Help Us Present "Searching for Eastman"

Our project is to develop a multi-disciplinary performance involving poetry, dance, theatre, music and image mapping based on the life of the challenging Black/Queer minimalist composer, dancer, choreographer, pianist, singer Julius Eastman.

‘Searching for Eastman” sets out to retrace Julius Eastman’s steps from child soprano and ballet dancer in Ithaca, New York to openly Queer Black man in the White, heteronormative New Music scene; to fiercely political artist at the cross-sections of the Stonewall Inn and Attica Prison riots; caught between racism and homophobia.  “Searching for Eastman” will reflect a vivid, fragmented experience of ultimate discord: Eastman moved in communities that interacted with each other, yet he remained The Other for them all. Considered an ever-outrageous, irreverent genius, he crossed conventional boundaries overtly and deliberately, frequently jarring the sensibilities of his contemporaries.



Who are we?

The wind in the leaves collective is a dynamic and diverse group of accomplished, passionate artists who come together  to create rich and evocative multi-disciplinary performances centered on the poetry of artistic director charles c. smith – performances that take artistic risks, push genre boundaries and engage artists and audiences from diverse backgrounds and artistic practices.

https://windintheleavescollective.com 

https://www.facebook.com/windintheleavescollective 

Why we need your help?

While we have received grants from Buddies and Bad Times, Canada Council for the Arts, the Toronto Arts Council and the Community One Foundation, we’re seeking additional community support to hold a series of rehearsals with the ‘wind in the leaves collective’ crew of dancers, dance rehearsal director,  theatre director and image mapping technicians culminating in a performance workshop at Aki Studio in May 2020.
Important  Update: due to the COVID-19 the performances in May are postponed until further notice. 


What do you get?

$25 ticket to the performance

$50 ticket and part of production

$100 ticket part of production and backstage meet with artists

* "Part of the production"  involves a speaking role in the production, details to be provided in advance.

(Exclusive to the first 15 supporters, $50 and $100 level)


Bio:


[Photo credit: Bia Rohde]

charles c. smith is a poet, playwright and performer. He studied poetry and drama at New York City University and Herbert Berghof Studios, and drama at the Frank Silvera’s Writers’ Workshop in Harlem. His play Last Days for the Desperate won an award from Black Theatre Canada. He has received a grant from the Ontario Arts Council’s Writers Reserve Grants Program and the Toronto Arts Council Writers Grants Program, has published four books of poetry (the latest one being released on 10 May 2018!), has edited several collections of poetry (including the works of Dionne Brand, Marlene Nourbese Phillips, Claire Harris, Cyril Dabydeen, Lillian Allen, George Elliott Clarke, Clifton Joseph), and his writings have  appeared in numerous journals and magazines, including Poetry Canada Review, the Quill and Quire, Descant, Dandelion, Fiddlehead, Anti-Racism in Education: Missing in Action (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives), the Amethyst Review, Bywords, Canadian Ethnic Studies and others.
Charles was also the founder of the Black Perspectives Cultural Program in Regent Park and has over the years continued to develop and convene community arts workshops in high-needs areas throughout the GTA, funded provided by the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.

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The wind in the leaves collective acknowledges the support for this project from: