The Capital Fringe Fest & Hip Hop Theater Festival Begin this Week!

"We are here to show you that DC is more than a municipality filled with institutions that import artists to exhibit or bring down last year’s broadway hit. We are here to show you that we are a city filled with innovators."

The quote above can be found on the Capital Fringe Fest's welcome page as you are greeted with the notion that this year's fest is going to innovative, filled with talent from the nation's capital, and, always, filled with productions that are by no means mainstream. Hence, the term "fringe". The Capital Fringe Festival is about performance art that is eclectic, artistic and accessible. You can find out more by visitin the website http://www.capfringe.org/.

Some of the acts in this year's Fringe Fest we hope you check out are below:

Deconstructing the Myth of the Booty

Of course Liberated Muse is biased towards the Saartjie Project. Five of the members of the Saartjie Project are members of the Liberated Muse online network @ http://www.liberatedmuse.com/, including Liberated Muse co-founder, Khadijah Ali-Coleman. But aside from the bias, the Washington Post has also identified the Saartjie Project's "Deconstructing the Myth of the Booty" as a must-see show out of the 100+ performances showcased in this year's festival. Click HERE to get details about the Saartjie Project show. Click HERE to read the Washington Post article.

Headscarf & the Angry Bitch

Zed Headscarf performs a tongue-in-cheek romp through faith and growing up Muslim in America. Featuring hits like 'The Only Thing I'll Do Five Times a Day is You' and 'I Lost My Virginity During Ramadan.' With the US' growing international wars with people in other nations who are often of the Islam faith, this performance is guaranteed to be a boundary-stretching adventure as we confront our ethnocentric views and prejudices often perpetuated through the media. Get ticket info HERE.

So Do You Love Me Yet?

Liberated Muse member, Farah Lawal, who is also featured in our book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul examines relationships and love in her one-woman show "So Do You Love Me Yet?" This 70-minute show weaves storytelling and spoken word into an enthralling show by Lawal who has appeared in a multitude of stage shows, most recently the play "Native Son". "Farah Lawal brings unexpected tenderness and devotion to Bigger's lover, Clara," said one Washington Post review of her performance in Native Son. Read the review HERE.

Watch Farah in the video below and visit HERE to purchase tickets to her show:

Hip-Hop Theater Festival

Founded in 2000, The Hip-Hop Theater Festival continues to invigorate the fields of theater and Hip-Hop by: nurturing the creation of innovative work within the Hip-Hop aesthetic; presenting and touring American and international artists whose work addresses the issues relevant to the Hip-Hop generation; and serving young, urban communities through outreach and education that celebrates contemporary language and culture.

In each of its Festival cities, New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago and San Francisco, The Hip-Hop Theater Festival presents live events created by artists who stretch, invent and combine a variety of theatrical forms, including theater, dance, spoken word and live music sampling. Through open submissions and aggressive curating both nationally and internationally, the Hip-Hop Theater Festival is fully dedicated to finding, developing and introducing to the public new artistic creations from a diversity of cultures and points of view.

The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities and Hip-Hop Theater Festival is proud to present all events free of charge this year as the festival hits Washington DC. Online reservations are required, however, for many of the events are already filled to capacity already. Last night's Howard Zinn show at the Kennedy Center was filled to capacity in a very short time, leaving many guests who arrived later to search for something else to do for the night because they couldn't get in.

Here are some FAMILY-FRIENDLY choices we want to check-out this week:

THURSDAY, JULY 9
7 PM :: Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation MythWritten and Directed by Psalmayene 24Originally Commissioned by Imagination StagePremiere performance January 24, 2009

Zomo the Rabbit in search of wisdom

Set in our Nation's Capital, Zomo is a contemporary, high-energy take on an African tale. Zomo the Rabbit calls the Sky God (on his cell phone) requesting the ultimate prize of wisdom. The Sky God gives him three tasks and Zomo succeeds in trickster fashion, but it's only by sharing the prize that he invents Hip-Hop, leading all the characters to celebrate their culture together. Enjoyed by Ages 4+. THEARC Theater :: 1901 Mississippi Avenue, SENOTE: For Thursday, July 9 performance, HHTF Shuttle Van running from Southern Avenue, Green Line Stop from 6 PM – 7 PM

SATURDAY, JULY 11
12 PM :: Step Into a World
Open House :: ALL AGES WELCOME

Each year this event welcomes families, community leaders, local artists, and young people out east of the river to enjoy some of the art and music created by the students of the DC Urban Arts Academy. This year, Words Beats & Life is inviting several local organizations, community groups, and programs to come showcase their programs. Throughout the day there will be interactive workshops in arts & crafts, Hip-Hop history, chess, a b-boy/b-girl exhibition, an interactive student art exhibition and performances, all for ages 6 and up. For more information email Ayana Patrick or call 202-667-1192. Benning Park Recreation Center :: 5100 53rd Street, SE (@ Fitch Street

Visit the Website HERE

Liberated Muse 3rd Show Promoting New Book Rocked the House!

