Kennedy Center presents GRACE NOTES: REFLECTIONS FOR NOW

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present Grace Notes: Reflections For Now, Carrie Mae Weems' meditative and provocative new work which explores grace in the face of racism and violence. Weems, an acclaimed photographer and multimedia artist, has created and narrates a performance rooted in music, song, video, dance, and spoken word. First commissioned by the Spoleto Festival USA, Grace Notes, has its Washington, D.C. premiere in the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater on Friday, October 20 at 8 p.m.

Inspired by President Obama singing "Amazing Grace" in the wake of the 2015 mass shooting that killed nine African American members of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC, Grace Notes explores the implications of racial violence. The work pays tribute to the young black men who have lost their lives in recent and shines a light on escalating racial tensions in communities across America.

The cast features renowned artists from across disciplines, including music director and composers Craig Harris, James Newton, and Edward Ruchalski; singers Nona Hendryx, Alicia Hall Moran, Imani Uzuri, and Eisa Davis; poets Carl Hancock Rux and Aja Monet; and dancer Francesca Harper.

About Carrie Mae Weems

Considered one of the most influential contemporary American artists, Carrie Mae Weems' work investigates family relationships, cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems and the consequences of power. For over thirty years, Weems has developed a complex body of art employing photographs, text, fabric, audio, digital images, installation and video.

In 2013 Weems received the MacArthur "Genius" grant as well as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also received the BET Honors Visual Artist award, the Lucie Award for Fine Art photography, was one of four artists honored at the Guggenheim's 2014 International Gala, a recipient of the ICP Spotlights Award from the International Center of Photography, The WEB Dubois Award from Harvard University, as well as Honorary Degrees from: California College of the Arts, Colgate University, Bowdoin College, the School of Visual Arts and Syracuse University.

She is represented in public and private collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Museum of Modern Art, NY; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; and The Tate Modern, London.

This engagement is part of JFKC: A Centennial Celebration of John F. Kennedy, the Kennedy Center's yearlong programming initiative marking the 100th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's birth and legacy, inspired by five ideals frequently attributed to America's 35th President: Courage, Freedom, Justice, Service, and Gratitude.

Patrons wishing to purchase tickets can do so by calling the Instant Charge office at (202) 467-4600 or by visiting www.kennedy-center.org

For more information about the Kennedy Center, visit www.kennedy-center.org.