Program Update as of 6/8
In light of unprecedented weather due to Canada’s wildfires we have modified our panel discussions. Community conversations on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th have moved to virtual via Zoom. You can register to join us virtually via the links below.
Our Culminating Brunch on Saturday, June 11th is postponed to a later date. We will share those details once available.
Program Updates
Join The Laundromat Project virtually on June 9th and 10th for Artists as Neighbors: Living Liberation, a multi-day public convening featuring community conversations and panel discussions exploring issues of gentrification and displacement as well as how memory, history, and activism can be used in tandem to reclaim and defend neighborhoods.
Artists As Neighbors: Living Liberation, recognizes that artists are not an abstract entity, but are our everyday people, living in our neighborhoods as invested community members. Through public forums, participants and panelists will address the challenges facing both artists and neighbors who are working in different fields, such as public advocacy, local organizing, history and preservation, as well as philanthropy, to address these topics.
This multi-day convening will begin with a series of community conversations to be held in key locations in Bed-Stuy, building to a culminating brunch on June 11 at Bed-Stuy stronghold, Restoration Plaza. This gathering over a shared meal will serve as an opportunity to address the wide and complex challenges facing both artists and neighbors in a time of immense change. Together, we will share our strategies for building community and nurturing our collective creativity in ways that ensure we are living out the liberation we hope to enact every day.
Dates, Times, & Locations
Friday, June 9
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Virtual. Link to register below.
Community Conversation: Evolutions in Public Art and Displacement
This community conversation will explore the dynamic relationship between public art and the challenges of displacement faced by communities of color. Through the perspectives of artists, activists, and community leaders, we will delve into how public art can uplift legacies, preserve cultural heritage, and address the impacts of gentrification. Join us to be inspired, share your experiences, and contribute to the dialogue on the transformative role of public art in celebrating and protecting our narratives.
Moderated by Betty Yu; featuring Jamel Burgess, Diya Vij, and Larry Weekes
Saturday, June 10
11:00am – 12:30pm
Virtual. Link to register below.
Community Conversation: Remembering & Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods
This community conversation will delve into the importance of preserving and revitalizing our neighborhoods, which hold deep historical and cultural significance. Through the insights of community leaders, historians, and activists, we will explore strategies for remembering and reclaiming our neighborhoods, empowering residents, and fostering a sense of belonging. Join us to honor our heritage, share stories, and engage in a dialogue that celebrates the resilience and vibrancy of our African diaspora communities.
Moderated by Bianca Mońa featuring Quardean Lewis, Ena K. McPherson, and Peter Dwayne Robinson
Sunday, June 11
POSTPONED
Kilombo Chronicles: Celebrating Resilience and Collective Liberation (Culminating Brunch & Keynote Conversation)
Join us for a captivating and empowering keynote conversation at our community brunch event, “Kilombo Chronicles: Celebrating Resilience and Collective Liberation.” This unique gathering shines a spotlight on artists of color and their profound contributions to resilience and collective liberation. Through captivating storytelling, powerful performances, and thought-provoking dialogue, we will explore the transformative power of art as a catalyst for social change and empowerment. Be inspired as we honor the resilience and creative spirit of artists of color, celebrating their unique narratives and the profound impact they have on our communities. Together, we will forge a path towards collective liberation, igniting a movement where art becomes a catalyst for change and a beacon of hope. Don’t miss this extraordinary event where creativity, resilience, and collective liberation converge.
Featuring Chief Baba Neil Clarke, Dr. Angela Fatou Gittens, and Lizania Cruz
ASL access for this event provided by Pro Bono ASL
Our event partners include Bed-Stuy Restoration, Brooklyn Community Board 3, Somewhere Good, and Tranquility Farm US.
This program is made possible by Humanities New York, The Mellon Foundation, The Muriel Pollia Foundation, and Terra Foundation for American Art.