PRODUCER
Black Lives in Focus was a University-wide initiative (co-organized by Dr. Sylvia Rhor-Samaniego and myself) that offered the opportunity to explore the question “What do we learn when Black life is in focus?” while amplifying and showcasing Black lives and Black voices. The initiative launched in the Fall of 2021 with four inaugural projects: a multimedia exhibition of art and text; the “Say Her Name” Memorial Gown project; “Black Built Pitt”, a multimedia tour of historically important sites of Black history on the University's Pittsburgh campus; and the establishment of this website, a hub for the events and programs across disciplines at Pitt that put Black lives in focus.
The photos below capture the opening ceremony for Black Lives in Focus which was held at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. Guests then traveled to the lawn of the Cathedral of Learning on Pitt’s campus where the outdoor exhibition was in residency for two weeks.
photos below by Emmai Alaquiva
The 28 Hours Plays Project
Every 28 hours in the United States, a man, woman, or child who identifies as black is murdered at the hands of a vigilante, security guard, or police officer. Born in Ferguson, MO, the Every 28 Hours Project consists of 80 one-minute plays inspired by the work and message of Black Lives Matter, written by 40-plus playwrights who are part of a national movement initiated by theatre companies across the country.
student-produced mini-documentary of the project
OTHER ARTS
PASSING STRANGE - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre - Dialect Coach (photo by Jay Towns Photography)
PASSING STRANGE - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre - Dialect Coach (photo by Jay Towns Photography)
PASSING STRANGE - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre - Dialect Coach (photo by Jay Towns Photography)
TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre - Dialect Coach
TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre - Dialect Coach
TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre - Dialect Coach
THE 39 STEPS - Pitt Stages - Dialect Coach (photo by Samantha Saunders)
THE 39 STEPS - Pitt Stages - Dialect Coach (photo by Samantha Saunders)
PASSAGE - Carnegie Mellon University - Stunt/Fight/Intimacy Coordinator (photo by Louis Stein)
PASSAGE - Carnegie Mellon University - Stunt/Fight/Intimacy Coordinator (photo by Louis Stein)