Hampton Art Lovers Presents : "Films Under a Simple Tree"

249 Northwest 9th Street,Miami FL 33136

28 August, 2021

Description

Hampton Art Lovers & Urban Film Festival Presents : "Films Under a Simple Tree" Documentary Film Screening Series | Sponsored by SEOPW CRA Join us as we present another installment of "Films Under a Simple Tree", our documentary film screening series. In conjunction with Florida Film House and Urban Film Festival, featuring "Before You Shoot" by Denise Marie Simmons and "Pivot: A 2020 Story" by Rahsaan Alexander | Sponsored by Reef Technology | Art of Black Miami | S.E. Overtown / Park West Community Redevelopment Agency | Spirits by Duke and Dame Whiskey Documentary Film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt to document reality. Knowledge comes in different ways through our five senses. Hearing, watching, touching, smelling and tasting are the only doorways to the outer world. The wise men say that if something is not truly experienced with all our five senses, the experience will be partial, not total. Therefore, gaining knowledge through several senses simultaneously is better than through just one. So, educating through documentaries, combined with art, food and drink is a total different experience. Our current art exhibition is the backdrop ; Hampton Art Lovers Presents "One Way Ticket: Movement, Migrations and Liberty" featuring Langston Hughes and Jacob Lawrence. Curated with Special Selections from Ebony Broadsides of The Norwood Collection. Movie Screening : "#BeforeYouShoot” #BeforeYouShoot is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that humanizes the lives of Black Men in the eyes of law enforcement, media and society by proactively narrating their stories. The film authentically captures the everyday lives of extraordinary Black boys and men to tell a story that encompasses the common link to us all; our humanity. In doing this, the film both exposes and educates viewers on the core of racism, prejudice and police brutality. BeforeYouShoot primarily captures the stories of 6 subjects ranging from children to adults. Each of the subjects represent a different stage in the lives of a Black male; Ayin Samir Charles (an unborn Child), Solomon and Christian Simmons (2 and 6 year old children), Oliver Gilbert (a 12 year old child with special needs), William Truman Gray Jr. (a 13 year old student-athlete), Kenneth Murphy (a 35 year old devoted husband, father and Entrepreneur) and Anthony Durden (a community leader and member of the Circle of Brotherhood). BeforeYouShoot captures the stories of these 6 individuals in a way that is not only compelling but also revealing to the Black male experience in America. In their day to day lives, the subjects are not only confronted with the harsh realities of being Black, young and male, but are also faced with the realities of the intersectionality of their identities whether that be their special needs or their prior history with law enforcement. Ultimately, BeforeYouShoot is a film to provide a perspective that is imperative in the continuous fight for justice in the Black community; a look into someone's humanity. Beyond this documentary. The ultimate goal of this movement is to share the message that BeforeYouShoot, know that they are fathers, brothers, sons, community leaders, change agents and loved ones. Directed by M. Denise Simmons.. Written by Sabrina Williams. Website: http://mdsimmonsproductions.com/ Movie Screening : "PIVOT: A 2020 Story" PIVOT: A 2020 Story is a 43:00 minute short film that chronicles the journey of Rahsaan "Fly Guy" Alexander through his formative years as a young entrepreneur up to his evolution into becoming one of Miami's top entertainers drastically impacted by the on-set of the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic. Written, Produced & Directed by Rahsaan "FLY GUY" Alexander. Imagine this, you are one of Miami’s hottest DJ, booking gigs at the likes of LIV, Miami Broward Carnival and Jazz In The Gardens Music Festival. Life is great! Unbeknownst to you, your last gig would be alongside the official DJ of the Miami Heat, DJ Irie and the City of Miami Beach for what would have been a Spring Break concert series for the history books. Then, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, your entire world shuts down. Restaurants and bars close, hotels and night clubs lock their doors. Enter the era of COVID-19. This is the story of Rahsaan "Fly Guy" Alexander. Having amassed a 10-year career as the “high energy" Rahsaan made a name for himself in the South Florida entertainment industry. With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Rahsaan’s career had taken a devastating