Month: July 2016

Sondre Lerche, Kaki King to Headline Oct. 7-9 O+ Festival

Legendary graffiti artist Lady Pink will make mural inspired by Mothers of Invention theme

All-access wristbands are available now for the seventh O+ Festival of art, music and wellness, which takes place Oct. 7-9 in Kingston, N.Y. The weekend features performances by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sondre Lerche, guitarist and composer Kaki King (with her visually stunning “The Neck is a Bridge to the Body” show), indie pop sister duo Chaos Chaos, Americana-meets-punk duo Megan Jean and the Klay Family Band, singer-songwriter Jesse Marchant, experimental pop band Pavo Pavo and “slow pop” sextet Loch Lomond.

The lineup of more than 60 bands — our biggest to date! — also includes Hudson Valley-based acts Breakfast for the Boys, Frenchy and the Punk and Geezer. This year’s venues include Alebrijes, The Anchor, BSP Kingston, Keegan Ales, Old Dutch Church, Stockade Tavern and Two Ravens Tavern. We invite the public and local alumni to perform at an open mic event hosted by The Gold Hope Duo at Uptown Coffee.

More than 30 artists will respond with murals, exhibitions, installations and performances to this year’s theme: Mothers of Invention. Two legendary “mothers of invention” — O+ alumna Linda Mary Montano (art/life counseling) and graffiti artist Lady Pink (mural) — will donate their talents to the Kingston community.

Kaki_King__The_Neck_is_a_Bridge_to_the_Body — Kaki King

Four additional murals will be made by John Breiner (highlighting the humble brick), Jess X Chen (honoring women migrants and refugees), Martina Nehrling (celebrating intuition and instinct) and Eugene Stetz, Jr. (venerating imagination).

Woodstock Bookfest hosts a story slam featuring musicians and writers trading stories about mothers. O+ alumnus Will Lytle, winner of the Keegan Ales/O+ can design competition, will be the featured artist at an exhibition at the brewery.

What makes O+ Festival unique? The artists, musicians and volunteers who donate their time and talent to the festival receive complimentary health and wellness care from volunteer providers in our pop-up clinic. We call this exchange “the art of medicine for the medicine of art.”

And O+ Festival is more than art-making and concerts. It also features a New Orleans-style kickoff parade, Literary SALO+N and CO+LLAGE Café, Wellness EXPO+ and conference, cycling events and EXPLO+RE classes in yoga, meditation, dance and more.

Make a donation, receive an all-access wristband for the three-day weekend of art, music and wellness. Your donation is worth double thanks to a donor-advised matching grant administered by the Tides Foundation. What’s it worth to YO+U?

The initial music lineup includes: Alana Amram & the Rough Gems, Amare Symoné, Angela Bove, Bearquilt, Blueberry, Breakfast for the Boys, Bright Dog Red, Brittani O’Hearn, Bucket, Calder Mansfield, Chaos Chaos, Chris Maxwell, Decorum, Dust Bowl Faeries, Earl Grey Trio, Emily Ritz, Errorarium, Eskalators, Fax Machine America, Frank McGinnis & The Whim, Frenchy and the Punk, Funkrust Brass Band, Heroes of Toolik, Geezer, GYMSHORTS, In the Kitchen, JB aka Dirty Moses, Jesse Marchant, Kaki King, Karma Darwin, Knock Yourself Out, Levanta, Loch Lomond, Luis Mojica, Madárka, Mammal Dap, Mariana & Gabriel, Max’s New Hat, Megan Jean and the Klay Family Band, The Miracle Whips, Musa Reems, Nightmares for a Week, Parlor Walls, Pavo Pavo, PMS and the mood swings, Pontoon, Pop & Obachan, RMA, SageArts: Songs of Our Elders, The Sci-Flies, Shadow Witch, Sin City, Sondre Lerche, Soulia and the Sultans, The Sweet Clementines, Tele Novella, The Tins, Twisty BonBon, Uni Ika Ai and Woodstock Bookfest. More musical acts may be added as confirmed.

The lineup of artists, many of whom are making collaborative, interactive works, includes: Maxfield Bala, John Breiner, Jess X. Chen, Anna Laura Hafner, Lady Pink, Norm Magnusson, Jill McDermid & Lorene Bouboushian, Mick Farrell, Andrea Frank, The Green Palette, Camilla Ha, Geddes Jones, Ocean J. Lofgren, Liam Robert McDonald, Linda Mary Montano, Martina Nehrling, Mary Jane Nusbaum, Katalin Pazmandi, Annie Poon, Jessica Poser, Maia S. Rich, Rebecca R. Rojer, Steve Rossi, Eugene Stetz, Jr., P Tenney, Uncle Riley with UMEWE, Chris Victor, John Walter and Linda Weintraub.

O+ Festival Kingston Seeks Volunteer Coordinator

O+ Festival is an organization dedicated to the exchange of medicine and art. Founded in Kingston, New York, chapters of O+ across America host weekend-long annual art and music festivals where participating artists and musicians exhibit their talents in exchange for access to health and wellness services from art-loving, health professionals. Weaving together artists and musicians, health professionals, business owners and neighbors, O+ strengthens the fabric of the community, contributing to its overall wellness. Please visit https://opositivefestival.org for more information.

An O+ festival is being planned in Kingston for October 2016. We are seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to recruit, schedule, manage, and motivate a large group of volunteers prior to and throughout the festival. Together with each department and the Festival Producer, ensure volunteers are available and adequately prepared for their shift. Support the Festival Producer as the coordinator of all Volunteers and Volunteer duties throughout the Festival. This is a part-time position, estimated at 120 hours throughout July – October 2016.

Primary Responsibilities:

Organize a “Call for Volunteers Campaign” before the festival
Assess volunteer needs based on specific department needs
Access and maintain the volunteer database
Schedule volunteers into specific departments and positions prior to and during the festival
Create and adhere to a timeline
Organize three general volunteer orientations prior to the event and oversee process for specific departmental orientations if needed
Hand-in-hand with the Festival Producer, manage all Volunteers during the Festival and ensure all Volunteer responsibilities are adequately covered.
Provide wrap-up report for debrief after festival

Qualifications:

Must be available full time between October 7-9, 2016
Must be able to attend planning meetings
Ability to prioritize and delegate in stressful situations
Experience managing or coordinating large groups of people
Experience working with and communicating with a team

Please contact theresa@opositivefestival.org for consideration and include a brief statement of your interest and related experience.

O+ Chicago Provider Spotlight: Rebecca Jane Justice

Reiki Master/teacher Rebecca Jane Justice is proficient in a range of modalities, including vibrational sound massage, Reiki, cranial sacral therapy and numerology.

“I’m a Chicago resident — born & raised — and I’ve accumulated a well of experience, wisdom and expertise in my time here thus far. I’m a writer, artist, musician, creative and perhaps most importantly, a “wounded healer.” I know the struggles that come with earth school enrollment firsthand, and I know how much the tools I now have access to have assisted my growth and shaped my life. I believe it is my calling to pay that forward and to serve the collective in whatever ways I can.”

She specializes in doing vibrational sound massage (which involves placing vibrational singing bowls on and around the body) in conjunction with Reiki & CST (cranial sacral therapy).

She generally starts (or ends) sessions with a bit of insight into her clients’ respective soul blueprints (aka numerology charts) to help assist them in seeing their true paths, assets, challenges, etc., as well as how to best move forward given the information they have. Sometimes she does crystal & chakra clearing; other times her sessions are geared more toward a discussion about the mind-body connection, and how we manifest physical symptoms from emotional struggles.

La Catrina Cafe Hosts O+ Festival: Chicago Literary SalO+n, CO+llage Cafe, and SpO+ke (O+pen Mic)

We get it! It’s great to witness art and music by others, but what about a little creative YO+U time!? Fuel up at La Catrina Cafe with their “gunpowder green tea,” and spend your day taking the lead in creativity. O+ Wordsmith and O+ CreatO+r prizes will be awarded.

Literary SalO+n prompts

Make an alphabetical list of things you want to see in your community (ex. “A”-Acceptance of differences, “B”-Bikes everywhere, “C”-Chicharrones everywhere)
Write a poem about art, music, wellness, and/or community.
Write a first person account of one day in the life of an inanimate object in Chicago (ex: a painting, cake, keys).
Freeze and Think: take in your surroundings. Finish each of the follow (1) I hear____________ , (2) I feel ____________ , (3) I see ____________ , (4) I smell ____________ , and (5) I taste ____________ . Feel free to elaborate at length.
Grade yourself: Make your own report card describing imaginary subjects that you would get an “A” in. Come up with at least ten. Here are a few examples: 1. Being a frequent patron at La Catrina Cafe: A. 2. Supporting community gardens and farmer’s markets: A. 3. Thinking outside the box: A.

When you have finished writing, you have several options.

Keep your writing, and read it out loud during SpO+ke (O+pen mic). SpO+ke invites writers to read, actors to perform, poets to share, any skill level of musicians to play, and anyone else to express themselves. This will take place at 5pm on Friday, July 8th; 3pm on Saturday, July 9th; and 5pm on Sunday, July 10th. All participants of SpO+ke are eligible to win an O+ Wordsmith Prize.
Put your writing in the O+ Writing Box for a chance to win an O+ Wordsmith Prize. Please be sure to write your name and a way to contact you on your writing sheet. Once a winner for the O+ Wordsmith Prize has been selected, we can scan and email your written piece back to you (if you have provided your email address).
Do whatever you like with your writing. Maybe you’ll be inspired to take it home and work on it more.

*You may participate in both SpO+ke (O+pen mic) and submit your writing to the O+ Writing Box.

CO+llage Cafe prompts

Draw something with your eyes closed.
Draw all the things you think are positive about you.
Add a drawing to the community project O+ Festival: Chicago Exquisite Corpse poster. The first person will begin by drawing an image. Then that person will make a crease in the paper so that half the image is hidden under the paper and the other half is visible. The next person will draw an image that adds on to the visible half of the last image. This second person will also fold their drawing in half so that only half of it is showing. Get it?! Keep the pattern going.

**If you would like to be considered for an O+ CreatO+r Prize, please submit your artwork to the O+ CreatO+r Box. Once a winner for the O+ CreatO+r Prize has been selected, we will bring all artwork back to La Catrina Cafe for a coordinated retrieval.

To learn more about La Catrina Cafe, click this link: https://www.facebook.com/lacatrinacafeon18/?fref=ts

***Sunday, July 10th from 10am-12:30pm, La Catrina Cafe will also having a youth painting class for kids. Laura Neira will lead this private event. See this link for more details: https://www.facebook.com/lacatrinacafeon18/photos/gm.1586126621685009/644697575682560/?type=3&theater

(In 2014, Alanna Okun wrote a pretty useful article on 21 clever writing prompts. We picked our favorite five and revised them a bit. The link to all 21 writing prompts can be found here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/21-clever-writing-prompts-that-will-unleash-your-students-cr?utm_term=.wmLlqp3O4#.ouMqz1ErG)

As part of GastrO+ (exposure and education on the art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food), O+ Festival: Chicago has teamed up with Pilsen Community Market.

GastrO+ with Pilsen Community Market

Craving fresh produce? Something gluten-free? Something baked? Aguas frescas? Pilsen Community Market has it all! Start your day off right this Sunday, July 10th buying your weekly groceries locally. Bring your friends, family, and bikes! The Pilsen Community Market is open from 8am-2pm and located approximately 200 feet west of S Halsted St. and W 18th St. You can find out more about the Pilsen Community Market here: https://www.facebook.com/pilsenmarket/?fref=ts

While the market is open July 10th, there will be a community coloring book mural activity, children’s games, and a musical petting zoo (this does not involve animals). A musical performance by Gideon Redic and Kerry Kavanaugh will take place at noon. After that duo inspires you to dance, Insanity Piyo and Turbokick Live will get you in shape from 1-2pm.

If you would like to join us for the O+ Adult Upcycling Bike Tour from 9am-11am, please pre-register using this link https://www.eventsprout.com/register/o_festival_chicago or at the O+ YO+UTH area from 8:30-9am on the southwest side of the Pilsen Community Market this Sunday, July 10th. Activities will continue at the market while the Adult Upcycling Bike Tour occurs. The Pilsen Community Market is our first featured community highlight of the Adult Upcycling Bike Tour. Our friends at Simone’s Bar will be providing bikers’ light food and victory refreshments at 11:30am. Then, we will return to the market so you can shop and enjoy the musical performance at noon. Use this link to find out more: https://opositivefestival.org/9123/o-festival-chicago-adult-upcycling-bike-tour/

On Saturday, July 9th, we will have the Family Bike Tour encompassing art, bike safety, education, and gardening. Use this link to find out more: https://opositivefestival.org/9128/o-festival-chicago-presents-a-family-bike-tour-encompassing-art-bike-safety-education-and-gardening/

Teach Healing Arts Class During O+ Festival in Kingston

Are you a teacher, instructor or practitioner of the healing arts whose offering is best shared in a classroom setting? Do you teach yoga, dance, QiGong, sound healing or another practice that can be shared in a group? We’d love to hear from you!

