FRESH MILK welcomes Shea Rose and Sasha Link

June 12, 2013May 20, 2015Leave a comment

Fresh Milk is pleased to welcome Shea Rose and Sasha Link to the platform as visiting resident artists from Boston, USA during the month of June.

Shea is a recording artist, singer songwriter and music for social change activist, performing and writing in the genres of Soul/Rock/Hip-Hop/Jazz and Spoken word. Her Fresh Milk residency project will see her investigating and exploring her identity and family lineage with the aim of creating a sound installation exploring home, identity and self-acceptance. Her goal is to create and perform three musical compositions around these themes using voice/guitar/percussion (singing/spoken word/rap), interactions, conversations and experiences that Shea encounters during her time in Barbados. The compositions will be accompanied by a visual component. Shea is hoping to collaborate with artists/musicians/spoken word artists/dancers from Barbados on this project.

Accompanying Shea is Sasha Link, a nonfiction creative writer and photographer. In addition to producing a photographic series on her residency, Sasha will be offering creative writing and spoken word workshops to students at Workmans Primary School, St. Gabriel’s School and St. George Secondary School.

They held their first working session yesterday, June 11th, with local artists Adrian Green (spoken word artist), Sky Larc (filmmaker), Jomo Slusher (musician), Reyshad Selman (musician), Janelle Headley-Newton (singer and Director of Operation Triple Threat), and members of the band Nexcyx: André Clarke, Chadd Ifill, Kris Clarke, Mahalia Cummins and Russell Padmore. Shea and Sasha introduced their projects to the artists, and they will now move forward with possible ways to collaborate during the residency.

Take a look at some images from the session below, and look out for a video to come by Neil Marshall. Follow Shea’s blog My Angel Wears a Fro for her updates on her and Sasha’s time in Barbados.

FRESH MILK would like to thank the US Embassy for supporting this exciting collaborative project.

Photographs by Mark King

Shea Rose's CD 'Little Warrior' and magazine featuring her

Janelle Headley-Newton of Operation Triple Threat

Russ (Nexcyx Band), Adrian Green, Kris (Nexcyx Band), Janelle Headley, Dre (Nexcyx Band), Chadd (Nexcyx Band) and Skylarc (Filmmaker)

Marla Botterill and Conan Masterson’s Residency: Week 4 Report

June 8, 2013May 20, 2015Leave a comment

Our last week began with a trip to Harrison’s Cave. We elected to do the walking tour, the guide was patient with us and gave us ample time to shoot videos of our “little dolls”. We thought the caves were spectacular and well worth the visit. The peculiar forms, continual dripping sounds, humidity and darkness combine to create a mysterious, prehistoric ambiance. After emerging from the depths of the caves, the fresh air above was welcomed in our lungs.

We kept busy with videos the last week. Our puppets went on many excursions where we improvised performances, intuitively working with the surroundings. We reviewed all of our footage and began the editing process. This was the most tedious part, but we found it rewarding and exciting to see the puppets come to life through movement. We did not find all footage successful, but we agreed that many moments intrigued us and made us laugh such as the unexpected moments captured on camera. A lot of these snippets were edited into our short video “sketches” that we presented publicly on our final night.

On May 30^th along with Matthew Kupakwashe Murrell we presented what we worked on during our residency at Fresh Milk. We enjoyed seeing excerpts from Matthew’s play being performed by the actors. We hung our 10 completed puppets in our former studio space and projected 11 short videos. It was a crucial time for us to get some feedback on the work, as we must now digest and process what we’ve accomplished and determine a path for continued development. We were happy with the turnout and pleased to see many familiar faces and the feedback provided raised interesting questions and things for us to consider going forward, particularly in regards to the videos and the relationship between the puppets and their environment.

Our puppets boarded the plane with us and successfully made the journey north to Canada. They have already complained about the cooler temperatures and lack of ocean breeze – some even miss the singing frogs. We plan on taking the puppets out so that they may explore their new surroundings, some may need adjustments and we will likely have to make them some new friends to ease in this transition. We foresee some sweaters and toques after the summer ends. FM provided an excellent and encouraging platform for us to freely experiment with this new body of work and new partnership.

We are both thrilled with our experiences at FM. So many people welcomed us into their studios and homes, we passed many evenings in the company of new friends. We want to thank everyone who contributed to making our residency rousing and fulfilling, in particular: Annalee, Joscelyn, Ewan and the Davis’. A special shout-out as well to Rico & Mikka for their determined and steadfast companionship and protection.

