MIND THE GAP: Reflections on Beauty
Creating a musical story of Madam C.J. Walker and the strong communities she fostered in America at the turn of the 20th century.
This particular work would chronicle the life of the first female African-American self-made millionaire in America, Madam C.J. Walker, through a convergence of music, poetry, and literature. From her origins as an uneducated washer-woman in St. Louis, to her final residence in Harlem, Madam Walker’s legacy as a massively successful hair-care business owner, philanthropist, social activist, and educator has had both deep roots and lasting influence in Harlem and in African-American communities. In honor of the 2019 centennial anniversary of her death, PUBLIQuartet will work directly in collaboration with Madam Walker’s great-great-granddaughter, A’Lelia Bundles, to create a unique and unforgettable performance experience, which, ideally, will be premiered in Harlem for the community. Madam Walker’s life is a story of hardship, perseverance, and triumph. It is a story that deserves to be told, and PUBLIQuartet’s multi-faceted composition will make it a story to be remembered.
Media Highlights
New York Oud Festival Day 3: Bahar Badieitabar and Ertugrul Erkisi
The Owl Music Parlor
World Premiere of Shifting Ground Performed by Violinist Alexi Kenney and New Media Artist Xuan
Baryshnikov Arts, 450 West 37th Street, New York, NY
New York Oud Festival Day 4: Mavrothi Kontanis and Maurice Chedid
Jalopy Theater