Poetry and visual art by Mashpee Wampanoag poet, artist, and author Robert Peters comes to life in an original, multi-media performance. This premiere performance features Peters’ poetry/art collection “Thirteen Moons,” which evolved through the artist’s personal journey to reclaim traditional culture and to live in a way consistent with his traditional beliefs. A choral reading of the “Thirteen Moons” poetry collection sets the stage for a conversation with Peters and other Indigenous artists. Topics considered include humans’ relationship with the natural world, the meaning of “home” from a Native perspective, and the contributions of Indigenous voices to justice and democracy building today. Image: Artist Image
Robert Peters is a Mashpee Wampanoag Artist, Poet, and Author. He published his first book “Da Goodie Monsta” in the fall of 2009.
Afroindigenous borikua and award-winning choreographer Mar Parrilla is the founding artistic director of danza orgánica. After attaining a bachelor's degree in languages (italian, french) from la universidad de puerto rico, Mar crossed the ocean to Nueva York, where she completed a master's degree in dance education at New York University. Parrilla is a recipient of several awards from the new england foundation for the arts, and the boston foundation, among others. She is also a luminary artist at the isabella stewart gardner museum, where she has been commissioned to create artistic work. Currently, she is collaborating with local native american communities in massachusetts, with a focus on best practices towards decolonization. she is also collaborating with puerto rico-based artists on a residency-based cultural exchange towards the development of proyecto melaza: a project that explores the colonial relationship between puerto rico and the united states of north america.
For over 30 years as a performer, teaching artist and curriculum development consultant, Mwalim has taught theater and language arts as well as music for private and public schools, community programs, arts academies, colleges, and conferences throughout the United States and Canada. His stages and classrooms have included theaters, arenas, nightclubs, schools, libraries, museums, community centers, festivals, street corners, powwows, colleges, temples, jails, and churches. Mwalim is a recipient of numerous awards, fellowships and grants for theater, music, and media arts; including the Ira Aldridge Fellowship, New York Theatre Forum, Osborne Trust Fellowship, Yen Fellowship, and the Healey Grant, He has been the Playwright-In-Residence at New African Company in Boston since 2004. He is the keyboardist and resident songwriter for the 6-time Grammy nominated band The GroovaLottos. Mwalim is a tenured professor of English and the former Director of Black Studies at UMass Dartmouth,
**Lee Mixashawn Rozie** has been a practicing multi-disciplinary and internationally acclaimed Jazz artist for the past three decades. Mr. Rozie holds a degree in History and Ethnomusicology from Trinity College and is equally at home in academic and cultural settings. Beginning from the point of Indigenous artist, using ancient cultural principles, maritime arts and historical data, both written and oral, he has developed a system of "Hemispheric Principles" to inform and guide his artform, more directly referred to as "Wave Art" : sonic, aquatic percussive and harmonic. Mixashawn offers musical performance and educational workshops on Indigenous music traditional and contemporary, as well as original, workshops that utilize his extensive experience as performer, Indigenous artist and educator to inspire creativity and natural expression for all ages.
Lynette Perdiz is a teacher with Falmouth Elementary School. She is a part of the indigenous community.