We soaked up every last minute of our trip to Barbados; we are changed from our time at Fresh Milk and for us it was the first step in a collaboration we expect will continue in London, Ontario as we are both delighted and motivated by our production at Fresh Milk.

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FRESH MILK XI Video

June 5, 2013May 20, 2015Leave a comment

Thanks to Sammy Davis for producing this video showcasing our eleventh event, and the work of Canadian visiting resident artists, Marla Botterill and Conan Masterson, as well as local playwright Matthew Kupakwashe Murrell.

For more FRESH MILK clips, be sure to check out our Videos page.

Matthew Kupakwashe Murrell’s Residency: Week 4 Report

June 5, 2013May 20, 20151 Comment

Ah boy, what a week, what a time, what an experience. So last week I turned to my third superpower, directing. As stated in a previous blog, I decided to take two scenes and these are the scenes I felt were somewhat ready. The whole play is still under development. Both scenes will be treated as a reading/dramaturgy. I prefer to present them for those purposes, for constructive criticism and to hear it out loud and to make the necessary changes.

In casting I chose three of my members from Yardie Boy Theatre as well as other performers who I am currently ‘scouting’ for my company. We have a thing that you must do three finished productions to be a part of the company, based on talent, professionalism and chemistry. Cast is as follows:

Levi King

Deevon Clinton

Kim Weekes

Adrian Green

Dorhonda Smith

Joseph Volney

Teila Williams

We had three days to do rehearsals, two being at Fresh Milk and one at the Good Life café. Being with most of my cast the first day and their reading the excerpt for the first time, they all agreed they felt it was a necessary piece to do. Deevon felt Yardie Boy is always pushing the envelope and without apology bringing pertinent issues to the fore. Adrian felt the conversation between mother and son felt authentic and really mimics I’Akobi’s and Maggie’s character. They were all happy to be a part of the piece.

The scenes I chose are the following:

The In-Terror-Gation

The company or the body of actors started off with one of Emperor Haile Selassie I’s most famous speech ‘War’ (most famously known when Bob Marley ‘musicalized’ into the song ‘War’.

I chose this speech because of the ongoing tribal war and friction between the armed forces and Rastafarians and other indigenous spiritual concepts in the Caribbean. The profiling is real, it is not a myth. When Selassie spoke these words that were very uncomfortable to an audience at the UN, his beloved Ethiopia was under siege by Italy, being the last free sovereign African state. Not to be mistaken as a speech of defeat, but a warning of what you put in, you will get back.

“…And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained… now everywhere is war…”

The scene captures the three policemen’s (Adrian Green, Deevon Clinton & Joseph Volney) testimony of the event that took place on the day that I’Akobi died. I chose to break the 4^th wall and let the characters address the audience to plead their case of innocence and how they respond in matters of dealing with ‘suspicious characters with dread locks’. The dialogue goes in and out of two spaces, one where the characters explain how the procedure works and the other dialogue in dealing with how they felt dealing with I’Akobi. The actor playing I’Akobi (Levi King) stayed silent, slumped over bareback in boxer shorts with his locks draped over his face. The policemen repeated the mantra ‘We have done nothing wrong, we took orders and we followed them’.

After the final mantra, the singers Deevon, Dorhonda and Teila broke into song ‘Guiltiness’ by Bob Marley (I’m a huge Bob fan, as I am writing this, I’m listening to Bob).

Conversations II

As stated previously, I am experimenting with the notion of ancestral conversations between I’Akobi and his mother Maggie. This scene Conversations II, brings about the reason for the colour Red and its significance to his funeral and to this play. I’Akobi converses with Maggie about his defiance against death, his love for his spirituality all through professing his immortality. When you really study it, the brother isn’t dead at all. His graduation picture is ever present all around Barbados, from shirts, posters, pins, murals, the internet, I’m sure its gonna be just as iconic to Barbados sometime as Che’ Gueverra’s image in Cuba…doan laff…I serious. An image of injustice and immortality.

I decided to use the image of the pieta, for those who don’t know, that is image done by Michelangelo depicting Mary holding Christ’s naked tortured body after the crucifixion. During this, Maggie wraps her son in a large red clothe. “…Red is the sign of life…Once you plant me in Red, I will never die…”

After the scene, the singers sang ‘Selassie is the Chapel’, Bob Marley’s last recorded song about his devotion to his savior. Within the scene I’Akobi talks about his devotion to his faith and how he wants to be planted into the ground through Selassie’s name. I had a conversation with Adrian Green about some people who always have that thought provoking conversation in which they describe how they see death and how they want their celebration to be. I remembered talking to my best friend Michael St.Hill before he died when we were 17, he said he wanted to live to 100, and last year in memory of 10 years of his passing, I sprayed painted on my set of ‘De Angry Black Boy Tantrums’ ‘RIP Mikey’.

