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Intercultural Journeys, Power/Play, Embracing the Light, and more
The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, March 14-20, 2024
Kyle V. Hiller
Coming up in Philly this week, Intercultural Journeys hosts its latest edition of The Table Sessions, and it covers a very “fluid” subject through music and vibrations. Then, People’s Light sees a return on its special annual workshop series, Twelve Gates explores the socio-political power of animation, and a powerful storytelling event arrives courtesy of Mural Arts and First Person Arts. Finally, a public panel revisits an exhibit in an extended light, and music inspired by Langston Hughes fills Broad Street.
The Kiln
March 14-24, 2024
People’s Light, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern
The Kiln, an artist-centered lab for developing theatrical works, returns this week for its second year. Playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, and performers will gather to share and engage with new, upcoming projects together—and you’re invited.
The Table Sessions: Water Speaks
March 14-16, 7pm
Rittenhouse Soundworks, 219 Rittenhouse Street, Philadelphia
Intercultural Journeys will present Water Works this weekend, a new work by musicians Keisha Hutchins Hirlinger and Doug Hirlinger which explores the relationship of Black Americans and their ancestors to the water, tracing the route from West Africa through the Middle Passage to the shores of the United States. You may have seen this as part of the POOL: A Social History of Segregation exhibit at Fairmount Water Works, but now is your chance to see it again or catch it if you missed it the first time around.
Power/Play
March 15-May 18, 2024
Opening reception: Friday, March 15, 6pm
Twelve Gates Arts, 106 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia
Power/Play is a new exhibit that considers the immediacy of illustration and animation and their capacity to subvert systems of power. Through the work of four artists and their use of video, animation, painting, and sculpture, the exhibit explores those subversions through early animation, political cartoons, children’s book aesthetics, music videos, graffiti, video games, and memes.
Embracing the Light
Saturday, March 16, 2pm and 6pm
FringeArts, 140 North Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia
Mural Arts Philadelphia and First Person Arts bring Embracing the Light to FringeArts, a collaborative storytelling performance featuring local storytellers with lived experiences with suicide. The performance looks to raise awareness and bring attention to mental health resources, and the performance is designed to be a healing space.
To Sit and Dream
Sunday, March 17, 3pm
Tindley Temple United Methodist Church, 750 South Broad Street, Philadelphia
The Opera Philadelphia Chorus, Wharton-Wesley Faith Ensemble, and Philadelphia soprano Karen Slack are set to perform a concert of music by Black composers centered on four choral settings of the poetry of Langston Hughes. The event is pay-what-you-wish with a suggested donation of $25. (We also preview this in this week's classical music Interludes column.)
Unhoused: Personal Stories and Public Health Panel Discussion
Wednesday, March 20, 5:30-7:30pm
College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 19 S 22nd Street, Philadelphia
The Mütter Museum’s new exhibit, Unhoused: Personal Stories and Public Health (check out our review), is hosting its first public program this coming week. This program will be a panel discussion on the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. Attendees will be invited to view the exhibit first before the panel. The event is free and open to the public, but be sure to register ahead of time.
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