Film
Music: New Renaissance Sessions [Multiple Dates]
Saturday, July 26 2014 - Sunday, August 03 2014
A social sculpture that taps into the talents of new renaissance practitioners—fellow young Harlem artists living and working here today—new renaissance sessions is an installation that functions as a gathering space for localized creative production.
Inspired by historic Sugar Hill residents who opened their homes to musicians for public appreciation, new renaissance sessions is a series of intimate performances and readings scheduled over the course of the exhibition. Artists will have their sessions recorded and shared online via SoundCloud. Visitors to the installation will either witness live performances or be able to hear the playback from past sessions as podcasts.
Domestic elements have been purchased from neighborhood Goodwill stores and will be donated back at the end of the exhibition. Many of the artists have generously loaned their visual artwork for the piece, affirming and celebrating the multi-faceted creative energy of today’s generation. *All works courtesy the artists unless otherwise noted.
Presented by Sonia Louise Davis
James Tillman: Thursday July 10, 5:30-6:30pm
Tamara Renee: Saturday July 12, 4:30-5:30pm
DonChristian: Saturday July 26, 4:30-5:30pm. LOCATION: 345 Edgecombe Avenue @150th Street.
Ivan Forde: Thursday July 31, 5:30-6:30pm
Space Limited.
RSVP Required: info@sonialouisedavis.com
About James Tillman
Hailing from Washington, DC, singer-songwriter and musician James Tillman fell in love with the sound of music at an early age. Exposure to his parents’ extensive album collection, which included everything from Afrika Bambaataa to Joni Mitchell, and solo karaoke concerts with a Fisher Price toy cassette player planted musical seeds within him. A knock out church performance of ‘This Little Light of Mine” at age 9 and learning to play Mozart’s Clarinet concerto by 16 helped those musical seeds to take root and flourish. James’ unwavering desire to become a singer was ignited by iconic artists such as Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo. After discovering that Marvin Gaye was a native Washingtonian, James became further driven to forge his own musical path. Drenched in the tradition of these greats yet also inspired by contemporary producers, James’ sound is rooted in soulful R&B with a modern twist. James released his debut on April 29th , Shangri La. James’ goal with the Shangri La EP is to reacquaint the world with meaningful lyrics and soul music that makes you feel good. This project focuses on the unique elements of love that stir the soul. Based in earnest artistry and love, James is destined to create timeless music. There is no limit for this young talent.
About Tamara Renée
Tamara Renée is a multi instrumentalist, producer, songwriter and vocalist born and raised in Harlem, New York. Tamara was raised with a deep appreciation for all cultures and artistic forms. She began singing classical professionally at a young age as chorister at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the biggest gothic cathedral in the world. From classical music she moved on to jazz and soul and became enamored with soul and jazz greats such as Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Tamara attended the Gallatin School of Individualized study where she created her own major that combined her eclectic musical tastes as well as her vast artistic knowledge. While at Gallatin she studied Afro Cuban music in Cuba and she also worked for the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Tamara combines jazz, hip-hop, reggae, rumba, classical, and electronic creating a very diverse and rich sound that exceeds genres. Tamara self released her debut EP The Moon Goddess, which was produced and written by her, with help from acclaimed pianist and producer, Javi Santiago. A self-proclaimed mystic, Tamara aims to heal and transform folks with her sound.
About DonChristian
DonChristian is from the kiosk crowded streets of Germantown, Philadelphia – the smell of gasoline and fast food in the summertime – rattling trunk basses dissolved into soundscape… When DonCristian was a kid he would skip vacation Bible school to watch MTV Jamz, and the woods were his playground. He still finds himself in the woods from time to time…
About Ivan Forde
Ivan currently lives in Harlem and works in photography, collage, performance, and installation. His work has received first place in fine art collage at the Lucie Foundation 2012 international photography awards and included in the “Best In Show Exhibition” in Los Angeles. In 2013 Ivan received awards and fellowships from the Vermont studio center and Dustin Yelling’s Pioneer Works center for art and innovation. Group exhibitions include Columbia University, Thomas Heath gallery, Studio Museum in Harlem, and a solo exhibition in collaboration with United Photo Industries as a part of the Dumbo arts festival. Publications include The New Heroes Magazine, Juxtapoz magazine, Studio magazine, Le Journal De La Photographie, and his self-published artist book titled Wild Combinations (2013). Ivan graduated from SUNY Purchase collage in 2012 with a B.A. in Literature.
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