Each year, we gather some of the most enthusiastic teachers in the area who donate one class to our EXPLO+RE series during the O+ Festival weekend (Oct. 7-9), which is open to all Festival attendees and participants. It is a great opportunity to introduce class offerings to a community-minded audience that is committed to art, music and wellness.

Teachers should apply here by July 22. Please note that space is limited, so we may not be able to accept everyone’s offering. We will do our best to curate a variety of classes and will give deference to those who are first to let us know of their interest

Teacher HariPrakaash led a yoga class during the 2015 O+ Festival in Kingston. Photo by Project E.J. Photography. — Teacher HariPrakaash led a gong sound healing class during the 2015 O+ Festival in Kingston. Photo by Projectej.com Photography.

O+ Festival: Chicago Adult Upcycling Bike Tour

O+ Festival: Chicago Adult Upcycling Bike Tour

Sunday, July 10th 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

O+ Festival: Chicago Adult Upcycling Bike Tour (approx. 6.25 miles) is collaborative event supported by Citlalin Gallery Theatre, Lagunitas Brewing Company Chicago, Pilsen Community Market, Simone’s Bar, and Working Bikes.

Adult Upcycling Bike Tour Registration (9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.): Pilsen Community Market (W 18th St and S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608)
-Bike Safety and Registration

Checkpoint 1 (9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.): Citlalin Gallery Theatre (2005 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608)
-Hydration Station 1

Checkpoint 2 (9:45 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.): Working Bikes (2434 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60608)
-Hydration Station 2

Checkpoint 3 (10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.): Lagunitas Brewing Company Chicago (1843 S Washtenaw Ave, Chicago, IL 60608)
-Upcycling Station

Finish-line (11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.): Simone’s Bar (960 W 18th, Chicago, IL 60608)
-Biker’s Light Food and Victory Refreshments (exclusively for O+ Festival: Chicago Adult Upcycling Bike Tour participants)

For a map of the O+ Festival: Chicago Adult Upcycling Bike Tour, please use the following link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1aSHh_98k5d0xYpr2qumPWiBDWAE&usp=sharing

The schedule above is for people to know where we will be incase they arrive late to the bike tour. However, anyone may continue to join us at any point. The main goals of this adult upcycling bike tour are to (1) build confidence biking in an urban landscape, (2) educate community members on bike safety, (3) engage community members in an upcycling project they can take home, and (4) promote holistic living.

If you would like to join us as a biker, please use the following link to register ahead of time: https://www.eventsprout.com/register/o_festival_chicago. Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us. If you do not have a bike, consider renting a Divvy Bike. Be aware that Divvy Bikes have a thirty-minute limit. You will need to check-in your Divvy Bike every 30 minutes. In light of this, we made sure to make the checkpoints within thirty-minute time frames. While at Lagunitas Brewing Company, you can leave your Divvy Bike checked in a Divvy Station.

*This event has a capacity, please register early to secure a spot.

Check out more of the amazing work our bike tour partners are up to:

Citlalin Gallery Theatre https://www.facebook.com/pages/Citlalin-Gallery/734733713272944

Lagunitas Brewing Company Chicago https://lagunitas.com/taprooms/chicago

Pilsen Community Market https://www.facebook.com/pilsenmarket/

Simone’s Bar http://simonesbar.com/

Working Bikes http://www.workingbikes.org/

O+ Festival: Chicago Presents a Family Bike Tour encompassing Art, Bike Safety, Education, and Gardening

O+ Festival: Chicago Family Bike Tour

Saturday, July 9th 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

O+ Festival: Chicago Family Bike Tour (approx. 2.25 miles) led by Working Bikes representatives and Checkpoint Garden Service Projects led by Neighborspace and Openlands representatives with O+ Festival: Chicago’s Eco-Team.

