NOW IS ALWAYS THE TIME
For artists, it has always been true that all we really have are eachother, the communities we serve, our planet and our beloved craft. More than ever, it’s time to lean on these and become the resources we seek. As ever, we the people, are called to sing our songs, dance our dances, paint our stories, ruffle the feathers, shake the tables, break the barriers, breathe deep, rest well, nurture, heal, then show up again, disrupt, dismantle, say what must be said and fuel the fire to create the most powerful work of our lives, which is ourselves. We can’t do this in isolation, however. We have and need eachother.Share our art | Raise our voices | Care for eachother
ACTIONS
Peace Fellow Artists,
You’re invited to join a collective artistic action as part of Fall of Freedom a national movement, which is an urgent call to the arts community to unite in defiance of authoritarian forces. Artists all over the U.S. are putting together creative actions (performances, readings, exhibits, etc). As an expression of sovereignty and solidarity, artists throughout the NY/NJ/PA tri-state (and beyond) are invited to share our stories through visuals, music, dance and word plus a strategy session on mutual care.
EVENT TITLE
KONBIT
Definition (Konbit is a traditional Haitian agricultural practice that embodies the spirit of cooperation and mutual aid, in which community members join together to work on one another’s farms during both planting and harvest seasons.)
UPCOMING EVENT
Location: Virtual (link to follow with RSVP)
Facilitator: Nadïne LaFond
musician, mixed media artist
view the official trailer
What This Looks Like
In the tradition of Konbit, our gathering becomes a shared landscape where no one creates or dreams alone. Just as neighbors come together to plant and harvest so that no single family carries the weight of the season, we come together to create, express, vision, and build structures of care so that no artist is left in overwhelm or isolation.
The planting is our collective presence: the stories we offer, the songs and rhythms we share, the images we co-create, the movements we embody, and the ideas we exchange for nurturing one another’s work and well-being. The expression can be whatever we envision:
grounding/healing/peaceful; funny/playful/joyful; powerful/energetic/badass; encouraging/informative/educational.
The harvest is the network of support systems we cultivate afterward, resources that uplift the arts community long after the gatherings end.
What is created together is for everyone.
How To Get Involved
RSVP: to participate and create
SCHEDULE
VISUAL ARTISTS
examples
works on paper/canvas, sculpture, tour of installations, short films
MUSIC
examples
vocalists, instrumentalists, DJs
All genres, traditions
DANCE
examples
Classical Indian, B-boys/B-girls, Flamenco
traditional African/Caribbean
CYPHER
examples
spoken word, poets, authors
incorporating banned books/words
Brainstorm: how to support
STRATEGY WALL
DEFINITION
Spaces either in-person or virtual to collaborate where we share ways to engage in active cooperation and mutual aid. This can look like sharing/dreaming/brainstorming sessions and coordinated efforts for working together on meaningful support for artists in our communities.
VIRTUAL
LOCAL
A public or private space that hosts artists and community partners in-person for gatherings where we write (post it notes, sheets of paper, etc) or use smart boards to share ideas for community support.
INFO SESSIONS
FRI, NOV 29 (6pm)
conference call to finalize details for event
Collaborate: ways to mobilize
POST EVENT
LOGISTICS
Collective Work
So as not to burden any one person, we’re sharing the facilitation of our gatherings and coordination of resources. We’ll keep eachother updated via email, meet virtually to keep it simple/accessible and in-person when we can.
MUTUAL AID
Showing Up for Eachother
We’ll define this together, welcoming our varied perspectives and respecting our lived experiences.
COLLABORATION
Building Relationships
We’ll reach out to local organizations already committed to community work and partner on how we might create/share resources through the arts.
GATHERINGS
Get Outside
We’ll harness our collective brilliance to re-connect and inspire eachother through transformational events. Doesn’t have to be complicated. The simplest moment can make all the difference.
KNOWLEDGEBASE
Learn more about how to participate
KONBIT is intended to be an ongoing communal resource. It’s up to us how this will come about so let’s dream it up together.