Serenading the Wounded Spaces
A healing project with the Give Get Sistet
In May of 2021, some of the Sistetmembers were in the midst of a filming a song cycle to include in a commemoration of the lynching of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie in Duluth in 1920.
As we prepared to film, police killed Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center. The discussions we had before and during our singing were deep, painful, and necessary. We recognized the balm of gathering as Black artists/singers to express and experience our reactions alongside the challenge of authentically experiencing these emotions while being watched/filmed. We began to envision singing together in places of wounding around the city.
In September of 2021, we were awarded a grant to create a Community Healing project through the city’s Creative Response Fund.
With this support, we serenaded places in Minneapolis.
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Powderhorn Park
“Anything healing that happens in the park ripples out and invites us to know ourselves, our nature and each other better.”
We held our final serenade as folks were readying the space for the 10 year Poetry & Pie event in Powderhorn park. We gathered around a picnic table off to the side to “set the stage” for this community event. Singer-songwriter Kashimana joined us.
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“Powderhorn Park is the heart of the Powderhorn community. It was a site of pain and activism, community organizing, and public engagement during and after the Uprising. Powderhorn Park is the place we center and recognize ourselves as community. Anything healing that happens in the park ripples out and invites us to know ourselves, our nature and each other better.”
“For me today the sky set the tone for the day. I felt free and loved and grateful to be with my Sistet family. After such a long trip to get here, the serenading felt like it spoke to all my wounds and worn out places.”
“We did what need to be done. My favorite part was making the loops with Kashimana.”
“I was in need of healing today. Feeling exhausted and violated. Then my Sistahs took up my burden and sang to and for me and we found the way through and the bag came back. “
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Juneteenth Serenades – North and Uptown Minneapolis
“The energy from these healing sessions reaches farther into the community than we thought.”
We joined folks celebrating Juneteenth at Sumner Library and sang to our community and our ancestors. Later, as we sang together at the Bridge for Youth Juneteenth event in uptown, a young volunteer at one of the tables at the event asked to sing with us.
“We noticed the power of our intentions and the spaces we make for ourselves.”
“Windy and then hot
We gave it all that we’d got
Which is really quite a lot.”
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North High
When we were thinking of places to serenade, we decided we especially wanted to sing to and for the young folks at North Community High School who have had such a painful year.
(No vids ’cause they kids.)
“Love songs to teens who giggled and said we sounded amazing. Improv in the science wing. Loving on the super mad dude.”
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North Commons
“So many ways to occupy a space …”
We incorporated an online session (and an Instagram Live) into this Serenade, which included guest artist Tamiko French (@Soulspeak_Expressions) as wells a couple of guests from other states. We came together to be together in community. We used our voices, moved our bodies and left the painting of the heart in the park when we took our leave.
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“Missing my people. Loving my Northside. Adding my tears to others’, lifting up energy for healing and grace, expressing ourselves audibly, visibly, and spiritually — as we serenade and petition for wholeness — outside, with nature.”
“So many ways to occupy a space — even from hundreds of miles away. Thank you all for letting me join you in a healing morning.”
“Gathered under a soft gray sky with bare feet on the ground. Connecting across the miles. Sistahs and smiles and sounds and songs. MJ and memories and good times. Leaving our heart(s) there. Soft rain after to help the healing grow.”
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Pillsbury Theater
“On today, the Sistet gathered at the site of an importantly devastating piece of art ‘performed’ by loved ones to sing and pray on that place.”
We gathered in the early morning to serenade the outdoor diorama (stage) for What to Send Up When it Goes Down* before they began their second run.
Part ritual and part theatrical experience, What to Send Up When It Goes Down is a fiercely innovative play that sets out to disrupt the pervasiveness of anti-Blackness and rejoice in the resilience of Black People throughout history. Using monologues, scenes, songs and discussion the play offers space for examination, reflection and ultimately a cathartic cleansing of harm caused by anti-Blackness that permeates us all.
We recognized and wanted to support the enormous and difficult healing work our community members were enacting as they presented that particular play at that time in that space. (Pillsbury Theater is only blocks from George Floyd Square.)
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“The Sistet blessed the altar with music and movement, and blessed the ritual makers with talismans and prayer.”
— Aimee
“Heard the stage/alter “over here, this way” – we followed. The sky opened up a clear view, I arched my back, felt big, small and peaceful. The seal is cracked, space is warmed up now.”
— Alicia
“My partner carried out the design of Uncle Seitu Jones diorama. We studied some symbols that we agreed would support the family (the Black thespians) that is carrying out this hard, beautiful piece. May it “ground” and support. So he added these symbols last night before the Sistet continued to bless support and protect, benediction & ready the space.” — Jayanthi
“Alicia and A were there when I arrived. The space felt quiet and still and the early morning light was sweetly illuminating faces and the space. Then Kenna and Aimee, then Mankwe arrived; we greeted and hugged. A received incense training from Alicia and Kenna. We formed a circle and sang “I Remember, I Believe” (during which Aimee and I shed some tears). We began singing and moving thru the space individually, yet connected. We talked about warrior spirits and space/time to fight. The Pillsbury folks began to arrive. We greeted and assisted in small ways and then took our leaves.”
— Sarah
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Acknowledgements
Funding is provided by The Creative Response Fund, a program of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy in the City of Minneapolis and also in part by The Kresge Foundation.
