This year's month-long event series and artwalk is titled 'Sankofa: Go Back and Get It' and features free events including art exhibitions, performances, poetry, literature and talks all along Myrtle Ave!
Myrtle Avenue's 6th Annual Black Artstory Month returns on Friday, February 2. This year's event series is titled Sankofa: Go Back and Get It and features the work of ten Brooklyn-based visual artists at a variety of venues including Ingersoll Community Center, Leisure Life NYC, Five Spot Soul Food and Brooklyn Navy Yard's BLDG 92.
The month-long event series and artwalk Sankofa: Go Back and Get It, is named this year by artist, motivational speaker Ramona Candy, and speaks to the notion that sometimes the best way forward is by stopping to reflect in order to be informed, empowered and inspired by individuals, stories and lessons of the past. Sankofa recognizes the arts' ability to act as a medium and conduit to expose, question and inspire when other forms of communication or action fall short.
During the month of February, free Artstory events will take place every Friday at 7:00 pm at various venues along Myrtle Avenue, and include everything from visual art to poetry readings, storytelling and more.
The beginning will be made with The Share! Series on Friday, February 2 at the Ingersoll Community Center. University Settlement's Share! Series, curated by Intergenerational Community Arts Council, a joint initiative of BRIC and University Settlement, is an ongoing, mobile performance event that brings artists of all ages and stages of development together on one equal platform: It's a time to testify, witness and connect with the artists in your community.
On Friday, February 9 an evening of poetry will be dedicated to Literary Heroes at Leisure Life NYC.
Curated by Suhaly Bautista-Carolina, of the Black Girl Project, in partnership with Willow Books, the event is a celebration of past literary heroes, bringing their voices into the present. Featured poets Roberto Carlos Garcia, Keisha-Gaye Anderson, Sokunthary Svay, and Randall Horton will read pieces by poets whose work inspire them as well as present their own works.
Our History, Our Pride, curated by artist Ramona Candy, will continue the series on Friday, February 16 at Locals. Sharing her pride in Caribbean heritage, growing up in Brooklyn and a long dance career, Ramona Candy uses color, movement and texture to create vivid, choreographically inspired collages and hand-pulled prints. The exhibition of 20 collage sketches by Candy depicts individuals who have made unique contributions and have amazing stories. Actor, storyteller, playwright Daniel Carlton will join her with original stories and spoken word. Attendees will have an opportunity to create their own collaged short stories based on the life of someone in their immediate history.
The Friday evening event series will conclude on February 23 at Brooklyn Navy Yard's BLDG 92 with a night of live art and conversation curated by JACK. Visual artists, movers, neighbors and activists gather to explore flow, value and exchange of our current monetary system in the United States that was founded and resourced by the free labor of enslaved Africans, a system that continues to thrive at the expense of Black lives, socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, and our collective humanity in the U.S. and beyond. Special guest participants will set the tone for creative response and the amplification of Black voices.
6th Annual Black Artstory Month, February 2 - February 23, at various locations. For more information or to RSVP go here.
