To Gather;
Part performance, part installation, part gathering place, To Gather; is a collection of performative and architectural artifacts from a cross section of Crown Heights’ social spaces. Bringing a local perspective to urban flux, the artwork raises questions about perceptions of ‘authenticity’ in this rapidly changing Brooklyn neighborhood.
Visitors to the installation in FiveMyles Garage are encouraged to hang out on the stoop, converse in the makeshift pulpit, and relax in the barbershop chair. On hand opening night is Erik da Barber, as well as hip-hop duo DobleFlo, vocal artist Malesha Jessie, poet Lynne Procope and comedian Elon James White. For the remainder of the exhibition, the public is invited to linger and use the artwork as their own gathering place.
PERFORMERS' BIOGRAPHIES:
Ah-Na (Luis Lopez) and Enonymous (Manny Dominguez) are DobleFlo, a New York Hip-Hop duo focusing on the daily struggles of life in modern urban America. Writing and producing music in collaboration with The Brooklyn Label, Ah-Na and Enonymous speak their minds about finding themselves and achieving their dream. Their self-titled debut EP masterfully blends thoughtful lyrics and classic Hip-Hop beats with Latin, Middle-Eastern, and Rock. The duo was featured in and wrote music for public television’s Get the Math, an educational program for middle and high school students. Independent Media Magazine says of the Brooklyn-based duo, “If you’re looking for some substance, style, and originality you might want to look into DobleFlo. They display a passion and grittiness in their voice and vocals that the rap game is sorely missing.“ DobleFlo won the prestigious Platinum Auddy Award for their song “Lights Out” on their debut EP.
The multi-talented Erik da Barber can be found at Experience Unisex Salon on Franklin Ave, Brooklyn. Specializing in natural cuts, locks, and twists and with a keen eye for fashion, Erik’s the man to help you look your best.
Noted for her rich vocal color and range, Malesha Jessie is a versatile artist of both the operatic and concert stages. A native of Southern California, she currently resides in Brooklyn and has sung throughout Europe and the US, including performances with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, San Francisco Opera and the Los Angeles Opera. Malesha has worked with numerous notable conductors including John Mauceri, Steven Mercurio, Dean Williamson, John DeMain, John Alexander, Keith Lockhart and Placido Domingo. Malesha founded Opera Open-Stage nights which she hosts at various venues throughout New York, including Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe. Malesha sings “guerilla-opera” in non-traditional locations throughout Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, videos of which can be seen on YouTube.
Lynne Procope is a Cave Canem fellow and a former National Poetry Slam champion. She is co-author of the collaborative collection, Burning Down the House (Soft Skull). Her poems appear in Drum Voices Review 2000, Poetry Slam: The Competitive Art of Performance Poetry (Manic D Press), His Rib: Women’s Anthology (Penmanship), Bowery Women (YDK ) , The Last American Valentine (Write Bloody ), Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution (Seal Press) and the So Much Things to Say anthology from the Calabash Literary Festival. Her work appears or is forthcoming in journals including: Affilia Journal of Women & Social Work, Storyscape, decomP, Quarter After Eight, Washington Square Review. She is curator of the Gaslight Salon Series, co-founder and managing editor of Union Station Magazine and executive director of the louderARTS Project. More of Lynne’s recordings can be heard online at Poets & Writers.
Elon James White, Editor in Chief of This Week in Blackness, is a Brooklyn-based comedian, writer and host of the award-winning web series This Week in Blackness, a satirical look at race, politics and pop-culture in a so-called “post-racial” America. White has been a featured commentator on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, VH1’s Black to the Future and The Great Debate. His commentary on race and politics has been featured on CNN.com, Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, Giant Magazine, Alternet and The Root. Praised as “The perfect comedian for the Obama era, talking race while exploding racial stereotypes” by Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry on Politco.com and as “Precise, thought provoking and hilarious” by Daily Show creator Lizz Winstead, White continues to win accolades from critics, academia and audiences alike. White was the recipient of four 2009 Black Weblog Awards, including Best Humor Blog, Best MicroBlog (Twitter), Best Video Blog and Blog of the Year. He has been featured in The NY Observer, NY Post, Gothamist, Newsweek and Gawker and has appeared on ComedyCentral.com and Sirius Satellite Radio. White’s festival appearances include the 2010 SF Sketchfest, 2010 Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival, 2010 NC Comedy Arts Fest, 2009 LA Comedy Festival and more. He is currently on a Post-Racial College Tour and a featured contributer on Salon & Newsone.
