Actress, Poet & Visual Artist Jade Andwele

Jade Andwele (writer/performer) is a visual artist, actress, creator and writer who focuses on healing and connecting through the arts and creativity. Jade is an advocate for women, the Black community, and youth focusing on social justice, and sexual and mental health. She is currently a founding mother/member of the Saartjie Project and is working on several projects including a play on depression in the Black community, her memoir, visual art, and completing her poetry chapbook When the Music is too Loud: A Book of Love Poems. The piece above is currently in the Liberated Muse exhibit Celebration of Freedom @ the Potter's House. It was recently purchased but will remain part of the exhibit which runs from Sept. 11 to Dec. 1. Jade is a member of the http://www.liberatedmuse.com/ community. You can visit her page HERE.

She can be reached at jadeandwele@gmail.com and you can read her blog at

http://www.jade-andwele.blogspot.com/

Visit her work in the current Liberated Muse art exhibit at the Potter's House in Washington, DC @

The Potter's House

1658 Columbia Rd NWWashington, DC

The art exhibit is curated by Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Art. The artwork is from artists from the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul and the network http://www.liberatedmuse.com/.

Join Jade and all of the artists on Sat., November 14 for an Artist Reception at the Potter's House.

Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed

(in photo: Dr. Ananya Chatterjea)

So, I am pleased to be traveling to this year's PTO conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota and anxious as I pack for my early morning flight. Liberated Muse members of the Saartjie Project will be in attendance, set to perform on Saturday during the conference which begins today until Sunday.

PTO stands for Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed and is an organization of activists, performers and other individuals dedicated to using the arts as a vehicle of social & political transformation. The annual conference typically attracts activist/artists from around the world.

I can't wait to check out workshops from choreographers Dr. Ananya Chatterjea and Marc Bamuthi Joseph and poetry workshops by the DMV's own Sage Morgan Hubbard.

Here are details about the conference:

15th Annual International PTO Conference
Mad as Hell? Now Move (or Draw, or Act...): Organizing for Social Justice
Augsburg CollegeMinneapolis/St. Paul, MN (Twin Cities)
Pre-Conference WorkshopsMay 18-21, 2009
ConferenceMay 21-24, 2009
Post-Conference WorkshopMay 24, 2009

Visit http://www.ptoweb.org/conference.html for more info

Liberated Muse Member Events Coming Soon

(In photo: Binahkaye Joy. Photo by Elen Awalom)

Binahkaye Joy shares an evening of interactive dance journeys, featuring The Mother Project, New Orleans!, Lifelines on 57, and Bootyism.

Live music by Manatho "Shumba" Masani on Mbira and Eric Maring on Tabla.

Advance tickets online @ http://www.osadance.blogspot.com/

Friday May 1, 2009 @ 8pm

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

545 7th Street, SEWashington, DC 20003@ Eastern Market Metro

Visit Binahkaye on Liberated Muse by clicking HERE

On Friday, May 1, 2009, Liberated Muse Member Diallo Sumbry of the Adinkra Group

is bringing Hip Hop to U Street!

Almaz Restaurant @ 1212 U Street will come alive with a live concert

featuring a live performance by SKILLZ http://www.skillzmusic.com/

+hosted by Asheru & Maimouna Youssef

Other performances by:

+DJs RBI & MarcNfinit on the Main Level

+DJ Mel B EZ on the Second Level+additional performances by:

++M!das (www.myspace.com/that808)

++Shaka (www.myspace.com/shakabks)

++RAtheMC (www.myspace.com/simplyra)

++The Package (www.myspace.com/itsthepackage)

Doors @ 9 pm

Ladies Free b4 11 pm

Fellas $10 b4 11 pm

Visit Diallo Sumbry on Liberated Muse.

The Saartjie Project PRESENTS

Homecoming:

A Juried Artist Showcase & Benefit Commemorating the final return home of our heroine and namesake, Saartjie 'Sara' Baartman

In May 2002, Saartjie (Sara) Baartman's remains were flown back to her homeland, South Africa and laid to rest almost 200 years after she was taken in 1810.

"Her story was forgotten for centuries... but slowly she has been rediscovered, by women in South Africa, in England, in the United States...they have written plays and poems, made films and speeches telling her story in the hopes of reclaiming her torturous past..." - unknown

Join The Saartjie Project for an evening of great music, poetry and performances by dynamic women and girls using "art as a catalyst for self- expression, re-definition & healing".

