The Democracy Project at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park

Tuesday JULY 17 and Wednesday JULY 18 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

See the Information Desk for Performance Locations FREE

Extra Edition: The Arts playing important role, report on the Democracy Project:

Channel 4 Report:July 20th, 2007

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Dear Friends and Colleagues:

This summer, we have had the pleasure of working for the first time with St. Louis Artworks, a mentoring program that hires urban teenagers to work with artists in a six week project designed to create a commissioned work. While Artworks usually focuses on visual work, they decided to also incorporate theatre into the mix this year and that is where Uppity comes in.

We hope you will be able to join us for one of our performances. More information is listed below:

The Young Upstarts Present:

My Land? Your Land?... A Theatrical Exploration of American Democracy

St. Louis ArtWorks apprentices, in collaboration with teaching organization That Uppity Theatre Company, have created this theatrical event. Utilizing song, dance, improvisation, research, conversation, personal narrative and historical documents, they have created a performance piece about the history and challenges of American democracy.

Themes include:

• Exploration of the lives of Native Americans, enslaved people and immigrants

• Examination of historical documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech

• A look at ways to actively participate in the democratic process

Show times and locations:

Missouri History Museum (located at Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO 63112)

--Tuesday, July 17 at 11:00am and 1:00pm

--Wednesday, July 18 at 11:00am and 1:00pm

Centene Center (located at 3547 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103) as part of the final sale and performance for St. Louis ArtWorks 2007 Summer Program
---Thursday, July 19 at 11:30am and 12:30pm.
Metered parking available.

St. Louis Place Park (located at 21st and St. Louis Ave) as part of the Whitaker Urban Evening Concert Series presented by Grace Hill.

--Thursday, July 19 at 7:00pm

Regional Arts Commission (located at 6128 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri 63112) as part of the opening for “Speak Up, St. Louis, a continuation of the American Democracy Project, an art exhibit curated by Michael Crane.

--Friday, July 20 at 6:00pm

All shows are FREE and open to the public

"Speak Up, St. Louis!"
American Democracy Project Redux

July 20 - August 26, 2007

Opening Reception: Friday, July 20 l 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Featuring LIVE performances by St. Louis ArtWorks, psychotronics and Njideka Ezenwa-Eke

Gallery Talk: Wednesday, August 8 l 6:30 p.m. reception, 7:00 p.m. talk

Curator:

Michael Crane, Director, Art Center Gallery, University of Central Missouri

This exhibit is a collaboration of a wide range of artists who “speak up” through their varied media (painting, dance, acting, sculpture, photography, drawing, and music), addressing contemporary issues that concern many people. War, abuse of women, racism, homelessness, poverty, children's rights, Darfur, the environment, immigration, identity, gun control: no topic is left untouched.

Speak Up, St. Louis! is a spin-off of the Raise Your Voice! American Democracy Project, presented throughout the nation in the fall of 2006. (For more information: http://www.cmsu.edu/acg/raiseyourvoice/). Michael Crane is the curator for this riveting exhibit, which is sure to fuel some interesting discussions.

Featured Artists: Ambrose Wesley, Amela Sinanagic, Aunia Kahn, Billy Price, Christina Licata, Christine Ilewski, Community CollabARTive , Dail Chambers, Dan Rule, Elka Kazmierczak, Gallina Todorova, Jane Barrow, Jane Linders, Janice Nesser, Jeane Vogel, John Jennings, Judy Lazarus, Julie Kendall, Katherine Rhodes Fields, Leah Nguyen, Leslie Holt, Linda Jones, Margaret Travis Jaspering, Mariella Funk, Mark Fisher, Martha Mahon, Michael Bolton, Michael Zolman, Milton Holmes, Njideka Ezenwa-Eke, psychotronics, Robert Yemm, Rochleigh Wholfe, St. Louis Artworks / Uppity Theater Co., Tuan Nguyen, Zlatko Cosic.

The Young Upstarts: My Land? Your Land?... A Theatrical Exploration of American Democracy

St. Louis ArtWorks apprentices, in collaboration with teaching organization That Uppity Theatre Company, have created this theatrical event. Utilizing song, dance, improvisation, research, conversation, personal narrative and historical documents, they have created a performance piece about the history and challenges of American democracy.

Themes include:

• Exploration of the lives of Native Americans, enslaved people and immigrants

• Examination of historical documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech

• A look at ways to actively participate in the democratic process

MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM

Lindell & DeBaliviere in Forest Park

(314) 746-4599 • www.mohistory.org

“Speak Up St. Louis,” the new multi-media exhibit at The Gallery at the Regional Arts Commission, engages viewers in conversations about today’s complex issues

About forty artists raise their voices to address the complex issues facing America in the upcoming show “Speak Up St. Louis” on view from Friday, July 20 to Sunday, August 26 at The Gallery at the Regional Arts Commission. The show addresses everything from identity and homelessness to bureaucracy and poverty. Curated by Michael Crane, director of the Art Center Gallery at the University of Central Missouri, the exhibition gives local artists a chance to voice their opinions with the goal of engaging and informing St. Louisans. As Crane explains, “This is not just another angry rant, but an opportunity for serious reflection.”

“Speak Up St. Louis” is a continuation of the American Democracy Project, which began in 2003 to combat the decline in political and cultural participation, especially among the country’s youth. More than 400 colleges and universities are involved with the project in some way, including the University of Central Missouri where Crane curated “Raise Your Voice.”

The July 20 opening is one of The Gallery’s largest events to date:

· 5:30pm: The Psychotronics, an improvisational instrumental rock band, performs.

· 6pm: St. Louis Artworks/Uppity Theatre Co. will perform a 30 minute play about what democracy means to today’s youth in the Studio next to The Gallery

· 7pm: Njideka Ezenwa-Eke performs an African-style dance about democracy. The opening also features a live interactive net.art piece by Michael Zolman.

The exhibition opens from 5:30pm to 7:30 pm on Friday, July, 20, at The Gallery at the Regional Arts Commission located at 6128 Delmar Blvd. For more information call 314.863.5811 or visit www.art-stl.com.

The following artists will be featured in “Speak Up St. Louis:”

Ambrose Wesley Amela Sinanagic Aunia Kahn Billie Price

Christina Licata Christine Ilewski Community CollabARTive Dail Chambers

Dan Rule Elka Kazmierczak Gallina Todorova Jane Barrow

Jane Linders Janice Nesser Chu Jeane Vogel John Jennings

Judy Lazarus Julie Kendall Katherine Rhoads Fields Leah Nguyen

Leslie Holt Linda Jones Margaret Travis Jaspering Mariella Funk

Mark Fisher Martha Mahon Michael Bolton Michael Zolman

Milton Holmes Njideka Ezenwa-Eke Psychotronics Robert Yemm

Rockleigh Wolfe Tuan Nguyen Zlatko Cosic

St. Louis Artworks / Uppity Theater Co.

About the Regional Arts Commission

Founded in 1985, the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) is a cultural catalyst in the St. Louis area, providing financial, technical, promotional and other support for arts organizations. Directed by a board of fifteen commissioners appointed by the chief executives of St. Louis City and County, RAC is a pivotal force in the continuing development and marketing of the arts in the region. In May 2007, 209 of the area’s arts organizations, consortiums and cultural programs, large and small, received grant awards totaling more than $3.5 million, funded by a portion of the hotel/motel room sales tax. RAC’s four-story facility including the area’s first Cultural Resource Center is located at 6128 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., 63112 in the exciting new stretch of The Loop neighborhood. Contact the organization by calling (314) 863-5811 or by visiting www.art-stl.com.