Visitors to the installation in FiveMyles Garage are encouraged to hang out on the stoop, converse in the makeshift pulpit, and relax in the barbershop chair. On hand opening night is Erik da Barber, as well as hip-hop duo DobleFlo, vocal artist Malesha Jessie, poet Lynne Procope and comedian Elon James White. For the remainder of the exhibition, the public is invited to linger and use the artwork as their own gathering place.
PERFORMERS' BIOGRAPHIES:
Ah-Na (Luis Lopez) and Enonymous (Manny Dominguez) are DobleFlo, a New York Hip-Hop duo focusing on the daily struggles of life in modern urban America. Writing and producing music in collaboration with The Brooklyn Label, Ah-Na and Enonymous speak their minds about finding themselves and achieving their dream. Their self-titled debut EP masterfully blends thoughtful lyrics and classic Hip-Hop beats with Latin, Middle-Eastern, and Rock. The duo was featured in and wrote music for public television’s Get the Math, an educational program for middle and high school students. Independent Media Magazine says of the Brooklyn-based duo, “If you’re looking for some substance, style, and originality you might want to look into DobleFlo. They display a passion and grittiness in their voice and vocals that the rap game is sorely missing.“ DobleFlo won the prestigious Platinum Auddy Award for their song “Lights Out” on their debut EP.
The multi-talented Erik da Barber can be found at Experience Unisex Salon on Franklin Ave, Brooklyn. Specializing in natural cuts, locks, and twists and with a keen eye for fashion, Erik’s the man to help you look your best.
Noted for her rich vocal color and range, Malesha Jessie is a versatile artist of both the operatic and concert stages. A native of Southern California, she currently resides in Brooklyn and has sung throughout Europe and the US, including performances with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, San Francisco Opera and the Los Angeles Opera. Malesha has worked with numerous notable conductors including John Mauceri, Steven Mercurio, Dean Williamson, John DeMain, John Alexander, Keith Lockhart and Placido Domingo. Malesha founded Opera Open-Stage nights which she hosts at various venues throughout New York, including Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe. Malesha sings “guerilla-opera” in non-traditional locations throughout Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, videos of which can be seen on YouTube.
Lynne Procope is a Cave Canem fellow and a former National Poetry Slam champion. She is co-author of the collaborative collection, Burning Down the House (Soft Skull). Her poems appear in Drum Voices Review 2000, Poetry Slam: The Competitive Art of Performance Poetry (Manic D Press), His Rib: Women’s Anthology (Penmanship), Bowery Women (YDK ) , The Last American Valentine (Write Bloody ), Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution (Seal Press) and the So Much Things to Say anthology from the Calabash Literary Festival. Her work appears or is forthcoming in journals including: Affilia Journal of Women & Social Work, Storyscape, decomP, Quarter After Eight, Washington Square Review. She is curator of the Gaslight Salon Series, co-founder and managing editor of Union Station Magazine and executive director of the louderARTS Project. More of Lynne’s recordings can be heard online at Poets & Writers.
Elon James White, Editor in Chief of This Week in Blackness, is a Brooklyn-based comedian, writer and host of the award-winning web series This Week in Blackness, a satirical look at race, politics and pop-culture in a so-called “post-racial” America. White has been a featured commentator on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, VH1’s Black to the Future and The Great Debate. His commentary on race and politics has been featured on CNN.com, Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, Giant Magazine, Alternet and The Root. Praised as “The perfect comedian for the Obama era, talking race while exploding racial stereotypes” by Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry on Politco.com and as “Precise, thought provoking and hilarious” by Daily Show creator Lizz Winstead, White continues to win accolades from critics, academia and audiences alike. White was the recipient of four 2009 Black Weblog Awards, including Best Humor Blog, Best MicroBlog (Twitter), Best Video Blog and Blog of the Year. He has been featured in The NY Observer, NY Post, Gothamist, Newsweek and Gawker and has appeared on ComedyCentral.com and Sirius Satellite Radio. White’s festival appearances include the 2010 SF Sketchfest, 2010 Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival, 2010 NC Comedy Arts Fest, 2009 LA Comedy Festival and more. He is currently on a Post-Racial College Tour and a featured contributer on Salon & Newsone.
