Black Americana: A. Black. Woman. Speaks.  

A mobile arts instillation inspired by and in the tradition of Nina Simone, Maya Angelo, Harriet Tubman, Zora Neale Hurston, Ntozake Shange, and Beah Richards; specifically her ground breaking poem A Black Woman Speaks and other prolific black American women creatives, artists, activists and change agents and their impact on American History and global resistance movement. The immersive experience will include and be filtered through the mediums of photography, poetry, film media, & drama and consist of a Tanisha Lynn Pyron Creative Photography visual art exhibition, choreo-poem, two films; one an educational mixtape/documentary exploring the legacy and subversive ideas of subversive black women through out the Black American Historical timeline and a theatrical film short about an extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary black girl. The entire instillation will be archived via a fine art coffee table book & spoken word EP and toured regionally, nationally and internationally funding allows. The exhibition will target spaces for marginalized women of color and also predominately white spaces where the voices of women of color are absent in the hopes of inspiring, educating, mobilizing, and speaking truth to power. There are a lot of people saying a lot of things about black women. BLACK AMERICANA: A. Black. Woman. Speaks is the response and a master class in what happens when black womanhood speaks back on a black woman’s terms. Highlighting the pain, pride and power embedded in our collective narrative. A creative call to action to every girl & woman of color, your voice matters, through creatively expressing how I became a subversive heroine in my own narrative and infusing the work with the voices that shaped me & spoke up on my half decades before my parents ever met. I give an admonish and hope to inspire others to do the same. As an artist and media entrepreneur currently working on launching PRETTY FIRE as a media brand. I consider myself to be a modern day griot focusing on telling stories that redefine and re-appropriate "BLACK AMERICANA" highlighting and finding the beauty in the contradictions, pain and pride within "our stories" and thus hoping to discover and re-claim the beauty within my own. I use my creative expression as modalities to HEAL, to TEACH & EXPAND.To me the art and the artist are one I produce and curate the conversation & content  I need in the world. It is my way of using my gifts in service to the collective and a way of using the art to empower marginalized black women to mobilize. Phenomenal things happen when a black woman speaks.The body of work seeks to empower use as subversive heroines in our own lives and communities creatively positioning us as the baton pass and legacy of those black women who spoke before us, we speak our truths, cast vision for the future and call to action in the present in the hope of galvanizing young black women, specifically marginalized teens, & young black mothers with an affirmation of worth and a platform to be heard. 

THE TOUR:

Chicago - Detroit - Kalamazoo - Cuba - Nigeria - Toronto - Haiti - Atlanta - New Orleans - Houston - Dallas - St Louis - Kansas City - Oakland - LA - Philadelphia - Indianapolis - Cleveland - Charlotte - Jamaica - Miami 

Thank you for your contribution and support. I’ve actually been attempting to execute this vision out of pocket as a single mother and domestic violence survivor my capital is limited but my previous creative projects were viral successes on a shoe string budget this money would allow me to overcome fiscal limitations. I believe you put your time, art and money where your heart is this will be the first time any one has invested monetarily into my art and vision, which has been a saving grace and facilitated transcending circumstances and social economic barriers to impact the world for the better.

With extensive experience as a social justice, project based creative, cultural influencer, performer & teaching artist for organizations like Old Kings Orchard, New Horizon Learning Center, University of Illinois and YMCA, and key contributions to social justice & identify based viral online movements like Infamous Mother’s, Beautiful In Every Shade & 50 Shades of Black and my theatrical experience with the Techtonic Theatre Company, SITI Company, WMU’s production of Good Death, BACC & Fire’s production Bread Crumbs which highlighted the stores of black LGBTQI populations from south West Michigan in their own words. I’ve devised, produced, acted, directed and performed in multiple works plays & film shorts. I’ve collected real stories and photographed real people and imbedded there truth into bodies of work that moved the world forward in dynamic ways. I’ve used my platform and artistry to advocate full time for marginalized black populations specifically women like me.

I am requesting $31,000 to cover the production of mobile art instillation components and plan to generate revenue through selling downloadable and hard copies of the creative / educational components of the instillation as well as ticket sales and future bookings. 

• Fine Art Photography Coffee Table Book

•Spoken Word E.P.

•Art Exhibition 

•Choreopoem (One Woman Show) 

•Documentary Short Film

•Theatrical Short Film  

• instillation Tour 

The Budget:

**Art Exhibit**

 Lens Rental  

Studio Space Rental

Beauty Dish

Soft Box

Reflector 

Flash 

Mounting / Hanging 

Frames / Matting

Video Projector 

Projector Back Drop

Editing Software Updates

**Stage Play** 

Stage Lighting

Black Set Cubes 

Portable Stage

Portable Sound System

Portable Back Drop

**General Needs**

Portable Seating

Storage/Studio Space 

Video Camera

Tripod 

Mics 

Speakers 

Audio Equipment

**Tour**

Hotel

Flight 

Rental Car

Meals

**Spoken Word E.P.** 

Recording Studio Rental

Producer / Engineer

Cd / Flash Drives Production

Cover Art

**Coffee Table Book**

MUA

Hair

Wardrobe

Self Publishing

**Film**

Subscription to Online Streaming Service

Editing Software

Online Archive Storage

Locations and Shooting Permits

Wardrobe 

Hair

MUA

Actors 

Mics

**The Artist**

Time / Labor / Rehearsals

Support Staff

I believe my creative foundation as a classically trained actress, spoken word poet and creative photographer with 45,000 combined social media following & viral blog features on notable platforms like Afro-Punk & For Harriet; 13 years of performance experience as well as an an educator in cross cultural settings including with at risk and special needs populations have all prepared me to do this work. 

Of particular interest I am highly skilled in: 

• Producing creative works with 4 years experience as an independent producer and 4 additional years as a co-founding member of Face Off Theatre Company 

• Experience providing guidance to students in the YMCA late night youth program. 

• Experience in implementing varies pedagogical approaches to the disciplines of drama, creative writing & visual art. 

As you are seeking to fund grassroots initiatives I hope you will consider mine. Thank you for your consideration 

https://youtu.be/_ii8kwAKw4g