Stay in the Loop
BSR publishes on a weekly schedule, with an email newsletter every Wednesday and Thursday morning. There’s no paywall, and subscribing is always free.
Photographing North Philly, ‘Hold Fast,’ ‘SOFT,’ and ‘Graphic Content’ for the weekend
Kyle V. Hiller
This weekend features a pair of unique exhibits. North Philadelphia catches the spotlight in a new exhibit at Huddle, and the National Liberty Museum recently opened Graphic Content. Then, Hold Fast from the Wilma, a student-theater festival from Rutgers University-Camden, a drive-in concert series from People’s Light, a live performance at Old City Jewish Arts Center, and a short film for queer Black men from a Philly director illuminate the rest of the weekend.
An intimate view of North Philly
North Philly’s own Amurri Lauren is a celebrity and fine art photographer, and her new exhibit opens this weekend. North opens at Huddle, 338 Brown St., and is a Philadelphia-focused photo exhibition featuring local subjects and neighbors. The exhibit is appointment only and runs through July 3. Schedule an appointment via email at [email protected].
SOFT: A Love Letter to Black Queer Men
Kemar Jewel, a director and choreographer from Jamaica and raised in Philadelphia, debuts his new visual art performance, SOFT: A Love Letter to Black Men. Streaming now on YouTube, the short piece uses dance as a means for Black queer men to heal, to connect as a community, and to “serve as a reminder to be soft with themselves and each other.”
The National Liberty Museum opens its new exhibit Graphic Content this week. The exhibition features uncensored, unfiltered work from artists who have drawn inspiration from counterculture tradition. Much of the roster of artists is made up of Philly artists, and the works featured look to tackle issues like systemic racism, mental health, homophobia, and more. Tickets range from $6 to $12.
The Wilma Theater will debut its new digital performance Hold Fast, a short film designed to be viewed in the dark. Meditating on the past year of quarantine, the film is created and performed by HotHouse Company’s Steven Rishard with music by Alex Bechtel. Watch it on demand Thursday, June 24, for free. Donation is suggested; closed captioning is available.
Rutgers University-Camden Theater Summer Fest
Support the up-and-comers this weekend with Rutgers University-Camden as the theater students kick off their Student-Directed Summer Fest. Four one-act plays will be available to stream from Friday, June 25, through Sunday, June 27. Tickets range from $5 to $10, and plays can be viewed on demand through the weekend.
People’s Light is bringing live music with the return of its Drive-In Concerts series. Starting this weekend with NPR’s Erin McKeown on Friday, June 25, at 6:30pm, the series features new concerts from a variety of performers every week through September.
The Old City Jewish Arts Center will present Time, Collapsed, a new live performance art piece honoring the contraction of time and space in the wake of catastrophic loss (sounds relevant, yeah?). The show runs on Fridays, June 25 and July 2, at 5:30pm and 7pm. The event is free with donations and pre-registration encouraged.
Image Description: Malik Berry, a Black man, poses with his right arm up, palm facing up slightly. Topless, an assortment of flowers blooms behind him, seeming like the flowers could be growing from his body.
Sign up for our newsletter
All of the week's new articles, all in one place. Sign up for the free weekly BSR newsletters, and don't miss a conversation.
