philly1.com: your place in the city - philadelphia - pa

Art Sanctuary presents Celebration of Black Writing


In its mission to draw inspiration from black culture in Philadelphia, an arts organization is offering its yearly breakout conversation among artists, writers and citizens. This year they teamed up with The community media access leader PhillyCam to record and air event. https://phillycam.org/  

PhillyCAM Studio Address

The 28th annual Celebration of Black Writing, which began Monday and continues until June 2, attracts creative people from many realms - performance and spoken-word artists, authors, editors, journalists, musicians and other cultural craftspeople. Its events cover a wide window of African-American artistic expression and technique, including performances, readings and film screenings, chick lit, advocacy journalism, urban fiction and black mental health. http://artsanctuary.org

“We address the issues and things that are happening in and around the black community through the lens of arts and culture,” said its managing director Tarana Burke. “It’s not just a black festival ... The same issues that are affecting people in the African-American community are affecting people in general.”

Art Sanctuary, the Philadelphia arts organization that took over the event in 1999, planned the celebration in coordination with its yearlong theme, “Growing from Good to Great.” The theme was inspired by changes within the organization.

“We moved into a new building, we’ve expanded our programming, we’ve expanded our reach around the city,” Burke said. Those changes influenced Art Sanctuary’s programming concept. “We wanted a theme to express that this transition is not a bad thing.”

In past celebrations, a feature event honored individuals whose work moved their communities in a positive direction. This year on June 1, two magazines — JET and Ebony — will be spotlighted as well as the lifetime achievement of writer Marita Golden.

Golden’s first book, Migrations of the Heart, told of her coming of age during the 1960s and her political activism as well as her marriage to a Nigerian. She is being honored for her work with The Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation, a resource center for writers, readers, and supporters of Black literature. It provides culturally sensitive services and guidance for black writers at every stage of their development, according to a spokeswoman for the sanctuary. Founded in 1990 by novelist Golden and bibliophile Clyde McElvene, the foundation’s mission is to discover, develop, and honor Black writers.

The celebration is founded in literary discussions and workshops, but the organizers have also injected pop culture and entertainment into the mix.

“It’s less a conference and more a festival,” Burke said.

Along with appearances by featured guests like artist Theaster Gates and author Bernice McFadden, the event will include events with rising star Issa Rae (The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl) and Deborah Gregory, creator of the book series turned Disney franchis, The Cheetah Girls. Gregory will speak with young girls about empowerment, Burke said.


CBW: Workshops & Panels
 
June 2, 2012

10:30 a.m. – noon

Reading & Discussion:  Blockson Collection

Featured Author: Haki Madhubuti

Moderator: Greg Carr, Associate Professor of Afro-American Studies at Howard University

 

10:30 a.m. – noon

Advocacy Journalism
Panelists: Linn Washington, Akiba Solomon

Moderator: Annette John-Hall, Philadelphia Inquirer

 

10:30 a.m. – noon

Workshop with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, featuring Deborah Gregory, author of ‘The Cheetah Girls’

 

10:30 a.m. – noon

Writing From Your Spiritual Axis

Facilitator: Bernice McFadden

This workshop will focus on harvesting the power of creativity. McFadden believes that deep writing does not come from the mind; rather, it comes from the spirit or the soul that has memories of which we are unaware. Attendees will learn how to cull those memories using various writing and meditation exercises.

 

Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Growing from Good to Great: Reading, Writing and Community

Panelists: Marita Golden, Bernice McFadden, Malaika Adero and Kevin Powell
Moderator: April Silver

 

 

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Publisher’s Open Call: Max Rodriguez

 

Editors from HBF Publishers in association with Harlem Book Fair will see writers, consider manuscripts for publication, and give professional advice to writers. Bring a one-page synopsis and/or the first ten pages of your fiction or non-fiction manuscript for a twenty-minute consultation. Registration is required.

 

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Finding a Better Business Model

Panelists :  Nakea Murray (literary consultant); Shadeqa Johnson (author) and Malaika Adero.

As it gets tougher to sell books and e-books, publishers find new ways to publish and market.  How does it affect what you write and read?  How they are finding a better business model in order to sell books.

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

What is Urban Fiction?

Moderator: Vanessa J. Morris

 

Where do we draw the line? Is it too gratuitous? Is it too graphic or sexual? Does it exploit the urban narrative? Is it considered true literature? If an urban novel is too graphic does that negate its literary value? How does or doesn’t urban fiction affect the literary life in the urban community? Answer these questions and more.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Black Mental Health

Panelists: Charlotte Pierce Baker and Bassey Ikpi




Family Pavilion (pre-school to 4th grade activities)

Saturday morning will be filled with fun, free family activities for children. Arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting, and more!

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Family Pavilion (Middle to High School activities)

The afternoon is for the young people with young adult author readings and signings, breakdancing, bucket drumming and all other sorts of literary and artistic entertainment.

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Mainstage

Throughout the afternoon, the Mainstage will come alive with music performances, literary discussions, poetry, hip hop, and featured dancers.  We promise to keep you entertained all day!


Views: 41

Comment

You need to be a member of philly1.com: your place in the city - philadelphia - pa to add comments!

Join philly1.com: your place in the city - philadelphia - pa

Medical Office Space Available

Rancocas Valley Professional Arts Building: Medical Office Space Available

Medical Office Space Available in a thriving Medical Arts Building on Hospital Campus Located in Willingboro, NJ minutes from the NJ Turnpike, I-295 and the Route 130 Corridor, the Rancocas Valley Professional Arts Building sits on a bustling hospital campus, and is home to a variety of specialties.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/off/3712617931.html

Links & Essentials

© 2013   Created by Harry B. Cook.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

Sign in to chat!