Imani Uzuri presents a new exploratory work-in-progress inspired by Sister Gertrude Morgan’s “all white” prayer room. A visual, performative, and sonic installation entitled Prayer Request, the piece explores the intersection of spirituality, ritual, spectacle and sound and their impact on our perceptions of what is our “salvation” and what makes us “feel”.

Vocalist, composer and cultural worker Imani Uzuri creates music that reflects her rural North Carolina roots where she grew up singing Spirituals and line-singing hymns with her grandmother and extended family in their small rural church. Her compositions for bands, choral ensembles, chamber orchestra, musical theater and solo voice also include influences from her travels around the world to places like Hungary, Morocco, Ethiopia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Japan where she shared these foundational American musical sounds with international audiences and communities while also learning about their musical traditions. Uzuri’s new album, The Gypsy Diaries, draws on her roots as well as influences ranging from Sufi devotionals to Romany laments. Uzuri creates and performs concerts, experimental theater, performance art, theater compositions and sound installations in international venues/festivals including Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, New York’s Central Park SummerStage, Joe’s Pub, Performa Biennial, France’s Festival Sons d’hiver, London’s ICA, and MoMA. Uzuri has also collaborated with a wide range of noted artists across various artistic disciplines including musicians Herbie Hancock, John Legend, Vijay Iyer; visual artists Wangechi Mutu, Carrie Mae Weems, Sanford Biggers; choreographer Trajal Harrell and composer Robert Ashley.

The Under Construction Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Photo: Yossi Michaeli

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Sunday, October 25 at 7:00pm
Company Room E

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