Free - Reservation Suggested
Grand Performances (GP) amplifies the voices of artists Layla Locklear (Tuscarora/Oglala Sioux), Charly Lowry (Lumbee/Tuscarora), and Bear Fox (Akwesasne/Mohawk Nation) for a first-time collaboration in Los Angeles.
Locklear is an accomplished musician, Native American rights activist, and advocate for Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Lowry makes passionate music that intersects with her activism in standing up for Lumbee and Native American rights. Both Locklear and Lowry are members of Ulali Project – one of the most important and enduring Native American women’s ensembles. The group is known for blending voice and hand percussion to create a groundbreaking contemporary sound which was warmly received by GP audiences in 2018. Bear Fox is a solo artist and member of the Akwesasne Women Singers, an ensemble of native voices driven to protect and preserve the Kanien'keha (Mohawk Language) traditional customs.
During a week-long residency with all three artists, GP will combine a series of concerts with intersectional community and artist focused activities and conversations. To facilitate, GP has partnered with community-based organizations including Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, Brasil Brasil Cultural Center, and Charles Drew University. Each partner organization will act as a performance venue and will help initiate conversations between artists and community in pre-or post-performance convenings.
Impactful learning will come from acknowledging and investigating the impact of immigration, migration and movement as significant contributors to the artistic expression in Los Angeles and Native American communities today. While recognizing that most immigration, migration, displacement and certainly forced relocation, stems from monumental political, geographic or economic upheaval; this project attempts to pivot the conversation to focus on the creative and cultural contributions these events have forged in present day Los Angeles.
Artistic expressions such as Capoeira and hand percussion/drumming were developed by enslaved Africans that had been shipped to Brazil. Japanese American relocation camp internees attempted to normalize their extraordinary imprisonment via cultural, social, artistic and athletic activities. Native American relocations onto and away from reservation life has had both degenerative effects and affirmed the need for continued sharing, teaching and evolution of those cultural expressions.
Program subject to change. Make sure to RSVP so we can alert you of any changes.
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