City of Asylum
Giving Voice.
BTAN presents a screening of the documentary film "Make a Joyful Noize," + virtual artist talkback. Join us as we journey through the healing power of joy and centering Black art and artists. Free and family friendly event!
Three experts from Carnegie Mellon University—a worldwide leader in AI—and the University of Pittsburgh will explore the intersection of technology in creative practices including music, architecture, and literature. Together they’ll explore how AI will, and should, shape the future of human creativity.
The #notwhite collective in-Dialogue series features conversations with BIPOC, AALANA, indigenous and immigrant artists and arts administrators.
This program features music written by Jewish composers as well as music that expresses the powerful human ability to move forward, and create great art, after tragedy. The program also features remarks from Rabbi Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation as well as literary readings, to honor the memory of those whose lives were taken at the Tree of Life Synagogues.
The Joe Fonda Quartet is a powerful group of musicians who have collectively been active within the New York Jazz community for over 40 years. The Quartet features a combination of Bassoon and Saxophone—a unique and compelling sound, rarely heard in the world of Jazz.
Join P.R.I.D.E (Positive Racial Identity Development In Early Education) for a documentary screening of Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years and discussion with the filmmakers.
We just finished our fifth “house publication”—the writer houses with artworks on their façades. This House Publication is based on texts and drawings by City of Asylum’s writer-in-residence Tuhin Das. He worked closely with co-founder Diane Samuels, who has led the development of the house publications. We will inaugurate this new House Publication on Sunday,... more →
Pittsburgh-based chamber ensemble Kamratōn presents a genre-blurring program curated by flutist, composer, and band leader Nicole Mitchell, including the premiere of a newly commissioned work. Kamratōn will be joined by guest bassist Jeffrey Grubbs of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and vocalist Anqwenique Wingfield for works by Nicole Mitchell, Yvette Jackson, Brittany J. Green, and others.
Merrell is a composer of illustrious works in gospel jazz and regularly performs with local and nationally known Gospel/Christian artists such as Kim Burrell, Donnie McClurkin, David and Nicole Binion. He also has been featured several times on the nationally televised Bobby Jones Gospel Show. For his Kente engagement, he will perform with his own Jazz/Gospel group, IMPACT.
Thoth Trio has previously appeared at City of Asylum in September 2020 to premiere a new collection of works by Ben Opie, Meditations on Quarantine. The suite was an intuitive and creative response to the initial pandemic lockdown. This performance will see the premiere of the followup, Reflections on Pandemic, a collection of seven new pieces inspired by both global and local circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Ruffin, known as the afternoon drivetime DJ for SiriusXM's Real Jazz channel, joins us virtually live to read from his collection of “jazz short stories,” "Bebop Fairy Tales." A scintillating blend of historical fiction with jazz and, yes, baseball—the collection weaves connections between the two great and uniquely American pastimes, and explores how both are an expression and arbiter of race in America.
*This concert has been postponed to winter 2022. New date coming soon. An evening of original music composed by Dr. Aaron J. Johnson. Dr. AJ's music reflects a wide spectrum of the black experience. Ranging from the Carnival to field hollers and from fellowship to desperate longing, this music is drenched with blues and funk, but also expresses the hopes and strength of the struggle for social justice and human rights.
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