Matana Roberts (Photo by M. Tarantelli)

Ars Nova Workshop, the Philadelphia jazz and contemporary music presenter, is partnering with The Woodlands cemetery to host numerous events on their grounds over the coming months as part of a joint project called “New Grass”.

This week, the Ars Nova Workshop and The Woodlands will be hosting the Grammy award-winning choir The Crossing for the world premiere of a new work honoring the life and memory of Breonna Taylor by composer, sound artist, and jazz saxophonist Matana Roberts. The performance is called “we got time.” and engages the audience to walk (safely and socially-distanced) through The Woodlands. Continue Reading

The fifth annual West Philly Porchfest will take place on Saturday, June 5, from 12-6 p.m.

The DIY music festival was cancelled last summer because of COVID but this year it’s returning with a bang! This year’s event features more than 125 porches hosting over 260 acts including groups playing R&B, funk, rock, jazz, disco, bluegrass, rap, folk, classical, emo, EDM, and metal. International music fans will be treated with sounds from Brazilian samba to Jamaican reggae to Korean drumming to Bulgarian folk songs, and more.

An online map of porch shows (see image below) and the list of performers are available at westphillyporchfest.com. It should be noted that the festival has been gradually expanding its boundaries west and southwest outside of the University City area. Continue Reading

As the city is preparing to lift all COVID-related capacity restrictions on June 11, check out updates on these great outdoor events, all held in Clark Park at 43rd and Chester:

The next Uhuru Flea Market will be held on Saturday, June 12. It is an all-day (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) African marketplace featuring dozens of vendors showcasing a wide range of handmade goods, crafts, housewares, food, and more. Volunteers are always needed for this event, held monthly from May to October and vendor spaces are available. The Uhuru Flea Market is an economic development project of the African People’s Education and Defense Fund (APEDF). For more information, visit: uhurufleamarket.blogspot.com or call 267-875-FLEA (3532). Continue Reading

The Under the Stars in Clark Park film series kicks off on June 4 with a short film program from the 2021 Philadelphia Latino Film Festival (Photo courtesy of cinéSPEAK).

After holding virtual film screenings for a year due to the COVID pandemic, cinéSPEAK is bringing audiences together for four magical evenings of independent cinema at one of West Philly’s most popular public spaces – Clark Park.

This new outdoor cinema series, titled Under the Stars in Clark Park, will feature incredible independent films, DJs, arts and cultural organizations, and food trucks every Friday in June (June 4, 11, 18 and 25).

“Doors”/Live DJ performances kick off at 7 p.m. and film screenings begin at 8:30 p.m. (sundown) at “The Bowl” at 43rd and Chester. Continue Reading

Here’s some more exciting news from the historic Woodlands Cemetery and Mansion.

You may have noticed a new wood log installation near the road not far from the entrance where Tiny Circus usually holds its performances during West Craft Fests. By the way, that area is called a Community Welcome Zone. Here’s the story behind the installation, according to the Woodlands’ Program and Operations Manager Emma Max.

The Woodlands has recently completed tree work as part of the general tree upkeep and maintenance program. One large tree had fallen and two large trees died over the past year, which is not uncommon with over 1,000 mature trees onsite. Placing the large, hollowed out logs in the Community Welcome Zone was the idea of the Woodlands Arborist, Chris Arader of Arader Tree Service. Continue Reading

After a year in the COVID pandemic, which has paused some of its arts projects and events, Curio Theatre is ready to present to the community something quite extraordinary (and also safe for the audience and staff). Beginning this Friday, March 19 and through Sunday, April 18, the West Philly theatre company will present A Symphony for Saint-Georges, a massive installation celebrating the life and career of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the famed violinist, composer and fencer whose story has been buried by history.

The piece involves no live actors – A Symphony for Saint-Georges is a multi-disciplinary installation featuring five environments created by sculpture, music, projections, video and set design. Curio artists have been working for months independently on this ambitious experiment to highlight the life of an artist who rose from slavery. Born in Guadeloupe to an enslaved mother and a wealthy plantation-owner father, Joseph Bologne was once described as “the most accomplished man in France.” As a champion fencer, esteemed violinist, father, and composer, Bologne is said to have inspired musicians like Mozart. However, even he was not immune to the realities of racism. Continue Reading