Arts & Democracy Project Update

August 2011
Greetings from the Arts & Democracy Project!   

 

We all know the power of arts, culture, and creativity to build community, heal, facilitate dialogue, and be a catalyst for action. We saw all of this in the aftermath of 9/11. As we approach the 10-year anniversary, we again see this power in the many programs and alliances being built.   

CREATIVE RESPONSES TO THE 

10th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11

 

Online Resources/Web Sites

Performances & Exhibitions 

Media: Video/Books/Blogs 

Inter/Multi-Faith Dialogues & Projects 

Interdisciplinary Events/Forums/Projects   

 

OnlineONLINE RESOURCES/WEB SITES

  

New York Neighbors for American Values  

A searchable website listing community events that will take place in New York City to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attack. 

 

10 YAC poster

10 Years and Counting 

An online resource developed by

artists and activists to help inspire,

organize, assist, share, connect and promote cultural events responding to the 10th anniversary.  

PerformancesPERFORMANCES & EXHIBITIONS

 

9/11 Performance Project

9/11 Performance Project 

Three very different yet complementary plays: Another Life by Karen Malpede, brings to light questions of complicity and conscience in civil society. The Domestic Crusadersby Wajahat Ali, is about a Muslim Pakistani American family living in post 9-11. The third play, Demolition of the Eiffel Tower, is by Jeton Neziraj.   

September 9-11 at Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, NYC. 

 

 

All Atheists Are Muslim

Zahra Noorbakhsh invites us to laugh at stereotypes about Islam in her show about cross-cultural relationships dicovering unexpected common ground among ethnicities, religions and traditions. Playing in NYC in August and San Francisco in September.  

 

Eleven Reflections on September  

A play by Andrea Assaf, presented in partnership with Iraq Veterans Against the War, with facilitated dialogues. Upcoming residencies include Knoxville, TN and Tampa, FL. Poetry and music from the project will be released in a CD on September 11. 

 

Endurance Theatre Performing Tribute 9/11: Ordinary People Remarkable Stories

Five unique and inspiring stories performed by the individuals who were directly impacted by 9/11 including family members, survivors, area residents and recovery workers. Free performances across the country. Sign up for newsletter.

 

Hijab, Toast, and How I Changed My Life

Monica Raymond is offering three short and full length plays related to the September 11 anniversary for those who want to use them. 

 

100 Faces of War Experience

100 Faces of War

This online exhibition by Matthew Mitchell surveys the American personal experience of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, using using a sociological perspective, participant generated content, and the intimate environment of traditionally painted portraits. Video

 

Contact 

With 100 Faces of War Experience, Contact's interactive performance installation brings an ensemble of veterans and civilians in dialogue with the portraits and audience. Canal Gallery, Holyoke, MA; September 10-11, 16-18.       

 

Remember 9-11 Tenth Year 

Leoma Lovegrove honors the memories of those who died and salutes those who conducted rescue operations in her performance creating an oversize canvas of the American Bald Eagle to music and live testimonies, in Southwest Florida. Video   

 

September 11 - Past, Present, Future

Exhibition at El Taller Latino Americano's Grady Alexis Gallery, NYC, curated by Andrea Arroyo, featuring 16 New York artists. September 12 - October 10, Meet the Artists reception on September 12th.  

 

Speed Killed My Cousin

Carpetbag Theater's new play by Linda Parris-Bailey, about an African American woman soldier who returns from Iraq with PTSD will be read on September 11 and premiered in the spring of 2012. 

MediaMEDIA: VIDEO/BOOK/BLOG

 

Neighborhood Writing Alliance Neighborhood Writing Alliance

This community-based writing organization in Chicago will dedicate a week of blog postings to republishing pieces from a special 2001 issue of the Journal of Ordinary Thought that recorded writers' responses to 9/11 in poetry and prose.

 

 

Out of Rubble

Out of Rubble 

Presents the work of international artists and architects who consider the aftermath of war, from decimation to regeneration. Artists range from Lida Abdul (Kabul) to Xu Zhen (Shanghai). Edited by Susanne Slavick with texts by Susanne Slavick and Holly Edwards.

 

Hawo's Diner Party, Active Voice 

This video module, created by Sahar Driver, is being used in a campaign to support dialogue and action in the lead-up to 9/11. Against a backdrop of fear, distrust and economic uncertainty, how can we engage and harmonize relationships with immigrants and refugees from Muslim-majority countries?

InterfaithINTER/MULTI-FAITH DIALOGUES & PROJECTS

 

The Dialogue Project

Face to face conversations around difficult issues in neighborhoods in NYC exploring trauma and healing, conflict transformation, and the understanding of the stranger in our faith and cultural texts. Click here to learn more about the City-Wide Teach-In Program and email to bring a dialogue teach in to your block or neighborhood.

 

Groundswell, Auburn Theological Seminary

Groundswell supports the multi-faith movement by mobilizing moral force around key social justice issues of the hour. On the 10th anniversary of 9/11 they will chronicle, support, resource and publicize events across the US about reflection, compassion, dialogue, and a new beginning.  

interdisciplinaryINTER-DISCIPLINARY EVENTS/FORUMS/PROJECTS 

   

Insite: Art + Commemoration 

With exhibitions, performances, poetry, and ideas presented in partnership with a range of local institutions in lower Manhattan, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Insite offers space for reflection and for envisioning our shared future. August 11 - October 11.

 

Hip Hop Hope, Santa Fe Art Institute  

SF Art Institute

SFAI and partners present a community centered creative response to the events of 9/11/2001 and the 10 years that have ensued, with a focus on hip hop expression and its critical role bringing issues of social justice, environmental responsibility, and cultural freedom to the fore.

 

U.S. Raising: Emerging Voices in Post/9/11 America 

This series of forums and events focuses on the challenges our nation and communities have confronted and the progress we have made. People will come together through discussion, storytelling, music and art in Detroit and Dearborn, cities that symbolize our nation's vulnerability and its vibrance. Sponsored by ACCESS with co-sponsorship from the University of Michigan at Dearborn, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, and WDET public radio   

 

People's Potlucks 

This series of artist-led meals and conversations explores the idea of living as citizens of conscience in an interconnected, global society. Produced by MAPP International Productions in collaboration with Create Collective and Samita Sinha as part of The America Project. June - August in NYC; culminating celebration September 15th presented in collaboration with Harlem Stage.  

 

The 9/11 Arts Project 

911 Arts ProjectA collaboration of artists,social activists, non-profits and interfaith groups in the greater Washington DC area that explores individual, community and global healing 10 years after 9/11. They are kicking off a "year of healing" with multi-venue events taking place around the 10th anniversary and throughout the year.

As always, we're proud to highlight the great work in this field to support and cross-pollinate an extraordinary network of artists, cultural workers, policymakers, educators, and activists.  Please be in touch, and let us know what you think!
All our best,

Amalia, Caron, Kathie, Jason, Javiera, Lena, and Yolanda
Arts & Democracy Project 
In This Newsletter
Online Resources
Performances & Exhibitions
Media
Inter-Faith Projects
Inter-Disciplinary Projects
Conference Call Recording
Opportunities & Open Calls
Join Our Mailing List

CONFERENCE CALL RECORDING 

 

   

 podcast image

The recording of our recent conference call on creative responses to 9/11 is available for playback here.    

 

OPPORTUNITIES & OPEN CALLS

 

Split This Rock

Split this Rock is issuing an Open Call for poems to help us mark this fall's anniversaries: to mourn, to rage, to imagine, to speak out for a new future. They will choose a Poem of the Week and post some to 10 Years + Counting, inviting peace and social justice groups nationwide to read the poems at their events and use in their organizing.

 

100 Thousand Poets for Change    

100 Thousand Poets for Change On September 24, all poets are invited to take a stand for the social or political causes they support. Thus far, 400 events are planned in 70 countries! This is an open-ended event that encourages participants to get ceative. To organize in your town, or to find an event nearby, visit their website

 

A City Reimagined 2011 The Greene Space will be presenting a bigger than life collage, designed by Cey Adams, including photographic, sketched or painted images; quotes, or words that speak to how we have reimagined New York City over the last 10 years. Send images, quotes, and words of hope by September 2. Tweet @TheGreenespace #ReimagineNYC or post to Facebook

PARTICIPATE  

 

9/11 Ribbons of Hope 

Prepare New York is sponsoring Ribbons of Hope, where everyone is invited to bring a ribbon to Battery Park  between September  

9-11. On the ribbon, write a thought or prayer or hope for the healing of the city and for the whole world. 

 

Dialogue Through Art Project At 11am on September 11, in Dupont Circle,  Washington DC, people will gather holding white cloth cut into panels and draped about their shoulders. The cloth will serve as the canvas for a dialogue on hopes for humanity, unity, and world peace. Markers will be handed out to fill the panels with different languages, scripts, symbols, and images.

WHO WE ARE

 

The Arts & Democracy Project builds the momentum of a cultural movement that draws on a rich history of arts activism, social justice organizing, and grassroots engagement. Arts & Democracy is a sponsored project of State Voices.

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Thank you to our funders, the Nathan Cummings Foundation and the Open Society Foundations

 

Special thanks to the National Security and Human Rights Campaign of U.S. Programs of Open Society Foundations for their support of projects using arts and culture strategies, and for their help in gathering these resources.