One of the patrons and fellow artist Sheena Rose said she felt eerie about seeing Levi’s locks covering his face with his locks, and the stigma dread locks still hold till this day. Though the actor was faceless, it didn’t matter it could happen to anyone.

Friend and fellow theatre practitioner Ayesha Gibson-Gill credits my mentor Sonia Williams for her strong influence on me for tackling ritual theatre and the good effort into it.

The response from the audience was very positive one. We recorded the performances and posted it on youtube here.

So far the biggest question we have been getting is ‘when is the full product coming out’. I really cannot answer yet, I’m still working on this draft and will continue to work on it to perfection and till I am ready to showcase it.

I wanna large up and big up de massive and put de people pun God and Goddess status:

Annalee, Katherine, Ewan, Conan, Marla, Mica & Rico for great hospitality and the opportunity at Fresh Milk.

My Yardie Boy Theatre family and performers involved in the process. Vi, Kimmerts, Green, Joe, Jennalee, Dee, Tequila and the fun 3 nights.

The Good Life Café, for the one good night for our reading.

Sonia Williams for the large uncontrollable red clothe

My art family for coming, doesn’t matter who came late, you came.

The Justice Committee, Ayesha, Kudos and of course Mother Maggie for the support and love.

To a special person who called and check up on me and kept me positive, you know who you are.

An’ de largest one, de Fada above who bestowed upon me talents and surrounded me with wonderful people in my life.

YARDIE BOY THEATRE, de REALIST TE’ATUH BOUT BIM

I’AKOBI!!!

“…A house built on granite and strong foundations
not even the onslaught of pouring rain
gushing torrents
and strong winds
will able to pull down.
Some people have written the story of my life
representing of truth
what in fact derives from
ignorance
error
or envy.
But they cannot shake the truth from its place
Even if attempt to make others believe it…”

– Emperor Haile Selassie I

During the performance of and excerpt from 'The Brightest Red' at FRESH MILK XI

Matthew addressing the audience during a Q&A session following the performance

FRESH MILK XI

June 3, 2013June 9, 2015Leave a comment

We’re delighted to share some images from FRESH MILK XI, which took place on Thursday May 30th from 7:00 – 8:30pm. The event featured local and international resident artists Matthew Kupakwashe Murrell, Marla Botterill and Conan Masterson sharing works produced during their recent Fresh Milk Residencies.

Matthew, a Barbadian playwright and actor, presented a reading of an excerpt from “The Brightest Red – The Life and Death of I’Akobi Maloney,” which he began writing on the Fresh Milk platform:

I chose this topic because it spoke to me. I’Akobi Maloney and I are both born the same year, 6 months apart. Two weeks after his crossing, I remembered being stopped and harassed by a policeman for no reason. At the time I had an afro which I wore wild and drove a car many wouldn’t be proud seeing. But like I’Akobi, I was an intelligent young man scrutinized not for what is in my head but what is on top of my head. I do believe in the work of ICAR, The Justice Committee and the Maloney Family to fight for justice. This could happen to anyone’s son and anyone’s daughter.

– Excerpt from Matthew Kupakwahse Murrell’s residency blog.

To watch clips of the performance, featuring actors Levi King, Kim Weekes, Deevon Clinton, Adrian Green, Joseph Volney, Dorhonda Smith and Teila Williams, click here.

Canadian visual artists Marla and Conan showcased their collaborative video shorts and puppets created from materials found around the Fresh Milk premises and Barbados:

In conversations with the people here we’ve learned of the caves beneath us. As fellow resident, Mathew Kupakwashe Murrell pointed out to us, the whole island is formed over limestone caves. Is this a space where are puppet characters could come from? Have they bubbled up from the dark, damp, mysterious caves beneath to the lush, sun-filled land above? How long have they been here? How have they evolved to live on this island? They are taking on characteristics of the vegetation, animal, insect, bird and amphibian life above, but there is an unnerving quality to them, they come from that place of mystery. In the past two weeks we have jointly created a small ensemble of puppet creatures that will continue to grow but now we must listen to them, hear their stories and take them out of the studio and allow them to explore this island where they come from.

– Excerpt from Marla Botterill and Conan Masterson’s residency blog.

The artists spoke about their residency experiences, which was followed by a Q&A session. Thanks so much to Matthew, Marla and Conan for a fantastic month – Fresh Milk will miss you, and we wish you all the best following your residency!