World Water Day / Earth Day

CSArts presents a video-sound installation focusing on intersecting glocal (global-local) concerns related to climate change and racial matters. It is presented as an “entre-act” between World Water Day (March 22) and Earth Day (April 22) during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: a virtual online preview for future onsite exhibitions. Harvestworks NY Apr 5-11

World-Wide-Walks / between earth & water / CAPES (2019-21) Peter d’Agostino

Video walks performed in and around South Africa’s significant ecological and historical sites: Cape Town Robben Island Prison, Cape of Good Hope, and Cape Agulhas. In 2018, Cape Town’s city managers warned of a looming ‘Day Zero’ crisis when water taps would run dry following years of severe drought. Robben Island, across from Cape Town in Table Bay, is the site of an infamous maximum-security prison for Black, Indian, and mixed race opponentsof South Africa’s apartheid regime. Nelson Mandela was incarcerated there for 19 of his 27years in prison before serving as the country’s first black president from 1994- 99. While the Cape of Good Hope is widely known for early Portuguese explorations (1487-98) it also played a key role in the slave trade beginning in 1652. Cape Agulhas, at the geographic southern tip of the African continent, is the geographic divide between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Music and sound design: Joseph M. Williams, Jr. Virtual model: Danielle Hope Abrom
Special thanks: Tom Moses, Robben Island Museum
Support: Climate, Sustainability and the Arts (CSArts), Film & Media Arts Sustainability Fund, Temple University, and Harvestworks Digital Arts Center.

Walkin’ & Singin’ : New Songs of the Open Road  (2019-21) Homer Jackson

This installation reframes a performance event produced by Homer Jackson, director of the Philadelphia Jazz Project, celebrating poet Walt Whitman’s 200th birthday in 2019. The songs, performed by participants walking through the city of Philadelphia, were inspired by Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road” and songs that fueled civil rights marchers to “challenge with their feet the boundaries of freedom.” Written and arranged by minister and vocalist, Taylor “Toby VeNT” Martin, choirmaster, and composer Waverly Austin, and singer/songwriter James Solomon, the musicality of these tunes were buttressed by a chorus of professional singers and members of the general public. “Tear Down These Walls” by Austin and “As I Give…As I Walk” by Martin are featured in this new installation. Additional concept development: Asha Jackson.

Installation design: Peter d’Agostino Sound mix: Joseph M. Williams, Jr. Virtual model: Danielle Hope Abrom.
Support: Climate, Sustainability and the Arts (CSArts), Film & Media Arts Sustainability Fund,
Temple University, University of Pennsylvania Libraries Kislak Center and funded by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage.