Celebrity Coverage

Performance Carrie Mae Weems, “Disputed Places of Memory” – essence

Published

3 weeks ago

October 30, 2024

IAM

Carrie Mae Weems. Photo credit: Audoin Desforges

Carrie Mae Weems, a pioneering visual artist known for her deep exploration of identity, power and historical narratives, has once more pushed the boundaries of art along with her latest work, . Produced by Shore Art Advisory and hosted on the Institute of Contemporary Art, it masterfully combines live music, spoken word, and video work to tackle the nuanced dialogue around monuments, memory, and racial healing.

This project is an element of a bigger meeting organized by One of manya corporation dedicated to advancing racial equality and constructing a more inclusive South. Weems’ connection to EPU, which has long worked to dismantle divisive narratives and challenge systemic racism, sets the stage for a conversation that feels each timely and timeless. “I have been working on the concept of contentious sites for several years,” Weems explains. “The show is an opportunity to meet artists and learn about the complex narratives surrounding monuments, especially in a place like Richmond.”

The importance of Richmond because the inaugural site of this show can’t be overstated. Once the center of the Confederacy, this can be a city whose monuments have sparked nationwide debate. Weems has long been fascinated by the symbolism of monuments, often asking in his work how public spaces can reflect painful histories and still function places of healing. For , The removal of Confederate monuments in Richmond becomes each background and topic.

At its core, this system is a multimedia experience intended to initiate dialogue. Weems collaborated with local and national artists, each bringing their very own interpretive perspective. Richmond’s Destiny One Choir provided hauntingly beautiful music, and renowned musicians Nona Hendryx, Jawwaad Taylor and Craig Harris added layers of sound that enhanced the performance. Harris, an achieved jazz trombonist known for addressing issues of social injustice through his compositions, led the band in a rating that was each reflective and emotionally charged. Spoken word by Carl Hancock Rux and Esther Armah offered powerful narratives that Weems skillfully combined with video installations.

“It gives the work a fuller dimension,” says the artist concerning the multidisciplinary approach. “We can express these ideas through music, visually, through poetry, and when we put them together we create something completely different.” By combining these forms, Weems allowed viewers to experience the complexity of her art on many levels.

Jazz and spoken word offer an immersive listening experience that deepens audience engagement. “Our lives would be nothing without music,” says Weems. “Sound is the heartbeat, the first utterance, and music shapes the rhythm of our lives.” For Weems, the use of sound was not only a creative selection, but in addition a fundamental part of conveying its emotional and mental weight. “Music gives pace and movement to the work, to the word,” he adds.

One of the predominant topics is who shall be remembered and the way. Weems, all the time aware of her family history, shares a private narrative about her grandfather, Frank Williams, within the show. “What happens to a man who has been honored in some way, but no monument has been erected in his name?” – he asks. This query, asked each to ourselves and to the audience, becomes a broader inquiry into the role of monuments in shaping collective memory.

Weems took the message beyond the stage through community art. In conjunction along with her Richmond debut, she designed 4 billboards displayed throughout the town from September 23 to October 20. Billboards with photos of empty pedestals and inquisitive phrases encouraged viewers to reconsider the aim and impact of the monuments. “I don’t tell people what to think,” Weems explains. “Rather, I present a set of considerations that may be important to their thinking and values. It is an encouragement for dialogue.”

As he prepares to travel to New York and Washington, D.C. in early 2025, Weems is open to the project moving forward. He plans to collaborate with other musicians, reminiscent of pianist and composer EJ Eyre, to experiment with music while maintaining his initial focus. “I know this version works”, award-winning Creative says, “but I’m willing to take a risk and experiment with different ways of interpreting these ideas.”

Ultimately, Weems sees her role as each an artist and a provocateur. “I hope to foster dialogue, even with those who disagree with me,” he says. The importance shouldn’t be in offering answers, but in asking questions on who and the way we remember, and concerning the values we decide to guard in public spaces. This unforgettable and multi-layered performance encourages us all to reconsider the contested histories that shape our present.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Celebrity Coverage

EXCLUSIVE: Bilal’s unfiltered genius comes to life live at Glasshaus – Essence

Published

11 mins ago

November 21, 2024

IAM

Grammy Award-winning singer Bilal doesn’t need an enormous arena to dominate the room – only a studio in Brooklyn, 100 devoted fans and collaborators who understand the soul of music. On a December night in 2023, energy at Glasshouse was electrifying, with stars like Questlove, Common and Robert Glasper gathered close together, exchanging riffs and jokes as if the audience wasn’t even there. Now this magic has been closed and awaits its premiere on November 20, 2024 on Glasshaus’ YouTube channel.

Bilal isn’t only a concert film – it’s a mirrored image of his journey as some of the progressive and underrated musical talents. Directed by Glasshaus founder Jarrett Wetherell, the 65-minute documentary takes us on a rare, intimate performance. Alongside such influential collaborators as Questlove, Common and Robert Glasper, Bilal delivers performances which might be raw and electrifying, filled with the vulnerability and soul that make him an artist artist. The film captures not only the music, but additionally the unspoken bond between these legends and highlights Bilal’s position as some of the influential voices of our generation.

“This film is a love letter to one of the greatest singers of our time,” Wetherell reflects. “Bilal conveys a sense of vulnerability during his performances and interviews, which is rare among artists today. It is an intimate way that puts you in the studio with five legends, immersed in their music and the moment.”

it is a masterclass in creativity, captured in real time. Questlove turns a six-minute anecdote concerning the making of “Sometimes” into an unforgettable lesson in musical storytelling, while Common blurs the road between audience and performer, breaking into out-of-the-box freestyles and revisiting timeless verses from “Reminisce” and “Funkowo for You.”

