In this workshop we will explore the origins of the Blues as one of the earliest forms of American self-expression and foundational form of protest song. We will look at its formation as an art form and social commentary on the state of the Black community and its relationship to protest songs from around the globe and share our ideas for its contemporaries. This will be an active participation workshop with both writing and singing.
May 12th, 2016 6-8:30pm
Pangea World Theater
711 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN
Free and open to everyone!
This workshop will be facilitated by resident artist Carlton Turner as a part of our Lake Street Arts! racial equity programming related to LSA! Colors of Lake Street.
All the Colors of the Blues:: Race & Equity Workshop
Led by Carlton Turner
Carlton Turner is the Executive Director of Alternate ROOTS, a regional non-profit arts organization based in the south supporting artists working at the intersection of arts and social justice.
Carlton Turner is co-founder and co-artistic director, along with his brother Maurice Turner, of the group M.U.G.A.B.E.E. (Men Under Guidance Acting Before Early Extinction). M.U.G.A.B.E.E. is a Mississippi-based performing arts group that blends of jazz, hip-hop, spoken word poetry and soul music together with non-traditional storytelling and a member of the Progress Theatre Ensemble.
Carlton is currently on the board of Appalshop, an advisory member to the National Theater Project at New England Foundation for the Arts and Michael Rohd’s Catalyst Initiative. Carlton is a member of the We Shall Overcome Fund Advisory Board at the Highlander Center for Research and Education, a steering committee member of the Arts and Culture Social Justice Network, and former Network of Ensemble Theaters steering committee member.
In 2011 Carlton was awarded the M. Edgar Rosenblum award for outstanding contribution to Ensemble Theater by Irondale Ensemble Project in Brooklyn, NY. In 2013 Carlton was named to the Kennedy Center Honors Artist Advisory Board alongside Debbie Allen, Maria De Leon, and Ping Chong. M.U.G.A.B.E.E. has been named a 2015 Otto René Castillo Awards for Political Theatre recipient.