AWAACC celebrates Black History Month with seven events spanning film, music, writing, photography, and more.
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center announced today a monthlong series of events in celebration of Black History Month. AWAACC will present Pittsburgh's Black Art Scene: Past, Present & Future, a retrospective on Pittsburgh's role in the cultural lexicon and the artforms and artists that have contributed to the city's historic Black arts scene, along with special editions of ongoing programs. Through three special events, historians, artists and scholars will examine three distinct phases of Pittsburgh's cultural evolution, including a special tribute to the remarkable history of the National Negro Opera House; an interview with Mark Clayton Southers, the founder and producing artistic director of the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company; and a special performance by the funk-jazz collective, Funky Fly Project.
I Got Life: The Music of Nina Simone pairs two legends of jazz and soul music to celebrate an iconic artist. Riddick (vocals) and Veasley (bass) share a deep appreciation for Ms. Simone, who wrote renowned civil rights song "Mississippi Goddam and who marched at Selma. Her music and desire for social justice still resonate today. I Got Life, consists of vocals from Carol Riddick, Gerald Veasely (bass), Aaron Graves (keyboards) and Tim Hutson (drums). Tickets for all AW Studio Sessions are $12. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://aacc-awc.org/events/.
BHM: Past will premiere on AWAACC's Facebook page and YouTube channel, featuring a 15-minute video showcasing the remarkable history of the National Negro Opera House in a conversation with Jonnet Solomon.
AWAACC's Black Bottom Film Festival (BBFF) will present the first screening in its virtual film series, Melissa Haizlip's Mr. Soul!. BBFF curator Joe Lewis and Literary Curator Jessica Lanay will be in conversation with Melissa Haizlip and Executive Producer Blair Underwood ahead of the screening. The other films to be shown in the series are Coded Bias (March 15) and Philly D.A.(April 19). This series is presented in partnership with PBS's Independent Lens, which is dedicated to giving voice to the voiceless and celebrating diversity.
AWAACC's Youth Writers Camp dives into August Wilson's four major artistic influences and helps the participants discover their unique writing voice. Open to middle schoolers and high schoolers, the Youth Writers Camp began in 2018 for young people interested in poetry, plays, short stories and more. To learn more about this opportunity, all are welcome to this hourlong informational session.
BHM: Present will premiere on AWAACC's Facebook page and YouTube channel, featuring a 15-minute interview with award-winning playwright and director Mark Clayton Southers. Southers resides in Pittsburgh and is an active member of the Pittsburgh arts community. He is the founder and producing artistic director of the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company.
This special edition of the Center's literary focused virtual salon will feature photographer Ming Smith, who created a series in the Hill District of Pittsburgh in honor of August Wilson in the 1990s. Moderated by AWAACC Literary Curator Jessica Lanay, the conversation will center on her August Wilson series, her connection to Pittsburgh, and the future of Black creation. Lit Fridays happen live on Facebook Live and on Zoom. Immediately following Lit Friday, BHM: Future will premiere on AWAACC's Facebook page and YouTube channel, featuring a performance by the young virtuosos of the funk-jazz collective, Funky Fly Project.
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