In essence, the film is a love letter to some of the influential artists of his generation. From his genre-bending debut to underground hits like and , Bilal returns to his catalog with a fresh twist, delivering long-awaited releases just like the business release of “Something to Hold” and “All For Love.” Split-screen cinematography enhances the intimacy, drawing the viewer into every subtle moment – the movement of fingers over the strings, the glances exchanged during improvisation – all highlighting the magic of the music and the deep connection between these legends.

It’s Bilal who finally gets the flowers and each moment seems late. As Questlove put it best: “He’s Beyoncé’s favorite singer.” The film doesn’t just showcase Bilal’s vocals – it shows him as a cornerstone of the Soulquarian movement, whose influence is woven into the material of up to date music.

For fans, the experience goes beyond the screen. The limited edition 2xLP vinyl offers a tangible piece of magic, while the live album, released earlier this yr, is essential for collectors.

Watch the premiere on November 20, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET Glasshaus YouTube channel. Watch the video below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Celebrity Coverage

Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner and Auction 2025 – Essence

Published

21 hours ago

November 20, 2024

IAM

Gordon Parks, Pastor Ledbetter, Chicago, Illinois, 1953.

The Gordon Parks Foundation will host its prestigious annual awards dinner and auction on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Cipriani forty second Street in New York City. This highly anticipated event celebrates the legacy of Gordon Parks, an iconic photographer and multidisciplinary artist whose work championed social justice and the transformative power of creativity.

This 12 months’s honorees include legendary model and activist Bethann Hardison, renowned contemporary artist Rashid Johnson, Anna Wintour, Condé Nast’s chief content officer and global editorial director, and Ambassador Andrew Young, civil rights leader and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Mayor of Atlanta. Each honoree has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing culture, creativity and justice – values that Parks embodied throughout his groundbreaking profession.

“In a moment of division, Gordon Parks unites us all,” said Gordon Parks Foundation Executive Director Peter W. Kunhardt Jr. “His commitment to art and social justice transcends generations. Our 2025 honorees are pillars in their fields and support Gordon’s collective quest for a better life and a better world.” The Gordon Parks Foundation Gala is our homecoming – a night of celebrating art, activism and support for the subsequent generation of artists.”

The gala will feature special guests, including the son and grandson of the Rev. E. F. Ledbetter, whom Parks photographed in 1953 for a report on Chicago’s Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church. These impressive images shall be the centerpiece of an upcoming exhibition at Howard University in early 2025.

Co-chaired by such luminaries as Alicia Keys and Kasseem Dean, Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, and Judy and Leonard Lauder, the evening will bring together decision-makers from the worlds of art, fashion, film and philanthropy. Proceeds from the event will fund the muse’s educational programs, grants, fellowships and awards, ensuring that a brand new generation of creators will advance Parks’ vision of equity and empowerment.

Tickets start at $2,000 and will be purchased on the Gordon Parks Foundation website website or by contacting Buckley Hall Events at gpfgala@buckleyhallevents.com or 914-579-1000.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Celebrity Coverage

Meghan Markle is investing in a Black-owned brand that is revolutionizing hair care products – Essence

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

IAM

Meghan Markle is no stranger to using her platform to support women and causes that matter, and her latest business move is no exception.

The Duchess of Sussex has officially invested High hippie levela Black-owned hair care and wellness brand co-founded by its longtime hair colorist Kadi Lee and Myka Harris.

Highbrow Hippie, which began as a lifestyle blog in 2012, has evolved into a full-blown brand that prioritizes each beauty and well-being. Their latest product line includes a scalp serum and a hair complement, each designed to handle issues corresponding to thinning hair and hormonal changes from the within. Backed by science, the road focuses on hair health in a holistic way, specializing in the basis causes of hair problems, not only the symptoms.

The partnership was officially announced on the brand launch event on November 14, 2024which took place in the Venetian Gjelina restaurant. Markle attended the ceremony with other beauty experts and presented Lee with a bouquet of roses from her Montecito garden – a thoughtful nod to their bond.

“I’m proud to invest in this [Kadi] as a friend and founder,” Meghan said in style on her investment in Highbrow Hippie: “Kadi is a master of hair health, and her Highbrow Hippie collection is a perfect reflection of that.”

For Markle, this investment is not nearly great products, but about strengthening a Black woman-owned business and showing what happens when women invest in one another. Her involvement with Highbrow Hippie is the newest example of how she is using her influence to make a significant impact in the wonder and wellness space. This is not her first time supporting women entrepreneurs – she’s constructing a portfolio of girls-led ventures, corresponding to a sustainably sourced handbag brand Cesta Collectiveand her own emerging lifestyle brand, Orchard on the American Riviera.

The co-founders of Highbrow Hippie are industry veterans, and Lee has over 25 years of experience styling a few of Hollywood’s most recognizable names. Together, she and Harris have built a brand that deeply resonates with women who see hair care as greater than just maintenance – it’s a part of their wellness journey. With products that promise fuller, healthier hair in just three months, they provide solutions for ladies fighting every little thing from postpartum shedding to emphasize-related hair loss.

Meghan’s investment speaks to a larger story: when women support women, especially in spaces where representation matters, the outcomes are transformational.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com