Family Bike Tour Registration (9:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.): La Catrina Cafe (1011 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608)
-Bike Safety and Registration

Checkpoint 1 (10:00 a.m. -10:45 a.m.): The Butterfly Garden /El Jardin de las Mariposas (S. Carpenter Street & W. 18th Place, Chicago, IL)
-Garden care lesson and eco-service project

Checkpoint 2 (10:45 a.m. -11:15 a.m.): Xochiquetzal Peace Garden/Jardín de la Paz Xochiquetzal (1903 W. 23rd Street, Chicago, IL)
-Art and eco-service project

Checkpoint 3 (11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): Orozco School Garden (1940 W. 18th St., Chicago, IL)
-Garden history and eco-service project

Finish-line (12:00 p.m.): The Resurrection Project’s Zocalo courtyard (1818 S Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60608)
–The Wellness Expo+

*We encourage family bike tour participants to take advantage of the free supports at the Wellness Expo+ (Noon to 2 p.m.)

For a map of the O+ Festival: Chicago Family Bike Tour, please use the following link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1aSHh_98k5d0xYpr2qumPWiBDWAE&usp=sharing

The schedule above is for people to know where we will be incase they arrive late to the bike tour. However, anyone may continue to join us at any checkpoint beyond the proposed time frame. The main goals of this family bike tour are to (1) familiarize the community with each garden, (2) show community members how to care for each garden properly, (3) make gardening, art, education, and biking a fun, family-friendly experience, and (4) promote holistic living.

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us, with or without a bike. If you would like to join us as a biker, please use the following link to register ahead of time: https://www.eventsprout.com/register/o_festival_chicago

Check out more of the amazing work our bike tour partners are up to:

La Catrina https://www.facebook.com/lacatrinacafeon18/

NeighborSpace http://neighbor-space.org/

Openlands http://www.openlands.org/building-school-gardens

Working Bikes http://www.workingbikes.org/

The Resurrection Project http://resurrectionproject.org/

NO+ POSITIVE: A Panel on the Empowerment of No

ScO+pe – Perspectives: NO+ POSITIVE

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Panel at Citlalin Gallery Theatre: Saturday, July 9th 4:30-5:30 p.m.

As part of ScO+pe (cinema, live performances, and perspectives about art and wellness), ScO+pe – Perspectives will feature a NO+ POSITIVE panel with the following focus:

No! Nope. Nah. Uh-uh. Not into it. No way. Back the f*&! up. Step the f*&! off. No, thank you 🙂

From microaggressions to sexual assault; from establishing personal space to defending safe spaces; from being defined to defining ourselves; we’re going to dig in to how, when, and why “No” is powerful, positive, and affirming.

“No?“: When has your “no” not been heard and why? When have you refused to hear “no” and why.
“No, I changed my mind“: How to assert “no” after you’ve said “yes.”
“Not again“: How we internalize and respond to traumas and injustices on-line and in real life.
“Nah, I’mma be me“: Building and maintaining confidence when feeling alienated within your own family and community.
“Nope, I’m staying in tonight“: Finding ways to maintain personal time and space to nurture mind, body, and spirit.

A bit about the panelists…

Panelists (left to right): Diana Azaryan, Megan Blomquist, Dr. Obari Cartman, Alexandra Lively, Diana Rose Harper.

Diana Azaryan – Azaryan received a degree in International Studies with a concentration in Diplomacy, Security, and Peace. She is a client success manager at Infor and a volunteer medical advocate at Rape Victim Advocates. She has previously interned and volunteered at International Rescue Committee, where she mentored two refugee families. She proudly identifies as an intersectional feminist.

Megan Blomquist – Blomquist, Director of Education and Training, began working at Rape Victim Advocates in August 2009. Megan graduated from University of Illinois-Chicago with a degree in Applied Psychology, focusing in Gender & Women’s Studies. She is 40-hour certified in both Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention (2009) and Domestic Violence work (2011) in the state of Illinois. Through the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Megan has also completed the 40-hour Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner training (2012). She is an active rape crisis counselor and community educator. Megan is also a leader in the Illinois Imagines project, a statewide collaborative which strives to improve the systemic response to people with disabilities who have experienced sexual assault. Megan is passionate about the pro-consent movement, and working within communities to end sexual and gender-based violence.

