Art Illuminating Human Rights: Reading & Performance

Mia and the Advocates for Human Rights are collaborating this fall to present the series Art Illuminating Human Rights. This partnership was born out of both organizations’ shared commitment to bring greater awareness to human rights issues. Inspiration for the program’s format arises from the function of the kaleidoscope, which depends on light to create reflections. Just as tapping and twisting a kaleidoscope brings multi-faceted reflections into focus, Art Illuminating Human Rights will challenge participants to wrestle with the human rights issues of our day by considering the diversity of opinions brought to light in this forum.

The third and final program in this series will explore the topic of identity and LGTBI rights. Celebrating Trans* voices and the struggle for humanity.

6 p.m. Gallery Talk: Art & Identity
Mia educators and subject experts from the Advocates lead conversations in the galleries around objects telling stories of LGTBI rights.

7 p.m. Reading & Performance
Writer and performance artist Andrea Jenkins will read from her new book, The T is Not Silent: new and selected poems (Purple Lioness Productions, 2015). The program will also feature performance by Alvin Ailey trained dancer Xavier Hageman, and recorded musical selections by renowned violinist Tona Brown, the first Trans woman of color ever to play Carnagie Hall.

“As a poet I am concerned primarily with narrative. My poems seek to tell a story that is always connected to a larger story: from the poem “eighteen,” which sheds light on issues broadly facing Trans women of color, to personal poems like “That’s a Girl’s Belt,” which reflects the breakup of a Black couple trying to deal with the issue of a Transgender identity, and which and ponders the notion of what the partner of a Trans person has to work through in this imperfect, and certainly uncommon, situation. My goal is to create awareness and understanding, to bring some inspiration to other Trans-identified folks out there. Visibility in the Trans community is increasing dramatically, with the stories of Caitlyn Jenner, Laverne Cox, and Jazz Jennings on our airwaves and national magazine covers. This level of visibility is unprecedented but there is a dichotomy in existence. So far in 2015, at least twenty-one Trans women of color and undocumented immigrants have been murdered in the United States, and even more throughout the world.”

Performance will be followed by a Q&A with the artists and a book signing.

Event is free to the public; however space is limited. To make a reservation, call (612) 870-6323 or reserve online.