Simone

MEDIA ALERT!
APRIL 12, 2010
CONTACT: ANTHONY R. PAGE
PHONE: 404-786-3277

( Atlanta , GA ). The Estate of Dr. Nina Simone has created a special visual and performing arts tribute titled The Nina Simone Experience. Billy D. Williams, Speech from the music group Arrested Development as well as the family of the legendary Godfather of Soul have all offered their support to honoring Nina Simone’s life and legacy.

‘The Experience’ will take place from April 16th through April 25th at Space Atlanta / Thirteen TEN Events located in Atlanta ’s historic West End community at 1310 White Street . The 10-day series includes a fine art exhibition, a spoken word cabaret, a fashion event inspired by Nina’s style, as well as other activities exploring the cultural impact of one of the 20th century’s greatest entertainers.

‘The Experience’ will commence with an opening gala Friday April 16th at 7pm following a media and art collectors’ preview at 6pm. Throughout the evening there will be performances by Simone, Nina’s daughter who’s career is flying after a recent Simone on Simone album dedicated to her mom. She will be accompanied by Dekalb School of the Arts, a Grammy Award winning magnet arts school. The evening’s additional musical tributes include local singers Erica James, Samantha Cardwell, Ozara Ode’ and Twinspirit. There will also be an unveiling of a new Nina Simone statue by George Nock, a sculptor and former NY Jets professional football player.

Anthony R. Page, the Committee Chair and Project Manager, says “Nina’s impact is huge, so it was appropriate for us to let the community shape this event. Our partners, community leaders and many creative talents have transformed The Experience based on their love and appreciation for Nina. The final result will be well suited to Dr. Simone’s legacy.”

Among those creative talents is Speech, from the Grammy Award-winning group Arrested Development. He will offer a keynote address and acoustic performance on Thursday April 22nd during an evening titled, Music is My Weapon. He noted "Nina is a special and bright light in the arts." This program activity will support the efforts of the “I Am Atlanta Campaign,” which is a philanthropic organization acting as a stimulus project for the benefit of economic growth, citywide patrons, enlightenment, community awareness and leadership activation.

Deanna Brown-Thomas, one of James Brown’s daughters expressed their excitement about being involved in the series, “We are pleased that Simone is celebrating her mother’s legacy in this way, and we, (The James Brown Family Children’s Foundation) are glad to support her quest to keep her mother’s legacy alive.” Actor Billy Dee Williams is one of the participating featured artists and was delighted to have the opportunity to create a painting for the occasion.

Jonathan Green, noted by art critics and reviewers as one of the most important painters of the southern experience; and Paul Goodnight, whose works have been featured in films such as Ghost, The Preachers Wife, Speed II and Jackie Brown, are among forty-six Atlanta-based and national visual artists in the exhibition titled after Nina’s song: I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl.  2010 Trumpet Award Winner: Synthia Saint James is among the national entries into this exhibition. Her paintings grace the covers of over 70 books, including works by Alice Walker, Iyanla Vanzant, and Terry McMillan.

Several of the visual artists will take part in a panel on Saturday April 17th. The artist roundtable will include: Moderator: E. Joyce Moore, Panelists: Michael McBride, J.L. Townsend, Jonathan Green, Charlotte Riley-Webb and Dray Wilmore.

Over the last few years, there have been dozens of tributes and remembrances celebrating the High Priestess of Soul. These activities have spawned a renewed Nina Simone chatter amongst fans and aficionados around the world. “Every where I go, so many people have come up to me, telling me their Nina stories,” says Simone, Nina’s only child. “They loved her, but at the end of her life, I don’t think mommy really felt that love, so I knew I had to do something.”

“Responding to the resurgent Nina Simone interest, we made great efforts to appeal to all of Nina’s fans. We know that her life and legacy are many things to many people across the world,” Page remarked. This is clear in the other components to ‘The Experience.’ Dr. Rosetta Ross, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Spelman College, has coordinated a panel examining Nina Simone’s legacy and black women's identities. The panel titled Being & Becoming, Black Womanhood in the Twenty-first Century includes candid dialogue with Simone; Deanna Brown-Thomas; former SNCC member Ruby Nell Sales and Spelman student Sarita Smith.

Anthony Joiner, known across Atlanta for his witty and thought provoking newsletter The A Spot, has planned a one of a kind Spoken Word cabaret on April 21st with contributions from Atlanta’s most talented spoken word artists including: CNN Black in America’s John Goode, Hank Stewart, Queen Sheba, Nfared, Spinxx, Nukola, Mista Funn, Salakida, Ahrielle and Miss Haze with musical guests: Chimere, Nikki Wade and Shamora.

Looking at Nina’s sense of style on Friday April 23rd, Layla K, founder of Haute.Lanta Fashion Week, has put together a fashion event where designers developed works based on and inspired by The High Priestess’ wardrobe at various periods during her music career. Among the designers are Beth Pilger, Marqo Kennedy, Layla K, and current Malaysia based designer: Thomas Hooker, who has created a special haute couture piece that includes rare Nina Simone photos. Summer Sheree Jeter of Smitten Designs has created a series of five original designs that will be on display as part of the exhibition.

Rounding out the list of activities is a reading of an original play by Ozara Ode’ titled Nina Simone: In Her Own Words, which will take place on April 18th. There will be a closing event, that is youth focused, featuring performances by The Astronomical Kid (Astro) from NYC and Moore Arts Movement, a theater and music repertory company based in Atlanta .

Complete Listing of Activities & Ticket Information:

April 16th - - Nina Simone Experience Opening Gala
http://ninasimonegala.eventbrite.com

April 17th - - I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl: Artist Talk
http://ninasimoneartisttalk.eventbrite.com

April 18th - - Nina Simone: In Her Own Words (Reader’s Theater) by Ozara Ode’
http://ninasimonereaderstheater.eventbrite.com

April 19th - - Being and Becoming: Black Womanhood 21st Century
Free Event

April 20th - - Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood: Interactive Panel
http://ninasimoneinteractivepanel.eventbrite.com

April 21st - - Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter: Spoken Word Cabaret
http://ninasimonespokenword.eventbrite.com

April 22nd - - Music is My Weapon: Special Speaker’s Event
http://ninasimoneexperiencemusicismyweapon.eventbrite.com

April 23rd - - The Last Rose of Summer: Fashion Event
$10 at the door

April 24th - - Free tours for community youth groups
Free Event

April 25th - - Closing Sponsors Event: To Be Young, Gifted & Black
Free Event

More about the Exhibition:
Atlanta artists will be well represented in the fine arts exhibition: I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl, which will include works created by Pollock Krasner Foundation award winner Charlotte Riley-Webb and artistic genius Louis Delsarte, who just completed the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Mural: Dreams, Visions and Change, which was dedicated on Sunday, January 17, 2010 by Mayor Kasim Reed and the city of Atlanta at the Martin Luther King Natatorium.

Other national artists include Jeremy Sutton, San Francisco, California; Brian Joiner, Cincinnati, Ohio; Anita Rosenberg, Los Angeles, California;  Michael McBride, Nashville, Tennessee, Gail Fulton Ross, Sarasota, Florida and many more.  “The collection of work is exciting,” said curator E. Joyce Moore.  “The art, the genres and the artists are diverse and their creativity with the subject of Nina is incredible, even mesmerizing.  Patrons of the arts will find this exhibition to be a truly rewarding experience.”

For more detailed information about the overall series www.ninasimone.com

Thanks for being a part of the Nina Simone Experience