Land of Broken Dreams

Known for her wide-ranging vocal technique and her original blend of modern jazz with African music styles, Grammy-nominated singer Somi uses her songwriting to give voice to issues of social justice, transnationalism, womanhood, and global constructions of Blackness. As the opening concert of the Convening, Somi will appear in a stripped down setting (voice, piano, drum) to offer an evening of song that invites a deeper reflection on cultural intimacy and the body politic. Joining the vocalist will be Toru Dodo (piano) and Otis Brown III (drums).

Wade Thompson Drill Hall

12:00pm to 1:00pm
Opening Ceremony:
Carrie Mae Weems
Dick Griffin
Quincy Troupe
Jawwaad Taylor

1:00pm to 4:00pm
Pop-Up Performances by:
Eisa Davis with Jennifer Harrison Newman
Chris Eddleton
Firas Zreik

4:00pm to 7:00pm
Pop-Up Performances by:
aja monet
Francesca Harper

Board of Officers Room

1:00pm to 4:00pm
Presentations by:
Karyn Olivier
Julie Mehretu
Sky Hopinka
Alex Schweder, with Geneva Skeen

4:00pm to 7:00pm
Presentations by:
Shahzia Sikander
Lonnie Graham
Fred Moten
vanessa german
Agnes Gund and Catherine Gund in conversation with Carrie Mae Weems
Claudia Rankine with performance by Helga Davis

Veterans Room

1:00pm to 4:00pm
Presentations by:
Elvira Dyangani Ose
Iris Dressler and Hans D. Christ
Hans Ulrich Obrist
Deborah Archer

Carrie Mae Weems, with Jawwaad Taylor, Tcheser Holmes, Khari Lucas, Brandon Tyler Willis, James Brandon Lewis

4:00pm to 7:00pm
Presentations by:
Deborah Kass

Alyson Shotz with performance by Nasheet Waits and Kaoru Watanabe

LeRonn Brooks, Tyehimba Jess, with Vijay Iyer

8:30pm and 9:30 pm
Performance by:
Vijay Iyer with Arooj Aftab, Adam O’Farrill, and Linda May Han Oh

Colonels Room

1:00pm to 4:00pm
Monica Youn, Cathy Park Hong, Simon Wu, Jess Row, and Sara’o Bery in conversation with LeRonn Brooks

Presentations by:
Sara Serpa
Christine Jones

4:00pm to 7:00pm
Presentations by:
Cheryl R. Riley
Ballman Khapalova (Peter Ballman)
Jeffrey Henson Scales

Danielle Wood, Dario Calmese, and Kayla Farrish in conversation with Kenyon Adams

19K/Screening Room

1:00pm to 7:00pm
Film selections curated by Carrie Mae Weems

Friday’s convening concludes with two performances by composer/pianist Vijay Iyer, with vocalist and composer Arooj Aftab, bassist and composer Linda May Han Oh, and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill. Grammy-nominated artist Iyer, known for his eclectic and varied collaborations, will take the stage with his ensemble to celebrate the day’s end.

Wade Thompson Drill Hall

12:00pm to 1:00pm
Performance by:
Brooklyn United Music & Arts Program Drumline with Maurice Chestnut

1:00pm to 4:00pm
Pop-Up Performances by:
Maya Phillips
Kayla Farrish

4:00pm to 7:00pm
Pop-Up Performances by:
Reggie “Regg Roc” Gray and The D.R.E.A.M Ring
The Peace Poets

Board of Officers Room

1:00pm to 4:00pm
Presentations by:
Sarah Elizabeth Lewis
Antwaun Sargent and Ashley James
Radcliffe Bailey

Presentations by 2020-2021 Rolex Arts Initiative Protégés:
Kyle Bell with Spike Lee
Whitney White
Agustina San Martín
Camila Rodríguez Triana with Carrie Mae Weems

4:00pm to 7:00pm
Presentations by:
Ben Jealous
Shinique Smith
Torkwase Dyson
Reginald Dwayne Betts
Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter , with Stro Elliot, Anthony Tidd and Tamika Lawrence

Veterans Room

1:00pm to 4:00pm
Presentations by:
Khary Lazarre-White
Tony Oursler

Elizabeth Colomba in conversation with Deborah Willis

Naomi Beckwith, and Shanta Thake in conversation with Avery Willis Hoffman

4:00pm to 7:00pm
Presentations by:
Tina Kukielski

Performances by:
Craig Harris Ensemble
Nona Hendryx
Carrie Mae Weems
Carl Hancock Rux

8:30pm and 9:30pm
Performances by:
Terri Lyne Carrington and Lisa Fischer with Morgan Guerin, Nicole Mitchell, Kassa Overall, and Brandee Younger

Colonels Room

1:00pm to 4:00pm
Presentations by:
Sayler/Morris (Susannah Sayler and Edward Morris)
Erin Jenoa Gilbert
Gregory Sholette
Carmelita Tropicana
Farai Chideya and Lisa Cortés in conversation with Tanya Selvaratnam

4:00pm to 7:00pm
Presentations by:
Reggie “Regg Roc” Gray and The D.R.E.A.M Ring
Diana Oh
Majora Carter
Jessica Bell Brown and Ryan N. Dennis
Mariam Kamara and Salome Asega, introduced by Jennifer Hsu

19K/Screening Room

1:00pm to 7:00pm
Film selections curated by Carrie Mae Weems

NEA Jazz Master and three-time Grammy Award-winning drummer, producer, and composer, Terri Lyne Carrington and Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lisa Fischer lead an all-star ensemble in a concert of improvised compositions, prompted by audience responses to and reflections on their experiences with The Shape of Things and the Land of Broken Dreams convening. The ensemble features Brandee Younger, harp; Nicole Mitchell, flutes; Morgan Guerin, multi-instrumentalist; and Kassa Overall, electronics and MC.