“I’m trying to tap people into my experience and how my experience as a micro has affected this macro experience that has been going on within the black community. And not only the black community, but people of color in general. I’m going to talk about the dynamics of it all, and talk about the surroundings that are kind of encompassing children, especially young adults and millennials, and how we’re viewing everything right now. The effects of growing up in Brooklyn, and watching the shift happen in Brooklyn. There’s a lot of talks about gentrification, about racism, about police brutality, violence. It’s heavy. But it’s about overcoming trauma, for the most part.”
About the Project
Working in accordance with National Sawdust, Latasha Alcindor presents B(LA)K: Volume one of her three-volume performance mythology. Based off Latasha’s highly anticipated 2017 album, B(LA)K, the piece she shares at National Sawdust examines her own conundrums within love, family, and a gentrifying society. Beginning with Latasha writing music on the train, the audience views her experiences in first person, traveling through the dynamic and climatic situations as she interacts with strangers, loved ones and music. Addressed as a memoir, B(LA)K expresses the shifts and static of an upbringing in Brooklyn, NY- where L.A., questions if her actions are a problem or a solution to the survival of Black lives in a dynamic area. This is a workshop piece, introducing Latasha’s intensive, multidisciplinary sets utilizing cinematography, contemporary dance, theatre and music as a means of communication to perform B(LA)K for her fans.
About the August Labs
In our inaugural LAB series, National Sawdust provides local Brooklyn artists condensed residency time to develop and showcase music-based works. We chose works that explore interdisciplinary arts and sciences, including but not limited to architecture, film/video arts, literature, theatre, and visual arts. This August we will incubate and present a total of five world premieres with Artists ranging from novice to expert.
In Blak, viral hip-hop artist Latasha Alcindor (L.A.) manipulates both sight and sound in illustrating her story of growing into blackness, womanhood, and gentrification. L.A. will use our August LABS to create an immersive multimedia performance piece that opens windows to her childhood, performing alongside Kanye West, and more. In an era when the black experience is highlighted more than ever, L.A. provides a uniquely Brooklyn perspective.
Other August Labs Events
South by South Death Night 1
By turns campy slasher-comedy, meticulous murder mystery, and vicious pop culture satire, SOUTH BY SOUTH DEATH is an epic rock musical about #ambition, #envy and #Instagram.
L.A. presents B(LA)K
South by South Death Night 2
By turns campy slasher-comedy, meticulous murder mystery, and vicious pop culture satire, SOUTH BY SOUTH DEATH is an epic rock musical about #ambition, #envy and #Instagram.
