"The Harlem Renaissance and African-American Contributions to the Arts" symposium on Feb. 19-21
MIDDLEBURY, Vt.-Distinguished Men of Color, a Middlebury College student organization, will mark Black History Month with a weekend-long symposium titled “The Harlem Renaissance and African-American Contributions to the Arts,” from Thursday, Feb. 19 through Saturday, Feb. 21. Free and open to the public, the symposium will explore the Harlem Renaissance era of the 1920s. During 1914-1918, many African-Americans began moving into Harlem from other areas of New York City and the rural, agricultural South. Rapidly evolving into a sophisticated literary and artistic center, Harlem enjoyed a heady intellectual atmosphere that kindled a wide variety of fine and highly original works that reflected African-American life and exerted a compelling influence on literature, visual arts and music.
The symposium will begin on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 7-9 p.m. when live jazz will resound from The Juice Bar Stage in the McCullough Student Center on Old Chapel Road, off Route 30.
On Friday, Feb. 20, from 4:30-6 p.m. a panel discussion titled “African-American Contributions in Music, Visual Arts and Literature to the Harlem Renaissance” will take place in the Coltrane Lounge of Adirondack House on College Street (Route 125). The panelists will include Middlebury College faculty members Professor of History William Hart, Associate Professor of American Literature and Civilization Will Nash and Northeast Consortium Scholar in Residence Vermonja Alston. A complimentary dinner and open discussion of panel topics will follow the event in the same location from 6:30-8 p.m.
On Saturday, Feb. 21, from 12-4 p.m. a student-created display of the Harlem Renaissance will be offered in the Social Space of the McCullough Student Center on Old Chapel Road, off Route 30. Art, literature and music will be the focus of a three-section array of visual compositions, newspaper articles and paintings; excerpts from poems, short stories and personal accounts; and the sounds, rhythms and music of the times.
Later that day, from 8-9:30 p.m. on the McCullough Social Space stage, a performance featuring Lemon, Abyss and Vanessa Hidary—-three poetry slam artists from HBO’s “Def Poetry.” Straddling the bridge between rap and poetry, the artists’ topics will range from ideologies arising from the Harlem Renaissance to hip-hop in today’s media.
Tony Award-winner and New York City native Lemon has appeared on Broadway and HBO, and has toured with “Def Poetry” in Europe.
Abyss, from Atlanta, Ga., has appeared on HBO’s “Def Poetry” and traveled on its “Rhymes and Reason Tour.” He was also the first poet to appear on Black Entertainment Television’s “106th and Park.”
Vanessa Hidary, whose works often address educational topics, is an up-and-coming New York poet who has also performed on HBO’s “Def Poetry.”
All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jessa Karki, Middlebury College Office of Institutional Diversity, at 802-443-5709 or jkarki@middlebury.edu.
Symposium Events Listing:
“The Harlem Renaissance and African-American Contributions to the Arts”
Thursday, Feb. 19 through Saturday, Feb. 21
All events are free and open to the public.
Thursday, Feb. 19
7-9 p.m. Live Jazz
The Juice Bar Stage, McCullough Student Center
Old Chapel Road, off Route 30
Friday, Feb. 20
4:30-6 p.m. Panel Discussion
“African-American Contributions in Music, Visual Arts, and Literature to the Harlem Renaissance”
Panelists include Middlebury College faculty members Professor of History William Hart, Associate Professor of American Literature and Civilization Will Nash and Northeast Consortium Scholar in Residence Vermonja Alston. A complimentary dinner and open discussion of panel topics will follow in the same location.
Coltrane Lounge, Adirondack House on College Street (Route 125)
6:30-8 p.m. Complimentary Dinner
Dinner and open discussion of topics addressed in the 4:30 panel
Coltrane Lounge, Adirondack House, College Street (Route 125)
Saturday, Feb. 21
12-4 p.m. Harlem Renaissance Student Exhibit
“Art, Music and Literature from the Harlem Renaissance”
Art, literature and music will be the focus of a three-section array of visual compositions, newspaper articles and paintings; excerpts from poems, short stories and personal accounts; and the sounds, rhythms and music of the times.
McCullough Social Space, Old Chapel Road, off Route 30
8-9:30 p.m. Def Poetry
Featuring HBO’s “Def Poetry” artists: Tony Award-winner Lemon; Abyss, the first poet to appear on Black Entertainment Television’s “106th and Park;” and Vanessa Hidary, up-and-coming New York City poet who addresses educational issues
Social Space stage, McCullough Student Center, Old Chapel Road, off Route 30
For more information, contact Jessa Karki, Middlebury College Office of Institutional Diversity, at 802-443-5709 or jkarki@middlebury.edu.
—end—