In Memoriam: Yvette Smalls
by Debra Powell-Wright An email to me from Robin’s Bookstore read in part, Yvette Smalls creates a Goddess Gathering and shares her experiences on the making of the film ”Hair Stories.” She will also lead in an open discussion about the on going challenges with Hair, especially among women of color- the myth of the “good hair” vs “bad hair” syndrome. Yvette will also [...]
Art Sanctuary Presents “The People of Maasai Mara”
So far, we’ve used our modest gallery space—OK call it storefront—for cultural engagement. It’s been where we’ve held after-school classes, Zumba, yoga, African dance, meetings, teacher events. But on November 30th, for the first time, we’ll use it for beautiful fundraising in order to help us continue, in this difficult economy, to provide great arts events at a cost that [...]
Fiction Writing Workshop Series with Bernice McFadden
A few weeks ago I had one of those right-place-at-the-right-time opportunities that prove that the universe is not devoid of a sense of good timing. The Art Sanctuary invited a group of Parkway students to attend a special student matinee performance of selections from Can You Hear God Crying? The finished work is expected to premiere in Philadelphia in June, but composer Hannibal Lokumbe and a group [...]
Hannibal Hears God Crying
I’m at the interim office, trying to find some document to make a proper report on the new building; but meanwhile the check from the Philadelphia Department of Commerce has gone to the wrong address. Our contractor needs to be paid. Our project manager, John Stone, tells me that “we’re into the contractor “for a whole lot. No, really, a [...]