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Part of JACK's year-long series, Reparations365 through song, spontaneous art, projection, and essay, BLACK STREET explores the historical eradication and systematic destruction of an African American economy, education, and progressive labour force on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 pm.
The evening features performance by blues and soul singer Martha Redbone and Fred Cash (on bass), with live sketching by artist Ajamu Kojo, plus essays by and conversation with curator Carl Hancock Rux
TICKETS: $15 (in advance at www.jackny.org or cash only at the door)
LOCATION: JACK | 505 ½ Waverly Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238 | C or G train to Clinton-Washington
BIOS:Martha Redbone is a maverick artist who has never been chained by borders. Her award-winning music of Native and African American roots knee-deep in Appalachian folk and Piedmont blues favored by the matriarchy that raised her on a rich sojourn from Harlan County, Kentucky to streets of Brooklyn. Mentored by the late Walter "Junie" Morrison of Ohio Players/Parliament Funkadelic, Redbone has earned a solid reputation as a sought-after collaborator. Her current album, The Garden Of Love - The Songs of William Blake, traces the sonic path of her roots. Currently in development is Bone Hill, commissioned by Joe's Pub/Public Theater, inspired by her own family lineage in Appalachia, connections to one's homeland bringing to light an important piece of American history that has remained untold. Alongside her career as a recording artist and songwriter Redbone has maintained a steady involvement with causes she believes in for fundraising and leadership. She is a proud member of WHYHunger.org's Artist Against Hunger and Poverty program. Ms. Redbone is also a contracted teacher specializing in Southeastern Tribal Traditional Music for the State of Louisiana's Department of Indian Education for the United Houma Nation's Cultural Enrichment Summer Camp program teaching elementary school children the music from her own Southeastern (Choctaw/Cherokee) culture as well as working with the tribe's own Houma-French language. For more info, visit SROartists.com/martharedbone
Ajamu Kojo is a visual artist originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. His solo exhibition "Black Wall Street: A Case for Reparations" featured six pieces depicting descendants of Tulsa's Black Wall Street through live subjects and was presented at the Sheen Center in Manhattan in January/February 2017.Carl Hancock Rux (Co-Curator, Reparations365) is an award-winning poet, performer, playwright and novelist. He is the author of the novel, ASPHALT, the OBIE Award-winning play, TALK, and the Village Voice Literary prize-winning collection of poetry, PAGAN OPERETTA. Mr. Rux is the recipient of the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts, The New York Foundation for the Arts Prize, and the Bessie Schomburg Award, NEA/TCG Playwright in Residence fellowship and the NEA Leadership Initiatives Meet the Composer Grant, among other awards.
REPARATIONS365
Reparations365: From Memory To Movement is JACK's year-long series of performances, workshops and discussions around the topic of distributive justice for Black Americans. Launched in February 2017, the series consists of at least 20 public offerings featuring a convergence of scholars, artists and activists. Through the series, participants will discover multiple ways to engage with the topic, all with an intention of offering tangible take-ways for participants and a concrete movement forward.
