Decolonizing the Brown Body: Pop Up
Performance and Discussion
Wed. Nov. 19th, 6:00 pm– 8:00 pm
Whole Music Club
The Blacker The Berry ...' "I grew up hearing that expression. And I know a lot of brown women in the
United States have too," says Shá Cage, project curator. This powerful multidisciplinary performance and
companion visual art exhibit at Intermedia Arts features performance and visual artwork by over 50 women
of color including Thomasina Petrus, Carolyn Holbrook, Erendira Garcia, Tish Jones, Jayanthi Kyle, Lisa Brimmer, Hope Cervantes, Beverly Cottman, Keegan Xavi, Chrys Carroll, Dynasty Anderson, Charla Marie Bailey,
Jada Daniels, Ivory Doublette, Mameneh George, Cherish Sonja Gibson, Carolyn Holbrook, Shavunda Horsley,
Wisdom Mawusi, Adaobi Okolue, Gabrielle Grier, Ifrah Mansour, and more.
"The phrase 'The Blacker the Berry...' creates a cultural focal point for us to explore preexistent social
meanings of the metaphor's negative and positive inferences, cultural images and associations. "When women begin to share places of connectivity, they break
through isolation to discover healing, nurturing,
networking, and critical sharing." That is The Blacker The Berry.
The Blacker The Berry's curatorial team includes; artist activist Shá Cage joined by Cristina
Benz as co-curator of the visual art exhibit, and Mama Mosaic Theater's co-founder Signe Harriday
who will be co-directing the performances. Zenzele
Isoke of the University of Minnesota's Department
of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies, guides
the socio-political components of the project while
Rose Brewer joins the team in her role working
with the African American and African Studies Department at the University of Minnesota.