BWW Previews: THREE INFLUENTIAL FILMS OF ARTISTS OF COLOR HIGHLIGHTED DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH at The Straz Center For The Performing Art's TECO Theater

As part of a means to celebrate the rich and beautiful diversity in Tampa Bay, The Straz Center created The Straz Arts Legacy REMIX Project, where writers, actors, musicians, singers, and dancers join together to perform for a free event showcasing a particular culture. During February's Black History month, The Straz Arts Legacy REMIX Project will celebrate artists of color on screen by showing three influential films in TECO Theatre 3-5pm on February 3, 10, and 17.

Sponsored by Publix and Downtown Partnership, lead in part by Fred Johnson, Artist-in-Residence at The Straz Center, following each film series presentation, a talkback will occur.

Fred said, "We are proud to celebrate key African-American artists and their contributions. Each of the programs is a combination of the showing of the film and a Q & A with a panel.

We are excited to create a forum for celebration and learning. It also opens up an opportunity for us to have a conversation about some of the new emerging filmmakers in the Tampa Bay area. It's a unique and up close and personal celebration and a broader overview of some African-American artists that really made a difference."

February 3 will highlight clips from John Singleton's drama Rosewood, filmed outside of Tampa and based on actual events depicting African-American prosperity following emancipation in Rosewood, FL in 1923 where a black town was burned to the ground and its residence killed because of a lie. Members of the community who participated in the film will be part of the talkback panel.

February 10 will showcase Stormy Weather, a musical made in 1943 that is part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry for its cultural and social significance. Patrons can watch excerpts featuring a star-studded cast including Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Katherine Dunham, Fats Waller, Nicholas Brothers, Ada Brown, and Dooley Wilson.

On February 17, Tampa artist and historian Myron Jackson will moderate a special tribute to the First Poet Laureate of City of Tampa and Hillsborough County, James E. Tokley, Sr. The event also features snippets of James' film Jump at the Sun, a look at the life and times of Zora Neal Hurston.

"We're really excited to create an opportunity for our community to see themselves celebrated and appreciated. The Straz is committed to expanding our reach and expanding the opportunities for our community to celebrate themselves and to celebrate the arts," said Fred. "I firmly believe that the things that are different about us make the human experience more beautiful."

The Straz Arts Legacy REMIX Project's Black Artists Film Series is February 3-17 at 3-5pm at TECO Theatre, 1010 N Macinnes Place. Learn more and RSVP For February's free events here: www.strazcenter.org/Events/Straz/Shows/Other-Straz-Center-Events/Arts-Legacy-REMIX/African-American-Artists-Film

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