University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The Art of Freedom Junetenth Event
The University of Minnesota hosted its second annual Juneteenth Celebration block party and commemorative march in North Minneapolis on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from noon to 6 pm. This free event – centered on the theme of The Art of Freedom: Joy. Resistance. Rest. – will feature Black vendors, speakers, workshops, poster showcases, storytellers, musicians, performers, DJs, roller skating, books, free food, free haircuts, art-making, a bouncy house, a petting zoo, and more. This event, was led by Professor Terresa Moses, is presented by the Office for Equity and Diversity and the College of Design.
I led an art workshop focusing on Dadaist poems, utilizing the cut-up technique. Dadaist poems or Dadaism was an art movement of the European avant-garde in the early 20th century, with early centres in Zürich, Switzerland, at the Cabaret Voltaire (in 1916).
Zine from the event made by the organizers
Highlights from the event. Make sure to follow me on social media to see real-time events as they happen!
What is it
Dadaism or Dada was an art movement of the European avant-garde in the early 20th century, with early centers in Zürich, Switzerland, at the Cabaret Voltaire. Dadaism was a movement with explicitly political overtones – a reaction to the senseless slaughter of the trenches of WWI. It essentially declared war against war, countering the absurdity of the establishment's descent into chaos with its own kind of nonsense.
What is Dada poetry?
The founders of this movement struck upon this essentially nonsense word to embody a simultaneously playful and nihilistic spirit alive among European visual artists and writers during and immediately after World War I.
Cut up Technique + Collage
Participants will be able to create their own poems by selecting words, phrases, and images that relate to the excellence and resilience of Black people in America.
The phrases/words, images, and words will be already ‘cut up’ and provided for the participants to take from. Canvas paper will be provided as the backdrop for the poems. Participants can use acrylic paint, markers, etc to paint on the canvas paper as well. Creativity is boundless with this project!