‘When We Gather’ Collaborative Art Project To Celebrate Historic Inauguration Of Kamala Harris – Forbes

When We Gather is a multi-faceted art project celebrating the history making inauguration of Vice President Kamala Harris, directed by Codie Elaine Oliver (Black Love, OWN Network) and performed by renowned artists María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Okwui Okpokwasili, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Dell Marie Hamilton, Jana Harper, Lisa E. Harris and Samita Sinha. The performers have developed a three-minute art film to inspire reflection and celebration on this momentous day in United States history. “When We Gather offers an empowering moment to heal and unite the country through creative energy,” says Campos-Pons, who envisioned the project and brought the artists together. “The circle shows us how we can remain connected even while we are separated due to this pandemic or due to the state of the nation. All of these factors have informed the collaborative choreography and spoken word of this global collective experience.” 

Due to the pandemic limitations, performances have been woven together from the performers’ respective locations in Brooklyn, Nashville and Houston. The film stirs up feelings of relief and solidarity through imaginative work, in a time of great divide in the United States. It is narrated by Academy Award-nominated actress Alfre Woodard. The soundscape incorporates both lyrics and a poem written by Diggs for the project and features choreographed movements and gestures from diverse traditions.

The film will be followed by When We Gather: Together, a behind-the-scenes interactive program. It will feature a conversation about the film, interviews with those involved in it, and additional performances. This special program is co-produced and hosted by Dr. Nikki A. Greene, a professor of art history at Wellesley College. When We Gather is produced by an all-female identifying team of artists, scholars and producers. It is a collaborative artwork produced by Gallery Wendi Norris in San Francisco and Creative Time, a public arts non-profit based in New York.

“When We Gather arrives at an inflection point—serving as both a moment of reflection and a galvanizing  call to envision, and enact, a better tomorrow. At this historic moment, the work speaks to the elemental  role that women have played in the progress of this nation,” says Justine Ludwig, Executive Director of  Creative Time.  

Everyone can participate in When We Gather by tuning into the online broadcast at  www.whenwegather.art on January 20 at 7 pm EST. The film and When We Gather: Together will be available at www.whenwegather.art and streamed free worldwide from January 20 through February 15,  2021. The film and special will be screened at locations across the country on select dates thereafter.

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