Dr. Obari Cartman – Dr. Cartman is a father, son, brother, uncle, thinker, writer, therapist, photographer, and drummer. He is a Chicago native, where his cultural and educational foundations were firmly planted by several African-centered institutions and communities. He received his undergraduate degree from Hampton University and a Ph.D in clinical & community psychology from Georgia State University. He has worked as a therapist is a variety of settings ranging from a family center to a women’s prison. He has worked as a professor of psychology at Georgia State University and the Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern University. Currently Dr. Cartman works as a restorative justice coach with H.E.LP., LLC (Healing Empowering and Learning Professions) in Chicago Public Schools. He also conducts trainings for adults and workshops with youth about maintaining good mental health, critical analysis of hip-hop and media, racial and cultural identity, developing authentic manhood, and healthy relationships. Dr.Cartman’s new book is called “Lady’s Man: Conversations for Young Black Men about Relationships and Manhood. It is a critical thinking guide that addresses historical trauma, hip hop, emotional intelligence, intimacy, communication, power, purpose and a variety of other topics. The book is a tool for families, teachers, mentors, and coaches to help young men think critically, and build character, discover their purpose, love themselves and each other, communicate with clarity and intention, understand the need for proper education, relate to women with integrity, express their emotions, understand their place in history, develop healthy coping strategies, and learn how to build a world where all people are truly free. To learn more please visit: www.DrObariCartman.com.

Alexandra Lively – Lively serves as an OSMTH United Nations Delegate, Board Member of the International STEM Society for Human Rights, the Leadership Council of the Explorer Program and as an Advisory Board Member at DePaul University. Working with the United Nations, she helps their mission facilitating conflict-prevention & resolution for disaster relief, domestic charity & international humanitarian aid, human trafficking, peace building and sustainable development. Alexandra was previously the Chicago News Bureau Chief reporting from the trading floor of the CME Group covering global financial markets. Lively is an advocate for Disabled American Veteran’s, Feeding America, the Alzheimer’s Association, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, among other charities. She holds her Bachelors & Masters from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, completed her Masters in 1 year, graduated with institutional high honors, and speaks German & Brazilian Portuguese. Some of her studies included: improving peacekeeping operations, enhancing perceptions of multilateral organizations, international agricultural policy, news media framing, and the EU sovereign debt crisis.

Diana Rose Harper – Diana Rose Harper is a writer, reader, and healer-in-training currently living in Chicago, IL. Her ideas on wholeness and integration have been influenced by ecology, feminism, transpersonal psychology, bodywork, mythology, and a broad range of spiritual traditions. As a descendant of African slaves, Roma wanderers, and German immigrant farmers, she considers the reconciliation of conceptual divisions to be an especially fertile area for self-knowledge, community building, and healing.

“A New Color” Highlights the Activism of Artist and Educator Edythe Boone

ScO+pe – Cinema: A NEW COLOR (The Art of Being Edythe Boone)

Screening at Citlalin Gallery Theatre: Saturday, July 9th 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Presented by Peace on Earth Film Festival and O+ Festival Chicago

Painting walls to build bridges toward unity.

Long before Black Lives Matter became a rallying cry, Edythe Boone embodied that truth as an artist, an educator, and a great-grandmother. When a deeply personal tragedy ignites a national outcry, everything that Edy has worked for so tirelessly comes into question.

From humble Harlem beginnings herself, the indefatigable “Edy” has for decades introduced underserved youth and seniors to the transformative power of art. Having helped her students use mural making to grapple with the disproportional shootings of young black men, the issue hits home when her nephew Eric Garner dies in police custody, his last words: “I Can’t Breathe.” The tragedy evokes the powerful and deep questions that many artists and activists face: has her nearly eight decades of social justice work meant something? Has it been worth the sacrifice? Can building multicultural bridges through art bring about positive change?

Edy’s reaction shows the depth of her clear-eyed, compassionate commitment to building a just and peaceful community. A New Color illuminates the social issues of our time and shows how the work of one woman reverberates throughout a community.

Winner of the Audience Favorite Special Mention for Documentary at Mill Valley Film Festival and the Best Documentary Short at the Chicago Peace on Earth Film Festival, A New Color has been the official selection at several other film festivals across the United States, including: Pan African Film Festival, Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, Independent Film Festival Boston, Sarasota Film Festival, San Diego Black Film Festival.

(Description courtesy of director Mo Morris)

Length: 57 min.

http://anewcolordocumentary.com/

https://www.facebook.com/anewcolorfilm/?fref=nf

http://anewcolordocumentary.com/support/donate/