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BIPOC, LGBTQ Artists The Focus Of UConn Virtual Series

Radical Black Art and Performance series
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Lauren Horn's movement piece Cleave "explores Blackness in America during the year 2020."

The Radical Black Art and Performance Series features virtual performances, film screenings, discussions and workshops by LGBTQ artists and scholars of color.

According to a news release, “The series will provide a contemporary framework for allyship and outline why the dismantling of current power structures is a necessary act in cultivating Black and queer consciousness.”

Philadelphia-based choreographer and artist Arien Wilkerson curated the series. The Hartford native said it shows that the “Black canon is more vast than we think,” while also emphasizing that institutions need to showcase the talents of more people of color.

“This series really invites UConn and other institutions to think about the way they have neglected Black artists and Black educators,” said Wilkerson. “They need to incorporate Black artists, Black thinkers, Black minds in all facets, not just entertaining you, not just educating you, but also in the planning and the infrastructure of all this, too.”

The online performances run weeknights through Black History Month. Among the performances this week is “Cleave,” a dance work by Windsor, Connecticut-based artist Lauren Horn.

“Lauren is just an incredible, dynamic, powerful, strong dancer,” said Wilkerson, “and she has something to say, and she is fiery and she is not about to let anybody bulldoze her over. And I really love that."

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Hartford native Arien Wilkerson is the curator of the Radical Black Art and Performance Series.

To see the entire Radical Black Art and Performance Series schedule, and to register for one of the performances, go to contemporaryartgalleries.uconn.edu.

Ray Hardman is Connecticut Public’s Arts and Culture Reporter. He is the host of CPTV’s Emmy-nominated original series Where Art Thou? Listeners to Connecticut Public Radio may know Ray as the local voice of Morning Edition, and later of All Things Considered.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.