Naima Lowe: Aren’t They All Just Love Songs Anyway?

In December 2019 Jack Straw and Arts and Visually Impaired Audiences (AVIA) presented an accessible music improvisation workshop at Jack Straw with Jack Straw Artist Naima Lowe and her father, jazz musician Bill Lowe. The workshop was presented in conjunction with Naima’s collaborative New Media Gallery installation Aren’t They All Just Love Songs Anyway?, which explores the expansive reach of Black musical traditions, and draws on the tenuous relationship between Black trauma and Black joy.

First, AVIA’s Jesse Minkert desribed the installation for the visually impaired attendees, discussing the visual elements of the installation, which included two projected videos, works on paper on the walls, and a rope sculpture hanging from the ceiling. Then Bill and Naima talked about the importance of rhythm and improvisation in Black music, and led the group in creating their own music together.

 

 

    

Artists

Naima Lowe, photo credit: Melissa Lukenbaugh and The Tulsa Artist-Fellowship

Naima Lowe

Naima Lowe comes from a long line of Black people who make things. She has parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-great grandparents who are musicians, fashion designers, Sunday…

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Photo of Jesse Minkert

Jesse Minkert

Jesse Minkert’s work has appeared in about fifty literary journals including the Cream City Review, Confrontation, Mount Hope, the Floating Bridge Review, the Minetta Review, Poetry Northwest, Common Knowledge…

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Exhibits

Stills from Naima Lowe's Aren't They All Just Love Songs Anyway?

Naima Lowe | Aren't They All Just Love Songs Anyway?

October 4 – December 13, 2019

Multi-disciplinary artist Naima Lowe presents new music, video, sculpture, and drawing on the risks and pleasures of being Black and valuing love. This deeply…

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