I was so sad on Friday night because violence marred the beginning of PEACE Across the Northside, an initiative to inspire peaceful coexistence and nonviolence in North Minneapolis. Walker community programs staff were on hand for the launch of PEACE Across the Northside, a communityrally and symbolic act of linking along one of the most gang and violence infested streets in Minneapolis. Ironically, at the conclusion of the event a youth was shot in the back after having water spilled on him during the performance by HouseSquad, a twin cities Hip Hop dance troupe.
This past Friday also marked the beginning of a documentary photography project called Portraits of PEACE – organized by the Walker’s community programs staff in partnership with the PEACE Foundation, Minneapolis Park and Rec and The Folwell Center for Urban Initiatives.Portraits of PEACE was inspired by the work of Diane Arbus and Sharon Lockhart. Lead by Walker Community Programs Coordinator and documentary photographer Megan Leafblad and Io Palmer, artist in residence at the Folwell Center, youth participants will photograph and gather stories at community events of residents who have sustained relationships across differences of race, geography, ability and culture. PoP is the visual arts component for The PEACE Games, the sports and cultural component of PEACE Summer 2006.
Although the event was marked by violence, it reminded me of the importanceand difficulty of Peace work.Moreover, it would be pollyannaish of us to think that by organizing one feel-good event that violence in an economically marginalized communitywould miraculously disappear. Despite violence that sought to derail what was otherwise an extraordinarily hopeful event, attended by over 1500, we remain even more committed to exploring ways that the arts can help support peaceful and vibrant communities.
To see photos from the event go to photographica
Artist Mankwe Ndosi led Matakwe, a group of young African American artists and activist in a critical and performative response toOPEN-ENDED(the art of engagement)
Tonight, for the first time since it opened, I began to sense what Open Ended is all about…not that I could articulate it clearly. But, seeing Tish, a young African American poet, read a poem about the difficult and moving relationship between a daughter and her battered mother in the Rirkrit corner; hearing a poetic response to the Ralph Lemon installation by another young poet; piling into the video booth to catch a poem inspired by Nakasako’s freedom piece; or listening in on a young dreaded kid dialogue with a silent James Baldwin and ask, “Help me out. You’re an artist. Tell me how I’m supposed to look.”…revealed some evanescent and fleeting aspect of engagement and dialogue. It is precious because it comes and goes. We make pictures ourselves in the galleries, as we move among the artworks. Tonight, I’m thankful to the Walker for the dialogic process that gave birth to this extraordinary exhibition but also to these brave young people who so selflessly gave themselves over to interpretation and engagement.Bravo Matakwe.
Dipankar Mukherjee and Meena Natarajan. Photo by Jim Clifford
Today on the Community Arts Network website, writer John Townsend profiles Minneapolis-based Pangea World Theater.
Townsend writes that, “Pangea has evolved from being a group that began presenting imaginative interpretations of plays and adaptations of other literary forms to a stunningly experimental [group] that successfully integrates various talents across cultural boundaries for innovative new work that reflects the post-9/11, post-Katrina reality – something most theaters have barely begun to acknowledge.
Founders Mukherjee and Natarajan envision Pangea as a forum, “to bring people of different backgrounds and ethnicities together… to dialogue together. [And] respond to the times we live in?” It’s clear from the mission statement and their track record that arts-based civic engagment is part of the institutional DNA of this extraordinary theater group. We’re lucky to have them here in the Twin Cities.
Pangea World Theater’s Mission Statement: “Pangea World Theater is committed to international works, styles and traditions that illuminate the human condition, end divisiveness and celebrate differences. We strive to bring communities across the world together through theater productions, workshops, and speakers. We view the stage as a powerful international forum and podium for discussion. Throughout our work we employ a cross-ethnic vision of tolerance and human rights through excellence in the arts.”