LIBERTY: UNPLUGGED! (2015)

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In partnership with Philly Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM), the Liberty: Unplugged! Poetry Slam, a citywide contest, invited Philadelphia youth to explore the central Liberty: Unplugged! festival topics of human trafficking, voting rights, and human rights  on a local and global level. Participants were featured on the festival’s digital platforms and the finalists were invited to perform as part of the festival finale event.

Scholar-artists from the KIPP Du Bois Collegiate Academy were engaged for several weeks in an elective after-school program inspired by the Liberty: Unplugged festival. They researched speeches by Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela, then worked cooperatively to paint each historical figure along with excerpts of their most renowned speeches. Their finished product, an impressive nine-paneled mural, was unveiled on June 5, 2015 and put on display in the Mann's Welcome Center for their 2015 summer season. 

Mural Student Artists and Instructor: Mahalia Strickland, Audrey Jones, Kennedy Parks, Sharda Snead, Kamilah Gittens, Carnesha Walton, Nasreen Hughey-Mainor, Dimir Ramsey, Jessica Harron, Art Teacher

In partnership with Child’s Play, a non-profit arts education theatre group, young scholars from four Philadelphia public schools participated in “Peace by Piece.” In September 2015, they were inspired to create group-generated stories showing how they can make a difference in the world and bring about peaceful solutions to problems. In November of the same year, Child’s Play returned to the schools in  to perform the developed stories for the scholars.

This free concert showcased works that explored festival themes, including: spirituals performed by student musicians from Play On Philly! and the Chicago Metamorphosis Orchestra Project; a newly choreographed dance piece by Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble for the Oscar Award-winning song “Glory” (from the motion picture, Selma); a new theatrical piece in tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., performed by Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble; a tribute to Nelson Mandela performed by Sharon Katz & The Peace Train; and finalists from the festival’s citywide poetry competition.

Three Men, Three Movements was the inaugural concert event for Liberty: Unplugged! This free community event was produced in partnership with Play On, Philly! (POP), the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM) and ODUNDE365. The concert was held at Mother Bethel AME Church and featured works commissioned and created specifically for the project, including musical repertoire created by POP, as well as spoken word pieces created by the Philly Youth Poetry Movement. 

Students from Moore College of Art & Design worked on a semester-long design project centering on the 2015 festival icons Frederick Douglas, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela. 

The design of Samantha Siermine, a junior Graphic Design student at Moore, was selected from the work of 15 student artists. Her work was incorporated into all online and print branding throughout the festival.