Join artist and historian Kamau Ware, founder of the Black Gotham Experience, and poet Cyrus Aaron in a conversation based in their ongoing investigation of the historical and imagined past of Fort Greene, informed by the often unseen stories of Black residents from the 19th century to the present. Moderated by Ifeoma Ebo.
For this project, Ware and Aaron use historical research and interviews with contemporary and once residents as source material for an interlocking set of artistic experiments including walks, photographic portraits, a poem cycle, video, and public discussion, all meditating on the project’s central question, Who is Fort Greene?.
Bios:
Kamau Ware is a multidimensional creative blending complementary yet disparate disciplines as an Artist/ Historian. He is best known for his flagship storytelling project, Black Gotham Experience (BGX), a visual storytelling project founded in 2010 that celebrates the impact of the African Diaspora on New York City through a series of walking tours, graphic novels, and events. Ware's Black Gotham Experience has been recognized by The Atlantic and The New York Times, Columbia University’s History in Action Project Award, and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Ware has also received prominent commissions, including a public art display in New York City’s Financial District. Recent engagements include Ideas City at the New Museum in New York, NY, SXSW, and an international speaking tour.
Cyrus Aaron is a Brooklyn based creative writer, playwright and poet. In 2016, Aaron wrote and produced his first original play about the psychological plight of bias and conventional racism. Aaron’s theatrical debut made a resonating impression and with his unique voice as a storyteller the Chicago Native has been commissioned and covered across industries and mediums. His features and commissions include VICE, HBO, YAHOO, iHEART, PYER MOSS, MACY’S, and ELLE, among others. When he’s not writing, Aaron performs live music sets with sonic collective THE BLK HRS, and leads a social empowerment campaign for America’s youth.
Ifeoma Ebo (Moderator) is an urban designer and strategist with 20 years of international experience working at diverse scales including building, community and city design. As the Director of Strategic Design Initiatives with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, she leads interagency design and built environment initiatives to transform the public realm while addressing public safety and social justice in marginalized communities across NYC. Ifeoma is a 2016 Forefront Fellow of the NYC Urban Design Forum and Next City Vanguard Fellow. She serves on Advisory Boards for BlackSpaceNYC, the Association for Community Design and the Museum of Modern Art. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and a Masters in City Planning and Urban Design from MIT.
Venue Information:
The Stoop at BRIC House is a public cultural gathering space featuring free, drop-in programming, and offering a place to sit, observe, and participate in multi-disciplinary work.
Beginning Nov. 1, 2022, attendees of any BRIC House programming will no longer have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter the building. Masks are encouraged but not required in all BRIC operated spaces. If you have questions regarding this protocol, please email Safety@bricartsmedia.org