11th Annual rock.paper.sistahz Festival@ Various Locations, Toronto, ON - Fri May 4th - Fri May 11th!

b current’s 11th Annual rock.paper.sistahz Festival:
Old meets New meets Here&Now!           
May 4 - 11, 2012

b current is proud to announce the line-up of the 11th Annual rock.paper.sistahz Festival. This year’s event promises something for everyone! From May 4-11, 2012, the highly popular, one-of-a-kind festival will showcase some of Toronto’s most creative visual artists, creators, and hand-picked performance work by Black women artists and artists of colour.

Taking its name and form from the well-known hand game, the festival has been empowering and celebrating emerging and established artists, by providing opportunities to develop and present new works. Over the years, the festival has presented creators, works, and ideas from across Canada, the Caribbean, England, and the United States.

ahdri zhina mandiela, the founder and artistic director of b current is the driving force behind this much-buzzed event. She is a multi-disciplined and award winning artist who is widely known as a director and poet/performer, and is legendary as mentor and icon to young Black artists in the city. And b current’s resident artists, Nicole Brooks, Edwige Jean-Pierre, Jajube Mandiela, and Rehaset Yohanes make up the curating team for the #11 festival.

For EIGHT days the Festival will feature artists from the past, new voices, play readings, visual art, a fashion show, workshops, improv, spokenword, comedy, dance and creative activities by and for youth!

May 7 to 11 – various times and locations
Juke Joint - Seasoned and emerging artists of different disciplines are paired together to do live, short (2-5 minutes) improvisations | Venue: During selected festival events |Admission: Included with other events

Friday, May 4: 6:30 PM – 9 PM
Little Dresses for Africa Fashion Show* In collaboration with Think Magazine; includes red carpet and runway plus a special pre-show reception | Venue: TBD | Admission: TBD

Saturday, May 5: 10 AM – 12 noon
Jr Juke Joint* - Blossoming youth and emerging artists of different disciplines are paired together in live, short (2-5 minutes) improvisations | Venue: Artscape Farmer’s Market | Admission: Free

8 PM - 10 PM
A-Lixir Mixer – An insider launch for festival artists | Venue: b current studio 251 | Admission: by invite only

11 PM - 1 AM
SpeakEasy - Spokenword, comedy, and other live word performances; featuring Naomi Abiola, Jude Delsoin, Najla Edwards, Helen Yohannes, and more. | Venue: Ellington’s Café | Admission: PWYC, suggested $10

Sunday, May 6: 11 AM – 7 PM
Uth Daze* - Multi-art festival of performances, workshops, and creative activities for children, families, youth and young adults | Venue: Artscape Wychwood Barns (inside and around the Barns) | Admission: Free

Monday, May 7: 8 PM – 10 PM
Multi.Art Launch – Reception/launch of an off-the-wall art installation curated by Sandra Brewster featuring works from a mix of emerging visual artists | Venue: TBD | Admission: PWYC, suggested $10

Tuesday, May 8 - Thursday, May 10:  8 PM - 10:30 PM
Play NiCe - Performances and readings of new plays by emerging and emerged artists, including Keeping Mum by Mason Haigh, A Face Like Mine by Asanda Phewa (with the original South African actors),
Naomi Abiola’s 7th Heaven, and Eating Pomegranates Naked by Andrea Scott.
Venue: Wychwood Theatre | Admission: PWYC, suggested $10

Friday, May 11: 6PM – 7:30PM
The Studio.Sistahz Series of artists’ talks and receptions happens throughout the festival and features this public session with Asanda Phewa, young playwright & director from South Africa | Venue: b current studio 251 | Admission: PWYC, suggested $10

8 PM – 10 PM
soooOOUL TRAIN! - Dance artists perform in an interactive and multi-cultural take on the 70’s Soul Train movement | Venue: Artscape Wychwood Barns | Admission: PWYC, suggested $10

10 PM - Midnight
Wrap It Up! - A dance party with food/drinks, DJ LiLee (aka actor/singer Abena Malika) and guest performer. | Venue: b current studio 251 | Admission: PWYC/by donation

*These events are presented in collaboration with the reConnection Collective.


Don't miss Toronto's premiere festival of Black women & women of colour artists at the rock.paper.sistahz #11, the most diverse festival of word, sound and performance the city has to offer.  For full event descriptions please visit http://www.bcurrent.ca

rps #11 - 11th Annual rock.paper.sistahz Festival
May 4-11, 2012
Locations: Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St. | Ellington’s Café, 805 St. Clair Ave. W.
Individual tickets: Pay-What-U-Can or FREE admission
Information: 416-533-1500 or visit www.bcurrent.ca