LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA.—Lincoln University announces the world premiere of 截根苗, a multi-media meditation on the global impact of sugar cane plantations and industry on the land and people of the Black Diaspora. This artistic collaboration features documentary photographer and 2023 Guggenheim Fellow Sasha Phyars-Burgess, 2023 Philadelphia Cultural Treasure Fellow, 2015年皮尤研究员, and 2016 Philadelphia Poet Laureate, 尤兰达祝愿者, and 2023 Pew Fellow, jazz pianist and composer, 烟灰墨Tonooka. This performance highlights the documentary photographs by Phyars-Burgess who captures sugar cane communities in Portugal, 巴西, 佛罗里达, 路易斯安那州, and the Dominican Republic; the large-scale projections are arranged and projected by Dr. Michael Lynch, Director of Undergraduate 研究 at Lincoln University and founder of Projected in Place (@projected_in_place). The performance centers student writing assembled by 尤兰达祝愿者 into a poem and composed into music by 烟灰墨Tonooka and sung by Lincoln University Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. 维多利亚Pitre.
This event, which is made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to Revitalize Black Studies on Lincoln University’s campus, highlights the history and the brutal legacy of sugar, identified as ‘White Gold,’ and Black labor and production. In addition to the vocals provided by the 58-member Lincoln University Concert Choir, the poem is performed by senior Pan-Africana Studies major Ashley Gillard, senior Pan-Africana Studies and 历史 major Jeninya Holley, and Political Science sophomore Maxwell Gedzah. 以这种方式, students collaborated with the 艺术家, and form the core of this powerful original piece that illuminates how, even within oppressive circumstances, creativity is a vital form of resistance, 再生, 和经济增长. The year-long project is curated by Dr. Pia命, 教授, Department of Languages and Literature, and Director of the Horace Mann Bond Honors program.
Dr. Allen reflects on the significance of this generous gift and the co-curricular programming that results from it: “Lincoln University is proud to be the recipient of this grant geared towards further revitalizing Black Studies. 这个格兰特, which supports our Scholars/Artists in Residence program, allows us to showcase Black Studies as a dynamic, interdisciplinary field,艾伦说。. 她接着说:“截根苗 is emblematic of the work produced by this series, which brings innovative Black thinkers and creators to campus to work closely with students and faculty in interactive and meaningful ways. We are excited to offer this world premier to the campus and surrounding communities.”
In addition to the performance, please visit the Lincoln University Langston Hughes Memorial Library to see Sasha Phyars-Burgess’ companion photography exhibit 一切都好 on display on floors 1-4 through April 30, 2024.
This event is Wednesday, February 21st at 7 PM in the Ware Auditorium. This performance and the related exhibit are free and open to the public.
这是 link to the booklet to the project.
这是 link for faculty/staff to register their classes to attend.
For more information or press inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Pia命 via email at mdeas@yann-mathieux.com or by phone at 814-232-1513 (cell)
