Local Teen Artists ‘ARISE’ at CMCArts Saturday

Local teen artists shared their art with family and friends at the finale of the five-week workshop, You: the Promise of the Diaspora. “Arise” was the live performance, the dance, the songs, and the visual art that culminated from their efforts during that period of learning and growing, and expressing themselves. 

“Home” collage by Alexander Pahlavan (Photo submitted by Alexander Pahlavan)

Saturday afternoon, the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts came alive with new-found voices, stretched bodies, enlightened minds that came together projecting the hopes and dreams of their ancestors. Those are the shoulders they stood on throughout the workshop and developed their connection. “It will come to be because we are all connected at different times, in different places,” the mentors said.

Instructors Sayeeda Carter and Chloe Duplessis shared the same thought patterns, and their combined energies seeped into the hearts and minds of their teen mentees, and the juice flowed throughout the workshop. 

“Rise Up” collage by Jasmina Joseph (Photo submitted by Jasmina Joseph)

Youth Cultural Bearer Marley Cassius, who danced the Bamboula, was trained by Music In Motion artistic director Charlita Schuster and master drummer and cultural bearer of the Bamboula dance form Chenzira Davis Kahina. 

Isabelle Tirado sang in Acapella the soul-searching freedom song, “Stand Up,” from the Harriet Tubman film. Che Amor Vasquez also sang Acapella in her rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

“The History of the Sugar Mill” photograph by Zyah Rogers (Photo submitted by Zyah Rogers)

All of the teens were involved in the improvisational skits that focused on the inequalities in the world, the community they live in, and the schools they attend. They raised their voices in their shared responsibility of describing the changes that must be made.

“Ancestors, Come Out!” photograph by Rehanna Griffiths (Photo submitted by Rehanna Griffiths)

CMCArts has planned a wide range of classes and workshops for the youth, teens, and adults. Some are virtual, and others are in-person. The public is invited to join the workshops and encouraged to become a member of the museum.

Ancestor Table at ‘ARISE’ (Elisa McKay photo)

For more information: 

cmcarts.org