Suggested Donation: $20

Your donation help ensures that The Saartjie Project is able to "infortain" the international artist & social justice community at the 2009 Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed (PTO) International Conference in Minneapolis.

Date:Saturday, May 2, 2009
Time:8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location:Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
Street:545 7th St. SE (Eastern Market Metro)
City/Town:Washington, DC

Get your tickets @ http://homecoming.eventbrite.com/

Learn about PTO @ http://www.pto.web/.

Visit the Saartjie Project on www.LiberatedMuse.com by clicking HERE.

Calling All Women Visual Artists, Dancers, Poets, Singers & Musicians!

The Saartjie Project is proud to present its first benefit showcase which will celebrate the homecoming of its muse Saartjie Baartman.

WHO WAS SAARTJIE BAARTMAN?

Born in 1789 into the Griqua tribe of South Africa's eastern Cape, the Khoisan woman was orphaned in an early raid and was later baptized Saartjie Baartman (her name means "little Sarah" in Afrikaans). She was working for a local farmer near Cape Town, South Africa when her physical appearance attracted the attention of a visiting ship's surgeon, William Dunlop.

Saartjie's enlarged buttocks and oversized labia intrigued Dunlop and he suggested that he take her to England to be studied. Arriving in England in 1810, Saartjie was examined by some of the leading anatomists of the time. Her unusual genital condition was formally termed the "Hottentot apron" (Hottentot being an archaic name for Khoisan). Seen by the public as nothing more than a sexual freak, she was placed on public display in Piccadilly and quickly dubbed the "Hottentot Venus". According to contemporary accounts, Saartjie was often "exhibited like a wild beast" (usually in a cage) and forced to parade almost naked before gawking audiences. Many spectators poked her with sticks to ensure that she was "all real" and she was often left in tears due to the pain and humiliation.

At some point, Dunlop and Cezar dropped out of the picture and Saartjie became the property of an animal handler named Reaux. Her showings in Paris were as popular as they had been in London and she was examined by many French anatomists, including Georges Cuvier. Numerous scientific papers were written about the "Hottentot Venus" that emphasized prevailing notions of racial superiority. Saartjie died on January 1, 1816 (probably of pneumonia) but the exploitation didn't end with her death. Her body was dissected by Georges Cuvier and a wax replica of her body was made. Saartjie's skeleton,brain and genitalia went on exhibit in Paris' Musee de l'Homme and remained there until 1974 when they were finally removed from public view.

Over the years, there were repeated pleas for the return to Saartjie's remains to South Africa but interest in the case intensified after Stephen Jay Gould wrote an article on her in 1985. Finally, following pressure from the South African government and debates in France's National Assembly, permission to return the remains was given in 2002. On May 6 of that year, Saartjie Baartman's remains were returned to South Africa and, in a moving ceremony, she was laid to rest on August 9 (National Women's Day in South Africa) in the Gamtoos River valley of the Eastern Cape.

THE SAARTJIE PROJECT CELEBRATES SAARTJIE'S HOMECOMING

The Saartjie Project, an artist collective based in the United States in Washington DC, debuted a stage performance in 2008 inspired by the life of Saartjie Baartman. Since the August 2008 premiere performance, The Saartjie Project has performed in sold out shows extending into 2009. This year, the collective is scheduled to perform in upcoming venues including the Capital Fringe Fest held in the nation's capital and The Theatre for the Oppressed Conference in Minneapolis.

To celebrate the anniversary of Saartjie's homecoming to South Africa and to support the growing programs and performances soon-to-be implemented, The Saartjie Project is pleased to put out a call for female artists-- visual & performing-- to participate in a benefit concert to be held on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) in Washington DC.

Email a link to your work and a bio to homecoming@thesaartjieproject.org for consideration. Deadline to submit your work for consideration is April 1, 2009.

This Weekend's Top Choices

The artist collective known as The Saartjie Project (pronounced Sar-key) is back again with a new show called R/Evolution: Deconstructing the Myth of the Booty. The show examines the politics surrounding the Black woman's body by using the life of Saartjie Baartman-- known as the Venus Hottentot--as the lens. Baartman lived in the 1800's, brought from Africa to Europe and caged in a traveling exhibit so people could examine her large butt and genital area. The fascinating story about her life is still largely unknown, but the known facts are astounding. This show weaves elements of Baartman's life into today's contemporary images of Black women--examining stereotypes and the inner-depths of Black womanhood.

Two shows--one tonight and one tomorrow night-- will play this weekend at the Capital Hill Arts Workshop in Washington DC. Visit here for more details.

