A Conversation With Artists

  "I'm troubled with the state of our country. I fear for my life and the safety of my children." My dear friend and creative partner stated without reserve. I agreed feeling the same sense of anxiety.  The faces of America's latest sacrifice to the unspoken system still burning in my heart and mind.  The victims of the  June 17th massacre at Charleston, SC:
Sen.Rev.Clementa Pinckney;41, husband, father, spiritual leader and politician,
Rev. Sharonda Singleton;45, minister, educator, and mother
Myra Thompson;59, church member, Tywanza Sanders; 26, college graduate,
Ethel Lee Lance; 70, church member, Cynthia Hurd; 54, librarian, Rev. Daniel L. Simmons; a retired pastor, Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor; school administrator,  and Susie Jackson;  87
  I speak their names because there lives were significant.  Seeing their faces,  reading their brief life summaries hit close to home. I looked at their faces and saw people that could very well have been friends and even family,Susie Jackson being just a few years older than my own grandmother.
  As Black Americans we all live in the same sense of terror. It's the band- aid of civil rights that was applied in 1964 ,being snatched away, exposing the infected sore of white supremacy and racism that are deeply imbedded in the foundation of America.

 "What should we do? As artists we have to do something." She insisted.  I agreed.
As artisans we are charged with the responsibility to use our gifts to uplift humanity and avoid becoming tools of propaganda at every turn. Each time we paint a portrait, create music, pen prose or poetry, photograph a moment, produce works for stage and screen, we propel a narrative and influence the world.
  I encourage and celebrate my fellow creative forces of all races.  I pray that we draw from the courage within to conceive work that incites an open dialogue on racism, terrorism, the dangers of white supremacy or any form of racial supremacy for that matter. Our gifts can spark the healing and repairing process. If all lives matter then Black lives definitely matter.

Welcome to the Midtown Movement.

   "Politicians don't bring people together, artists do" - Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago
     
        As a former transplant citizen of Chicago, I didn't always agree with Mayor Richard Daley's politics, but when it comes to the arts, culture and entertainment, I couldn't agree with him more. From the gathering around the fire of prehistoric man to London's Globe Theater (famous for presenting Shakespeare) , the world community continues to congregate to experience the art of live entertainment. We love it. We crave the connection. We feel involved.
    Tallahassee is becoming a play ground for artistic explosion. As the summer approaches, the live music of downtown and the productions of local theater will become the heartbeat and I plan on living. This community of creatives does well by reaching their target audience. The mission the Midtown Entertainment Group and our movement is to seek out the citizens of Tallahasse who wish to enjoy the energy of live performance, but often times fall thru the marketing cracks. The Midtown Movement is about actively connecting with the community by purposefully reaching across racial, cultural and economic divides. We want to make the world a smaller place.
   There are so many well established performance organizations in the Tallahassee area with a waiting list of amazing talent. Midtown Entertainment will provide a platform for promising , undiscovered local talent. Diamonds in the rough are often proven to shine with unparalleled brilliance. They just a little extra polish to shine.

     The Midtown Entertainment Group is here, let us entertain you and we'll have a real good time.