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Missouri History Museum evening “Journey of African-American Cultural Institutions: Where do we go from here?” generates thirst for continued Kgotla gatherings to pull together and package African-American Cultural Institutions to attract Heritage Tourism Dollars to St. Louis

Byriehlifegrace

During my years of community development in Gabane, Botswana (just outside of Gaborone, home of the fictional Precious Ramotswe) working to set up and stabilize Tswaragano Craft Center there, I sat in many a Kgotla meeting or community and tribal council (see Wikipedia note at end of post). Last week in the cave of the…

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Martin Puryear Retrospective opens at MOMA

Byriehlifegrace

Photo: Richard Barnes/Museum of Modern Art One of my favorite artists, Marin Puryear is an African-American artist who has prevailed and brought it on home. Read Roberta Smith’s comprehensive review “Humanity’s Ascent in Three Dimensions” at the NY Times online and see a slide show of Puryear’s visually pure, carefully wrought, and deeply felt work….

Join Friends of Left Bank Books Literary Society & support great programs and a great community bookstore

Byriehlifegrace

Left Bank Books is St. Louis’ full-service independent bookstore. “We offer friendly, experienced service and value our customers as part of our family. In May 1996, we launched the Friends of Left Bank Books Literary Society, a membership organization to which patrons subscribe. The Friends program provides booklovers with another way to support independent bookstores.”…

Left Bank Books names “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz as next reading group choice

Byriehlifegrace

If you are in St. Louis on November 13th at 7:30 p.m. and want to know about Oscar, the newest victim of the Fuku, the curse that has haunted his family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and above all, ill-starred love…and (dare we hope?) how to avoid it…come over to Left…

Junot Diaz, author “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” is fresh, fun, and frank

Byriehlifegrace

My guest on Riehlife today is Junot Diaz whom I was lucky enough to hear speak at my local library branch in the Central West End in St. Louis before he went to Rome for a year to write. I found him funny, refreshing, and frank. Here are some of his thoughts on his work,…

Rene Dimanche Jr.—Longing for Home Key to Finding Powerful Visual Voice

Byriehlifegrace

I first met Rene Dimanche Jr. through his visual art at the Urban League Black Fine Art Exhibit. Later I learned he is a fine actor as well. I saw him perform the role of George Wilcox in the First Run Theatre August production “The Seamstress of St. Francis Street” written by Mario Farwell and…