Also this weekend on Saturday, Feb. 21 is a musical treat-- Hot Buttered Soul:A Musical Affair. This event will take place in Washington DC at Mirrors Nightclub on New York Avenue.

An Adinkra Group Production, Hot Buttered Soul: A Musical Affair features the vocal stylings of Maimouna Youssef who was the featured vocalist on the Roots' 2006 hit "Don't Feel Right".

From the acerbic lyrics to the intense production to Maimouna Yousef's soulful crooning, everythingabout this song feels absolutely right," wrote Henry Adaso of About.com after the single's release. Thesingle went on to be nominated for a Grammy nomination in 2007.

Youssef's appearance with The Roots led to performances throughout the U.S. and around the world as sheshared stages and swapped musical licks with such artists as: Angelique Kidjo, Brian Wilson’s band, BigDaddy Kane, Nas, Wilco, Zap Mama, Cody Chestnut, Martin Luther, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, andTalib Kweli.

Youssef rocked the stages of many renowned venues such as Denver Colorado ‘s Red RocksAmphitheater, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, and Switzerland’s Moniteau Jazz Festival.

She will perform at Mirrors on Feb. 21 for a concert to include performances by jazz/soul vocalist AkuaKyerematin, and roots soul musician C. Love. The event is hosted by spoken word artist Bassey Ikpi of the HBO show "Def PoetryJam".

Show begins at 7pm and advanced tickets $20. Tickets can be purchased at http://hotbutteredsoul.eventbrite.com/.

--------------------

R/EVOLUTION: Deconstrucing the Myth of the Booty

THE SAARTJIE PROJECT presents...

"R/EVOLUTION: DECONSTRUCTING THE MYTH OF THE BOOTY"

February 20th & 21st, 8pmCapitol Hill Arts Workshop 545 7th St. SE

Advance Tickets on sale 1/30!

The Saartjie Project has garnered national and international attention for its boundary-stretching stage presentation that addresses the complex issues facing black women in society. The collective is named after Saartjie Baartman, the South African woman who, in the 1800's, was paraded around Europe under the show name "Hottentot Venus".

She was eroticized and caged to show off her large buttocks to paying audiences. Upon her death her body was dissected and displayed in a museum... and almost 200 years later her remains were finally laid to rest in her homeland. This February Saartjie Baartman's tumultuous life is the catalyst for "R/evolution".

Join the collective as they celebrate her humanity and explore body politics through storytelling, drama, song and dance!

Actress and poet Farah Lawal said, "It's amazing to be part of not only this collective, but also a movement of its own. The work we are doing gives voice to the unheard and light to a darker part of history that is still vividly relevant today."

Performances will be held on Friday, February 20th and Saturday, February 21st at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (545 7th St. SE, Washington DC). The show begins at 8:00pm nightly, and doors open at 7pm with an Artisan's Market on site.

Tickets sold at the door and $10 advance tickets available at http://www.thesaartjieproject.org/ starting 1.30.09.

ABOUT THE SAARTJIE PROJECT
The Saartjie Project is preparing for its 2009 season, which will kick off with "R/evolution" at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. This spring the collective is slated to perform at the Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed International Conference and is currently casting for an Atlanta-based collective.

Calling All Artists!! The Saartjie Project Celebrates New Logo and Kicks Off Visual Showcase!

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! THE SAARTJIE PROJECT™ CELEBRATES NEW LOGO & KICKS OFF VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE

The Saartjie Project™ is proud to unveil its official logo, designed by DC-based Artist and Facilitator, Helina Metaferia. The logo has been dubbed, “Bearers of Light” by Founder Jessica Solomon.

She says, “This simple yet powerful symbol represents the collective creative healing energy we bring to issues and topics that are often missing our voices.”

The Saartjie Project™ is sending a rallying cry to all artists and artistically inclined peoples! Help us celebrate the launch of our logo by participating in our Visual Arts Showcase. Recreate “Bearers of Light” using the medium of your choice.

How will you add your artistic flair? Get creative!

All entries will be apart of a community exhibit in Washington D.C. this December.

The Visual Arts Showcase is open to all ages, backgrounds and levels of ability. Submissions may include, but are not limited to: water color, photography, sketches, and digitally created art. Submissions must represent the likeness of The Saartjie Project™ logo.

Entries must be submitted to The Saartjie Project by Friday, December 5th at 5pm.

Entries can be submitted electronically at info@thesaartjieproject.org, or by mail to: Visual Arts Showcase, 3802 14th Street, NW, Suite 702, Washington, DC 20011.