Talk

Once Upon a Place: Telling Stories through objects in Jamaica, Queens

Sunday, June 26 2016
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Please join us for the first panel in the series Once Upon a Place, a discussion by local arts leaders who will share oral histories through the visual anthropology of object sharing. Saiku Branch, Director of Afrikan Poetry Theatre will speak about his father's legacy, founder John "Watusi" Branch and the naming of 176th St.; Stephanie Davis, Jamaica Arts Leaders Fellow and Poetry Editor of Queens-based Newtown Literary will talk about growing up playing basketball at Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning; and Kelsey Brow, Curator of King Manor Museum will share an object from the back storeroom of the historic house.  

Once Upon a Place is a five-part public engagement series that presents an arts-based oral history model expanding upon the town hall panel format. Held in conjunction with Jameco Exchange, Once Upon a a Place explores the idea of public engagement arranged at the intersection of diverse audiences and everyday places. Reflecting on Jamaica’s identity as one of the world's most ethnically diverse places, and a multi-modal transportation hub, Once Upon a Place and the exhibition Jameco Exchange work in tandem to create community conversations within the context of a larger dialogue about a moment of social change sweeping across Jamaica and New York City. The series will culminate with Panel II on Saturday, July 9, in which artists Sol Aramendi, Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani and Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful will present research gathered and projects created in collaboration with community participants. 

Once Upon a Place is supported by the New York Council for the Humanities.

Related Exhibition:  Jameco Exchange