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Celebrating Juneteenth, Blood Baby, and A Love Jawn
The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, June 13-19, 2024
Kyle V. Hiller
Juneteenth is right around the corner, and a variety of events are popping up over the next week to celebrate the holiday. Offerings from Please Touch, the African American Museum of Philadelphia, the Museum of the American Revolution, and more populate the week. Check out our picks for this week, and see what else is going on around the area with Blood Baby, A Love Jawn, and a new exhibit from Japan America Society.
Be good, Philly!
Juneteenth events
Rustin Day of Film
Friday, June 14, 6pm
Chester County History Center, 225 North High Street, West Chester
The West Chester International Film Festival and Chester County History Center team up for Rustin Day of Film, the first edition of a celebration of short films that elevate Black and LGBTQIA+ stories and filmmakers.
Samuel R. Delany: How Science Fiction Dances to the Music of Time
Saturday, June 15, 3:30-4:30pm
Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia
The Free Library hosts legendary novelist Samuel R. Delany along with Hollywood indie film composer Mark Inchoco for a discussion on the intersections between science fiction and music.
Rhythms of Liberations from Juneteenth to Beyond
Saturday, June 15, 4-8pm
African American Museum of Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia
Celebrate artists like Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Jon Batiste, and Esperanza Spalding for a night of jazz and blues. Food, whiskey-based drinks, and locally made goods from Black entrepreneurs will also be available at the event.
The 18th Annual Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival
Saturday, June 15, 12-7pm
6300 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia
The free annual festival hosted by Johnson House Historic Site will feature African drumming, a children’s village, cultural marketplace, historic re-enactments, exhibits, tours, poetry, food trucks, and much more.
Juneteenth at the Please Touch Museum
Wednesday, June 19
Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia
The Museum will host a variety of programming on Juneteenth, including storytime, interactive cooperative games, and creative workshops ranging from printmaking to tie dye and more.
Juneteenth Block Party
Wednesday, June 19, 12-7pm
African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia
AAMP is also hosting a block party on Juneteenth, and it’s free and family-friendly. Bouncing off its Rhythms of Liberation event this Saturday, performances by hiip-hop legends Kid ‘n Play, musical artist Rich Medina, singer Seraiah Nicole, West Philly band Suede Lace and Philadelphia poet laureate Kai Davis will decorate the celebration. On Juneteenth, the Museum will also have free admission.
Juneteenth at the MoAR
Wednesday, June 19
Museum of the American Revolution, 101 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia
The MoAR is hosting a variety of events in celebration of Juneteenth, including a special look at its Witness to Revolution exhibit, pop-up talks, and a performance of Meet Elizabeth Freeman, a first-person theatrical performance that tells the story of Elizabeth Freeman, a Massachusetts woman who used the words of the new state constitution to sue for her freedom and won her case in 1781, setting the groundwork for the abolition of slavery in the state.
More around the city
Blood Baby
June 7-23, 2024
Various locations
This new queer dance project helmed by local dance artist Meg Foley explores the intersection of queer parenting and family-building: a big, sweaty, gay disco called Carpet Womb; a Touch Library that mimics the intimacy of the parent and child relationship; and Primordial, a site-responsive, sculptural movement practice known also as rock drag.
Community of Images
June 14-August 9, 2024
Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 South 18th Street, Philadelphia
Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia and Collaborative Cataloging Japan will open their new exhibit, Community of Images: Japanese Moving Image Artists in the US, 1960s-1970s, this week. It will feature a variety of related programs and events during the summer at venues throughout the city.
A Love Jawn
Friday, June 14, 12-6pm
JFK Plaza/Love Park, 1501 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia
An afternoon of live music, vendors, games, raffles, live art, and more converge at Love Park on Friday. Be sure to “rep your flag” when you’re there for a chance to win prizes in honor of Flag Day, Pride, and Juneteenth.
At top: Author Samuel R. Delany will be at the Free Library this week. (Photo by Alex Lozupone, retrieved via Wikimedia Commons.)
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