So yesterday was, for lack of a better word, a "totally awesome" day!

(In Photo: Margaux Delotte-Bennett)

During this last weekend of the Artomatic, Liberated Muse held almost two-hour long show promoting the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul. Contributors from the book-- Margaux Delotte-Bennett, Farah Lawal, Angela "Anonamas" Ballard, and Ananda Leeke--- read pieces while musical performers Quineice Clarkson, Gary Young, and Dee Stone entertained the audience musically. Renowned writer Alan King closed the show reading some original pieces. Sharon Burton, who did the cover art for the book was in the house as were many other members of the Liberated Muse network.

(In photo: Maceo Thomas, Liberated Muse Productions co-founder, selling books and cds)

It was a wonderful night.

View some of our photos from the night on our site http://www.liberatedmuse.com/ or check out our Facebook page HERE.

Join the Liberated Muse Fam @ the Artomatic on July 3rd

The celebration of the new Liberated Muse book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul continues @ the Artomatic on Friday, July 3rd @ 8pm in Washington DC on the Solo Stage. Join us as contributors to the book, Margaux Delotte-Bennett & Ananda Leeke read pieces from the book as well as original pieces. Also, enjoy the musical stylings of Anonamas of Infinite Soul Music, Gary Young and Quineice Clarkson. A Limited Open Mic will follow. Renowned writer Alan King will also share some of his most recent writings. Come early to sign-up!

For questions, email us at LiberatedMuseProductions@gmail.com

Check out photos from our Liberated Muse weekend @ the Potter's House and the Artomatic June 19-20 by clicking HERE and HERE

Authentic Contemporary Art Recognizes National HIV Testing Day in a BIG WAY

In Recognition of National HIV Testing Day

Saturday, June 27, 2006

@ the Artomatic

James Renwick Alliance Education Room (4th Floor)

FREE and Open to the Public

Authentic Contemporary Art presents a special forum featuring visual art, music, poetry and dance.

Join us in a special dialogue about how art can play a role as an effective tool for education and treatment for people who are at risk or have been affected with HIV or AIDS. This forum will feature spoken word and other performances as well as representatives from the art community that is making a difference in the fight against HIV.

Artwork from representing organizations will also be on view.

Whitman-Walker Clinic will conduct free private and confidential HIV testing from 12:00-6:00 pm on Saturday, which is National HIV Testing Day.

Forum Participants:

Moderator: Maceo Thomas, MPH, Co-FounderLiberated Muse Productions

Public Health Advocate Participants:

• Bassey Ikpi Poet/Spoken Word Artist


• The Saartijie Project Dance and Performance Art Ensemble


• Nil Sismanyazici-Navaie Founder/President, Arts for Global Development, Inc.


• Khadijah Tribble Executive Director Pediatric HIV/AIDS Care, Inc.


• Solomon Irwin Royster, Planned Parenthood & Board Member of the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative


• Tina Lassiter Director of Art Programs & Acquisitions Children’s National Medical Center, Board of Directors, Society for the Arts in Healthcare

The Liberated Muse Weekend Was a Hit!

This past weekend on June 19 and June 20, members of the Liberated Muse community joined forces to kick-off the celebration of the new book "Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul".

On Fri, June 19, actress Farah Lawal and poets Maureen Mulima & Margaux Delotte-Bennett shared readings from the book while musical guests James Terrell, Dee Stone, Gary Young, Quiniece Clarkson and Anonamas entertained the crowd with their musical prowess. The event was also a benefit show raising money for four students who are scholarship recipients from the DC College Success Foundation. Although, they are set to receive an Achievers Scholarship, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, these students are not helped with the up front costs such as housing deposits and enrollment fees necessary to even begin school and utilize the scholarship. Almost $400 was raised to on June 19 to assist with these costs.

(In photo: Dee Stone @ the Artomatic)

On Sat, June 20, Liberated Muse took the show to the Artomatic in DC. Performer Teisha Marie joined Farah Lawal, Gary Young and Quineice Clarkson for this hour-long show as the crowd learned about the new book and the upcoming Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest.

(In photo: Farah Lawal @ the Artomatic)

If you missed it, don't worry. You can catch us on Fri, July 3 @ the Artomatic as we kick off the 4th of July weekend!

(In photo: Quineice Clarkson and Gary Young @ the Artomatic)

Visit the network at http://www.liberatedmuse.com/ to view more photos from both shows at the Potter's House and the Artomatic.

Make sure you buy the book "Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul" by clicking HERE

TODAY!!!!!

Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul--THIS WEEKEND, DON'T MISS IT!

Liberated Muse Productions was born in early 2008 when two good friends decided to join forces and present a festival to the DC metro area. The idea was for the festival to be a venue for DC-based soul and hip-hop acts to get exposure while linking festival-goers to businesses and services found in the area.

The first festival-- the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest-- debuted in the summer of 2008 and drew large crowds to the Marvin Gaye Park area located east of the river in DC. This park, renovated from its former history as "Needle Park", attracted folk who typically did not come outside of the northwest area of DC to find their entertainment. A tradition was born.

On July 25, 2009 in Marvin Gaye Park, the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest will take place again. This time, the line-up is even fiercer and the mission is the same. Visit http://www.capitalhiphopsoulfest.com/ to get details.

The featured book at the fest is another Liberated Muse Production. "Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul". The book, an anthology of writings and visual art which revolve around the concept of "freedom", will debut this summer. It is edited by Liberated Muse Productions co-founder Khadijah Ali-Coleman and features work by notable writers from around the world and a foreword by author Ananda Leeke.

We are celebrating the release of this book.

Click on the dates of the upcoming book celebrations for more details:

Friday, June 19

Saturday, June 20

Friday, July 3

Readings from the book, "Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul" will be read by contributing writers Farah Lawal, Maureen Mulima, and Shant'a Monroe with live performances by Dee Stone, Anonamas, Quineice Clarkson, Gary Young & James Terrell.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE: http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?ISBN=978-1-4327-2415-3

The Artomatic So Far: What We Like...

The Artomatic Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Artomatic has brought its trademark one-of-a-kind multimedia arts event to Half Street’s 55 M St, SE in D.C.’s Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. In 2008, Artomatic attracted 52,500 visitors and 1,540 participating artists. It is expected that over 60, 000 will visit the Artomatic this year. Artomatic began on May 29 and extends until July 5, 2009.

In conjunction with the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District and Monument Realty, Artomatic presents more than five weeks of art, music, theater, workshops and more — all of it free for visitors. Artomatic is a nonprofit organization headed by a volunteer Board of Directors. It is funded in part by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

(In photo: Camille Pasley-Mosley's exhibit on nurturing)

East of the river visual artists featured this year include Amber Robles-Gordon and Camille Pasley-Mosley. The popular go-go band Mambo Sauce will perform on the 4th of July. Held regularly since 1999, Artomatic transforms an unfinished indoor space into an exciting and diverse arts event that is free and open to the public. In addition to displays by hundreds of artists, the event features free films, educational presentations and children’s activities, as well as musical, dance, poetry, theater and other performances over the course of five weeks. Artomatic is an unjuried event and registration is open to all artists, from professionals to beginners.

“Two of my poems are getting published in an anthology called, Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul. I will be performing at the Artomatic to promote the book,” says local actress, Farah Lawal. Lawal is using the Artomatic appearance as a promotion also for her one-woman show "So Do You Love Me Yet?" which will open on July 10th in the upcoming Capital Fringe Fest in Washington, DC. Lawal will appear on June 20 and July 3 on the Solo Stage with other writers featured in the book and local performing artists.

What We Like So Far

So, Hook of http://www.myststudios.com/ and I volunteered at the Artomatic during its opening weekend. It was a Saturday and it was after 9pm when we arrived. There were wall to wall people and it reminded me of an evening in the busy streets of New York with the crowds and high energy in the air. The eight floors of Artomatic were bustling and alive and the elevator was packed as we made our way to the floor where the office was to receive our volunteer assignment.

Of course we checked out the Solo Stage first to see what the stage looks like for the upcoming Liberated Muse showcase on June 20 @ 6pm and July 3rd @ 8pm. It is on the 3rd floor and was among the art exhibits in a very ideal spot.

When we arrived at the office, it was packed. We were first assigned to the loading dock, but later re-routed to work in the store. I stayed put while Hook went check out the other floors to report on later. I was fine. It was a great volunteer spot. Also working the shift with me was Patrick, one of the planners of the Artomatic who has experience in planning performing arts events aside from Artomatic. We shared a lot of ideas and were able to meet some truly eclectic people who came in to purchase Artomatic souvenirs.

This past weekend, we visited the Artomatic on a Sunday during the day for a children's workshop. My daughter was able to create an original sculpture in a workshop hosted by the Suisse embassy. On this day, the space was not populated as much as it was opening weekend, but still well-attended. Here are some things she was able to do that were hands-on

(from top r to l: Make her Mexican elephant sculpture "Miss Millie", learn about a Swiss sculptor, draw a robot)

The Artomatic sells food and beverages and is open Wed-Sun, closing at 1a.m on the weekend. Visit www.artomatic.org for more information.