban musicians and rappers with noted Afro-American jazz musicians and hip-hop producer Sir Fire. Branch, Sir Fire and Executive Producer Alvin Bailey traveled to Havana, Guantanamo and Santiago de Cuba, to record a variety of Afro-Cuban artists performing and sharing music, history and culture; and interacting under the radar.

“Never before have so many hot topics been encompassed in one program, providing an outlet for independent filmmakers who too often have little or no opportunities for exposure of documentaries of this sort,” says Corey Jennings the founder and project coordinator for Black Docs.

For more information about the Black Docs Film Series, call 202-409-7240, or visit www.urbanfilmseries.com.


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Arts Brief

by: Brandi Forte
The Third Annual National Underground Spokenword Poetry Award Show took place on June 2, in Arlington, Va., and honored several DC spokenword artists, authors and poets for their commitment, talent and creativity to preserve poetry as a global art form. With breathtaking performances by rapper/actress/activist Princess of Controversy, to presentations by WHUR’s radio host Joe Gorham of Joe’s Place, local artists were represented from 14th and U, NW to Brookland Station, NE. “This is our Grammy’s,” said Larry Neal Award Winning Playwright Papi Kymone Freeman. “This is a beautiful platform where our people can be free, where we can pay homage to the art form of poetry.” Both Freeman and Princess are respected artists, who, in addition to using their poetry for self-promotion, are artivists: a raw combination of an artist and activist. Princess continuously delivers her hip-hop/spokenword message as an educator with the Latin American Youth Center and as a public speaker who travels to District schools delivering messages of self-esteem and destiny. Freeman – a local playwright, poet and educator – is noted for his award-winning play, “Prison Poetry,” that speaks to the lives of three men who divinely share the same jail cell for one night, and in that experience they articulate their struggles and triumphs. Kanniki Jakarta, founder of NUSPA, understands the purpose and the future of poetry as it is already a global phenomenon. “Poets are making this craft visible in every talk of life from coffeehouses to Broadway. With all the accomplishments being accumulated by our contemporaries, we at Great Publishing saw it both as our opportunity and duty to establish this ceremony in honor of those who have plowed the field, tilled the soil and planted the seeds that are blooming before the eyes of the of the world in what we know as spokenword,” said Jakarta. With 16 categories and a wealth of nominations, presentations and anticipated performances by local spokenword artists, authors and writers, the NUSPA Award Show is the only local and national poetry and spokenword award show in the country. “NUSPA is about maintaining the integrity of the art/artists. NUSPA is about letting talented individuals and groups know that their gifts do not go unnoticed. Last and most importantly, NUSPA is about encouraging you to continue forging the paths that make room for others to dream,” said Jakarta. For more information on NUSPA, go to www.greatpublishing.com. To contact Papi Kimone Freeman, e-mail kymone@prisonpoetry-theplay.com. To contact Princess of Controversy, e-mail princessofcontroversy2004@yahoo.com DanceAfrica DC Celebrates its 20th Annual Festival DanceAfrica DC’s 20th annual festival celebrates the dance and music of the African Diaspora from June 9-10 at the Dance Place in Northeast, DC. Hosted by Chuck Davis, artistic director and festival griot, the festival honors African dance in its traditional heritage and its transformation into contemporary forms. The vitality and richness of African culture is experienced through dance, music, visual arts, food, clothing and crafts. Through master classes, outreach to school children, a performance series and an African marketplace, DanceAfrica DC promotes a greater understanding of African culture and illuminates its importance to this city and the nation. This event is sponsored by Target and supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the many foundations that support Dance Place/Next Generation Programs. Tickets for Target Family Series matinees: $15/advance, $20/day of, $7/children 17 and under. Each paying adult may reserve a free ticket for one child 12 and under. Tickets for evening performances: $25/advance, $30/day of, $10/children 17 and under. To reserve tickets, call the box office at 202-269-1600. Dance Place is located at 3225 Eighth St., NE. For more information, call 202-269-1600, or visit www.danceplace.org. ART in Bloom CVS/Pharmacy Supports DC Youth Artists With Disabilities WVSA ARTiculate ARTists Apprentices are displaying 30 original artworks, in 30 major DC-area CVS/pharmacy stores, to promote their June 14-Aug. 9 show, “ART in Bloom,” which is being sponsored by CVS All Kids Can and VSA arts. WVSA (formerly Washington Very Special Arts) is a private alternative school for students with disabilities that encourages learning through the arts. This show will give these students an opportunity to share their artwork with the public, while allowing them to demonstrate the life and career skills gained from the ARTiculate Employment Training Program at WVSA. Students receive a commission on the work they sell, and the remaining revenue supports the program. Now CVS/pharmacy customers have a chance to enter their most compelling photographs to win a free commissioned painting. These ARTiculate ARTists Apprentices will transform the four most creative photographs to a painting. Winners are invited to the gallery opening to view their paintings for the first time and meet the artists. Opening night reception is on June 14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. At the opening reception, commissioners and the general public will view commissioned images for the first time, meet the artists and enjoy live music and refreshments. The gallery, located at 1100 16th St., NW, is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more info on WVSA arts connection, call 202-261-0233 or visit www.wvsarts.org. “Under the Radar”: A Survey of Afro-Cuban Music The Black Docs Film Series presents “Under the Radar,” a documentary film that introduces viewers to the history of Afro-Cuban music and samples Cuba's current music scene. The documentary will be screened on June 28 at Landmark Theatre’s E Street Cinema, located at 555 11th St., NW. The film's producer/director, jazz saxophonist J. Plunky Branch, documents and highlights the musical collaborations of Afro-Cuban musicians and rappers with noted Afro-American jazz musicians and hip-hop producer Sir Fire. Branch, Sir Fire and Executive Producer Alvin Bailey traveled to Havana, Guantanamo and Santiago de Cuba, to record a variety of Afro-Cuban artists performing and sharing music, history and culture; and interacting under the radar. “Never before have so many hot topics been encompassed in one program, providing an outlet for independent filmmakers who too often have little or no opportunities for exposure of documentaries of this sort,” says Corey Jennings the founder and project coordinator for Black Docs. For more information about the Black Docs Film Series, call 202-409-7240, or visit www.urbanfilmseries.com.