Dawoud Bey - The Emory Project Opens

The Dawoud Bey Emory Project Exhibit opened last night at the Visual Arts Gallery. There was a private reception for the portrait subjects last month. It was during this reception that Hal Jacobs interviewed several of us about the experience. Well, an amazing experience it was. From meeting Dawoud during his first visits to campus, to being chosen as a subject, to the shoot itself, to writing my self-reflection, to recording my voice reading it...was all a formative experience.

Special thanks to Hal for this production.
If you haven't, please visit the OFFICIAL Website for Dawoud Bey: The Emory Project.
Plan to spend some quality time looking, listening, learning about yourself and the people who has the great opportunity to be on there.

Dawoud Bey - The Emory Project

In partnership with the Transforming Community Project (TCP), the Emory Visual Arts Department commissioned internationally renowned photographer Dawoud Bey to develop a series of portraits of the Emory community that communicates the University's diversity. This commission celebrates the culmination of TCP's five-year exploration of Emory's historic and current experiences of race, gender, sexuality and other forms of human difference.


Bey created twenty double portraits, each containing two members of the Emory community; these portraits, along with personal statements written by the portrait subjects, will be on view during this exhibition at the Visual Arts Gallery before they go to their permanent home on Emory’s main campus. Additional programs will include a lecture by Dawoud Bey and a week-long celebration of the making of “The Emory Project,” featuring participant testimonials, documentary footage by Hal Jacobs, and opportunities for additional members of the Emory community to participate in the project.

I had the great fortune of being one of those photographed by Bey. To say I was honored would be an understatement. As a photographer myself, I felt inspired and mentored by him in an instant. I watched his every move. I listened closely to everything he said. He made me feel comfortable, but at the same time, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.


Last week, there was a private reception for those of us who were photographed. We were able to sneak a peak at the website as well as the accompanying documentary. I can't wait to see Dawoud next year and to celebrate the public unveiling of The Emory Project. Stay Tuned.

got ethics?

...most of you know this, but (believe it or not), i'm the assistant director of a program at the Emory University Center for Ethics. We're getting geared up for the student's return. I've said this before, but I feel so grateful for the opportunity to bring my full self to the table even in my vocation. I am an artist. My art is appreciated and utilized even in my regular work. This philm was produced for the purpose of introducing incoming freshmen to the Center. Think they'll dig it?

Music for this philm production by
Lucky Dragons.
Track: Mercy
from the 555 Recordings Release Dark Falcon

Lucky Dragons / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

and
YUKI YAKI
Track: Opening Flower
from 5 Little Treasures From The North Recording


****Learn more about these artist and get their music free.

These audio releases are published under the Creative Commons Music Sharing License
(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0).

That means:
The owner of this music (the artist) retains his or her copyright but allows you to:

* download
* copy
* file-share
* trade
* distribute
* publicly perform (e.g. webcast) it

Artists Give Freedom to Speech - Free Speech Art Cafe

Artists Give Freedom to Speech
By Pooja Yadav Posted: 03/30/2009
The Emory Wheel
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” said Voltaire, whose powerful quote is resounded by millions of free speech activists, including Martin Luther King Jr., Bob Marley and Nelson Mandela, who fought for a better world. Last week, Emory students gathered to explore these heroes and their words, using their art, songs and poetry to convey the issues they felt passionate about in their own lives.

The Free Speech Art Café, hosted by the Center for Ethics last Monday, exhibited student art and performances that undertook the idea of free speech. Despite being the first café sponsored by the Center, there was a strong audience turnout that packed a room with more than 75 people, prompting the organizers to continuously bring in more chairs.

Carlton Mackey, the organizer and director of the Ethics and Servant Leadership program, was especially enthusiastic about the students’ artistic submissions and performances, which had allowed the event to take place.

“Originally there was supposed to be a lecture on freedom of speech, but I wanted to give students the chance to express themselves,” said Mackey......

click here to read the rest of the article
— Contact Pooja Yadav.
pyadav2@emory.edu

at it again...Free Speech Art Cafe

I'm so grateful for all of the support I received in putting on this event. I'm really grateful to work in an environment where you can bring your whole self to the table. I do at times feel as if I have a dichotomous existence. Work Work vs. Art Work. This one of those times when again it all came together. Thanks to the Emory University Center for Ethics Staff, all the students who came...the house was packed, the artists, Rei Wang for the "Protest" design flyer and Zamir for being the emcee and for the "Censorship" flyer design. Congrats to the Artist who competed and to Omotola for taking home the 1st place prize. Photos from the evening to come.
Speak and Live Freely
-carlton

Express Yourself

the powers that be gave me another opportunity to make an attempt at organizing and hosting an event. several months ago, i had the distinct pleasure of forging a friendship with a couple that continues to inspire and uplift my spirit. dan and dena keplinger are artists and fighting spirits. you should know them and their work. you too will be uplifted. www.kinggimp.com
thanks for everything guys and congratulations.

Thank You

The event went well. Eve and Dr. Mukwege were extremely gracious. We are all better because of their example.

Turning Pain Into Power

There is a lot going on in the world. There always has been. The economic crisis in the United States is devastating and is, unfortunately, causing the systemic oppression and neglect of other areas to be exacerbated. I give thanks right now for a 'job' (period). I also give thanks for this 'job' allowing me to exercise my multiple talents and interests. While allowing me to stay (fairly) current on issues that we as global citizens of humanity face, it at the same time gives me some satisfaction in knowing that I'm contributing to the solution of some of those problems.

I am looking forward to an upcoming event that I helped organize...that's if you consider getting a call from one of the local chairs of V-Day Atlanta saying that "Eve Ensler and Dr. Mukwege want to come to Emory and we have their cost covered and an outline of how we want the event to flow we simply need a place to host the event" helping organize. LOL! I didn't really do anything. This is an event that fell into our laps b/c of the power of cultivating and maintaining relationships (something that I have to continue to remind myself).

I DID design all of the material advertising the event. And of course, I slipped in some of my own photography in the design. (Come On) This photo was taken in Ghana, West Africa in 2005(ish).

Educating oneself to the/about the world is step one in the process of making it better. I hope to do more of that here at the Center and as an artist in my own company. I hope to use this education and my talents to educate, challenge, inspire others. This is 'my true vision'.
-carlton


Eve Ensler: Finding happiness in body and soul


Eve Ensler: Congo