ABOUT:
It's simple. Anything that's dope about Black culture, this innovative program will find a way to dress it up and present it to the masses through creative approaches. Kulture Groove is the cultural education/special events project of Harkins House Productions. We will present events that will give the artistic clique their space to fellowship and stimulate their minds all at the same time.
Get Ready for WOMANISH!
The WriteMix is HHP's premier writers' community. Click for more info!
"Creating Theatre from Everyday Life..."
Storytelling has the power to generate dialogue and transform lives. Considering the tradition of African griots, Black people have used stories to preserve culture, history, and traditions. The Bible recounts Jesus telling stories, known as parables, to convey Godly messages and lessons to the Disciples. At the core of storytelling is the personable nature, making them entirely relatable and enriching to those who hear them. You may not think your life contains any experiences that can empower, heal, entertain, and inform others, but we encourage you to let us be the judge of that!
At the heart of HHP's mission is storytelling, therefore, it is only appropriate for us to develop SOLO, our storytelling project. We want *everyday people from all walks of life to participate, however, you must be at least 18 years of age to submit a story and participate in the showcase. Submit a story based on one of the following four themes:
*No professional storytellers at this time. We desire to work with the community on this project.
At the heart of HHP's mission is storytelling, therefore, it is only appropriate for us to develop SOLO, our storytelling project. We want *everyday people from all walks of life to participate, however, you must be at least 18 years of age to submit a story and participate in the showcase. Submit a story based on one of the following four themes:
- My First Loves: Stories about experiences with falling in love (person, place, or thing) for the first time.
- Sitting at the Feet of Our Elders: Stories about experiences with Black elders in your family or community.
- Funny How Life Works: Stories of life experiences with strong comedic edge but contain life affirming messages.
- Redemption Song: Stories of life experiences involving difficult challenges but resulted in redemption.
*No professional storytellers at this time. We desire to work with the community on this project.
From the title, it seems like an event where pretentious, vain people gather to admire themselves in a room full of mirrored walls. But no, the concept of beauty is much deeper than that, as surmised in the quote by John Wolfgang von Goethe:
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."
The Beautiful People Party is an event specifically designed for those looking for more in their socializing than happy hours and typical club music. With a diverse and eclectic combination of music, art, and culture, the event promises to provide an engaging, stimulating ambiance ideal for connecting with like-minded individuals. Lastly, the Beautiful People Party,through a live cultural education piece, will celebrate the richness and beauty of Blackness.
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."
The Beautiful People Party is an event specifically designed for those looking for more in their socializing than happy hours and typical club music. With a diverse and eclectic combination of music, art, and culture, the event promises to provide an engaging, stimulating ambiance ideal for connecting with like-minded individuals. Lastly, the Beautiful People Party,through a live cultural education piece, will celebrate the richness and beauty of Blackness.
Past Editions
June 2015
The next edition of the Beautiful People Party is Saturday, June 13, 2015 at Crosstown Arts, located at 430 N. Cleveland Street, in Midtown Memphis. Mood:Erotica will explore Black sexuality and eroticism in a cultured, artistic manner. You don't want to miss this event. The features are awesome:
Aural Pleasure by: DJ SUTCHnSUTCH
Spirits by: Empress Bartending
Advance Admission: $7
Time: 7pm - Midnight
- The Mahogany Covergirls: Memphis' only Black burlesque performance troupe
- The Passion Queen Yas Meen
- Spoken Word/Slam Poet Urban Thoughts
- Filmmaker DeAara Lewis
- Discussion moderated by Chandra Kamaria
Aural Pleasure by: DJ SUTCHnSUTCH
Spirits by: Empress Bartending
Advance Admission: $7
Time: 7pm - Midnight
We're done for the year! But we cannot thank the patrons of The Beautiful People Party enough! Thank you for accepting a new concept! We are more inspired than ever to bring you even more dopeness in 2015!
The Beautiful People Party
Final Installment for 2014
Photos from the August Edition of the Beautiful People Party!
FEBRUARY FEATURES:
Black.To.The.Future
The February installment of the Beautiful People Party is themed Black to the Future because it will explore the emerging genre and the ongoing movement of Afrofuturism. Defined loosely as the method of merging aspects of the Black past, creating a Black future, and presenting both in the Black present, Afrofuturism has allowed Black artists to imagine a world of Blackness that transcends the confines of everyday life.
Legends Press is a Memphis-based comic book and graphic novel publishing company. At the February installment of the BPP, you will get the unique opportunity to learn more about the company's origins, the vision, and most importantly, its dynamic characters, story lines, and comic book issues. Check out the trailer for one of their characters, Wildfire!
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Cultural Centerpiece: From Sun Ra to George Clinton to Afrika Bambaata to Erykah Badu to Janelle Monae, Afrofuturism has existed in some form for several decades. In our Cultural Centerpiece, you will learn how the concept has permeated many art forms from literature to music and theatre.
:January & February Editions Sponsored By John Cornes Real Estate:
January Features:
After the January event, we roamed the room gathering feedback. This explains our less than professional camera work. :-) Nevertheless, as these Beautiful People tell you what they think of the first installment, you'll definitely feel the vibe and the dopeness of the evening. You don't want to miss the next one!
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Art Work by Gere'cho Delaney. Gere'cho is a highly gifted wood sculptor and painter. His works are largely African-inspired. Gere'cho's work has been featured in numerous art shows and received lots of accolades. Meet this dynamic artist as he talks about the inspiration behind his work.
Update: During the first installment of the Beautiful People Party in January, Gere'cho sold four of his pieces! |
Original art -- 10x4 Oil on Wood by Gere'cho Delaney
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Session Notes w/c'beyohn. This is one of the things that will set The Beautiful People Party apart from other events. Performance is only one aspect to building a fanbase for an artist; the most critical aspect is getting to know the artist. Session Notes is an informal interview styled by Chandra Kamaria as a way for partygoers to interact and learn more about the dopeness that's right under their noses. Once you've seen c'beyohn perform, you won't forget him because of his on stage presence and antics; but once you get a chance to talk with him about his artistry, he has something to truly say about his craft. After talking with c'beyohn, the beautiful people in attendance will get a chance to check out songs from his latest project, Special Relativity.
Update: C'Beyohn presented a dope self-styled mini documentary to attendees that, not only entertained them, but gave them the incentive to make sure they never miss him perform again! It's available below!
Update: C'Beyohn presented a dope self-styled mini documentary to attendees that, not only entertained them, but gave them the incentive to make sure they never miss him perform again! It's available below!
The Cultural Centerpiece was a big hit with the Beautiful People in attendance. Many learned more about the dynamic artistry of Amiri Baraka and how his work continues to inspire a new generation of spoken word artists, poets, and playwrights. See the presentation below and enjoy listening to the timeless voice of Amiri Baraka; gone, but never forgotten.