Today is Saturday, February 24th, 2018. Story Stitchers will gather at the Missouri History Museum to watch Bobby Norfolk perform in I, Dred Scott at 2:00 in Lee Auditorium. It’s a free, family-friendly show.
Saint Louis Story Stitchers has been honored to work closely with Master Storyteller Bobby Norfolk over the last year. Working with such an accomplished artist has helped the youth and artists of Story Stitchers push the bar higher on storytelling as a craft, on art as a means to push for change, and as communicators.
Mr. Norfolk has engaged with Stitchers as a performing artist, senior consultant on the practice of social justice art, and as the director of the 2017/18 Not Another One! A Play 4 Peace school assembly series which took place in St. Louis Public School District, hosted by Kaylan Holloway’s Kings of Distinction at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and engaging youth from five local high schools through theatrical storytelling and discussion. Three years in the making, Lauron Thompson and KP Dennis led the Stitchers in the creation of the final original script and score. Youth led interactions and lively post-performance Q&A’s with St. Louis Metropolitan Police, BJC physicians, leading experts in gun violence and social work from Washington University, social work leaders from K.H.A.O.S., and more. The play was developed with support from The Saigh Foundation, Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund, and Wells Fargo Advisors.
Mr. Norfolk is currently a featured artist in Saint Louis Story Stitchers Teen Rap Crisis II, a humanities-based program designed to give voice to concerns and triumphs, uncover facts, and build awareness of public health issues as seen through the eyes of contemporary African American youth, ages 15-24. Reflecting on the original 25-year-old Teen Rap Crisis, participants will partake in thoughtful discussion and collaborative learning experiences through writing with Story Stitchers artists Bobby Norfolk, KP Dennis and Howard Cox, leading to a poetic performance and a post-performance discussion with Professor Sean Joe from Washington University, a scholar in Black male adolescent self-destructive behavior and related societal causes and implications. Activities take place both inside and out of the City of St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center, providing an opportunity for youth to explore topics related to individual lives and society at large through writing, discussion, performance and learning. The program is a part of the St. Louis Storytelling Festival.
Mr. Norfolk is also featured on video performing at Tillie’s Corner as a part of the art exhibition and will perform live at the Sheldon Concert Hall with the Story Stitchers as part of Pick the City UP.
The Sheldon Art Galleries presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective:
Pick the City UP
March 2 – April 21, 2018 in the Nancy Spirtas Kranzberg Gallery.
An opening reception is scheduled for
Friday, March 2 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Pop UP Performance at 6:00.
3648 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD | SAINT LOUIS, MO | 63108 | 314.533.9900
Galleries are open until 9 p.m. for First Fridays in Grand Center.
The Sheldon Art Galleries are open Tuesdays, Noon – 8 p.m.; Wednesdays – Fridays, Noon – 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and one hour prior to Sheldon performances and during intermission.
Admission is free.
For more information on exhibitions, visit the galleries’ website atTheSheldon.org.
Notes from Home
Tuesday, March 20th, 2018
7:30 – 8:30 PM
Sheldon Concert Hall
3648 Washington Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective
Pick the City UP Glo Sho!
Pick the City UP at the Sheldon Concert Hall will feature Story Stitchers youth and adults performing original, family-friendly spoken word and hip hop including some wild B-Boy moves! Come and join St. Louis’s top young performers and their mentors and become a part of the movement they are spreading to help make our beautiful city a healthier and happier place for all.
Admission Free, Suggested Donation $10, All ages
