BRICKS is a new funk-rock musical conceived by Charlene Jean (Concept, Book, Lyrics), co-composed by Charlene Jean and Franklin Rankin. It is a piece about family legacy, a mom, her daughter, and the ancestors that preceded them.
The story centers on a young child, Maelle, and their equally gifted and protective mother, Colette Etienne, who fears Maelle's visions will lead to their demise. Colette gives Maelle spirit blockers: rose-tinted Baker-Miller glasses to prevent Maelle from seeing any Spirits.
Colette's action necessitates the intervention of D'Aija, who is the Head Matriarch of Up Yonder — and Colette's late older sister. D’Aija intervenes, bringing Colette’s soul to defend her decision. D’Aija’s intervention leaves Colette in a comatose state on Earth as her mind travels to the realm of Up Yonder — an empire of speculative spirit-technology.
While Maelle's extended family raises them, quarreling on whether to suppress or reinforce Maelle's vision, she mourns their mother's absence and questions the talents they inherited.
BRICKS brings together characters which cause us to contemplate urgent spiritual implications such as land memory, gentrification, and assimilation - and create theater through fictional spiritual technologies, while interpreting real historic archives.
BRICKS is currently being developed in part with support by Hi-ARTS' CRITICAL BREAKS, a residency program for artists who are in a pivotal phase of developing new work in partnership with En Garde Arts, an artist-centric organization supporting artists in the development and production of new work.
Free & open to the public.
Image courtesy of Charlene Jean
BRICKS is taking place as part of Fall 2023 OPEN HOUSE. Kicking off in September 2023, OPEN HOUSE will begin with a Block Party featuring a Live Acoustic Electric DJ set by CRITICAL BREAKS Alum Zane Rodulfo, followed by a Work in Process of BRICKS by Charlene Jean, OPEN HOUSE will feature local vendors and artists and serve as a community gathering and celebration. In the weeks that follow, we will engage our community with dance, music, and much more! All of this will take place from our home at El Barrio’s Artspace PS109 in East Harlem! Please join us in September.
Accommodations
El Barrio Artspace PS109, home of Hi-ARTS, is ADA accessible. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Programming Manager Joyous Pierce at joyous@hi-artsnyc.org no later than March 10, 2022.
Health & Safety
As per the recommendation of the NYC Health Department and for the safety of our audiences, artists, staff and community, Hi-ARTS requires that all audiences wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when attending an indoor Hi-ARTS event. Masks will be provided for those who may be in need of a mask. We recommend N95, KN95, and Surgical Mask for the highest protection.
While Hi-ARTS will not be asking for Proof of Vaccination, or for a negative text, we encourage you to take a Rapid or PCR test within 24 hours of arrival to Artspace PS109.
If you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, or not feeling well we ask that you please stay home and recommend that you take a COVID-19 and seek medical attention.
While Hi-ARTS is taking measures to minimize the risk of such exposure, we cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed to COVID-19 during your time in our facilities. By entering Artspace PS109, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Hi-ARTS, or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.
Please find our full Health & Safety Protocols here.