blow. He knew that he would need to pivot, but challenges presented themselves at every turn and he questioned whether he would be able to continue to provide the soundtrack of the iconic Miami nightlife. In a moment of solitude and deep inflection, Rahsaan made a decision that would ultimately change the course of the remainder of his year. He charged himself with the task of reigniting the zest and enthusiasm he once had for an old love of his, photography. In this same moment another clear and finite decision was made. He would need to take the money he had saved and invest it in redeveloping and refining his once suppressed passion for this creative art form. Website: https://www.tomiamiwithlove.com/ Current Art Exhibition at the Historic Ward Rooming House --- Hampton Art Lovers Presents "One Way Ticket: Movement, Migrations and Liberty" featuring Langston Hughes and Jacob Lawrence Curated with Special Selections from Ebony Broadsides of The Norwood Collection. This exhibition explores stories of freedom and liberty through the poetry of Langston Hughes and the featured artwork of Jacob Lawrence, with other works from Charles White, Elizabeth Catlett, John Biggers, Charles Alston, David Driskell, Leroy Campbell, Anthony Reed II (Mojo) and Marvin Weeks.Hampton Art Lovers explores the legacy of the African-American search for civil, political and economic freedom after the Middle Passage, Emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow and the Modern Movement for Civil Rights. The essence of African-American History, is the perpetual and heroic struggle for liberty. This search for freedom resulted in the underground railroad (both north and south) which was a precursor for the 20th century mass exodus, "Great Migration" out of the Antebellum South. The largest peacetime migration in the history of the world. Some six million African-Americans from rural areas of the Southern states got a “one-way ticket” to mainly urban areas in the North, Midwest and Far West between 1916 and 1970. Urban Film Festival The Urban Film festival is dedicated to educating, exposing, and providing distribution opportunities for new age filmmakers. At UFF we celebrate culturally driven content, and are proud to be a platform for filmmakers to share the stories of their communities. This year’s Urban Film Festival is filled with more enriching content and educational opportunities. From September 3rd – September 5th, our festival will be a hybrid of in-person and livestreamed events. All of the Official Selection Screenings, Film Workshops, and Industry Discussions are live and free of charge to ALL attendees. Website: https://urbanfilmfestivals.com/ Schedule 7p - Doors open 8p - Screening of “Before You Shoot” by Denise Marie Simmons with Q&A 10p - Screening of “ PIVOT : A 2020 Story“ by Fly Guy with Q&A Live Music by DJ Ivory Hampton Art Lovers We inspire the appreciation of African-American Fine Art. We honor the heart and soul of Fine Artists and make their work accessible to anyone who loves art. Hampton Art Lovers believes that understanding culture through experiencing the arts is becoming increasingly vital in the modern world. We live in an information economy, a world in which technology can provide access to products and services that have been previously inaccessible. Intense, experiential learning is the currency of the knowledge economy and lovers of art do this naturally. Hampton Art Lovers believes that through culture and arts education we can improve our communities and communities all over the world. Historic Ward Rooming House The Ward Rooming House is owned by the City of Miami SE Overtown/Park West CRA and operated by Hampton Art Lovers. The Historic Ward Rooming House Gallery has a rich socially significant history. It is an honor to bring this exhibition to this space. Built in the 1900s by an African-American family with Bahamian roots (Shaddrack and Victoria Ward), the Ward Rooming House served as a home for both African American and Native Americans who needed a safe place to sleep at night. In the 1940s and 50s it was known for hosting various civic groups and became the “Club House”. Built in the era of Overtown's historic heyday, when it was known as "Colored Town," the Ward Rooming House stands as a tribute to the history of one of the oldest historic Black community in the City of Miami. As one of the few remaining buildings of its time, a seemingly ordinary rooming house becomes significant for the larger role it serves in preserving the history and architecture of Miami's Black community. It was designated a historic site by the City of Miami in 2006 and fully restored in 2010. Now it serves as a gallery and event space.