Arts

“Black Male Revisited”

“Black Male Revisited,” an original work by New York-based Nigerian-American curator, producer, poet, choreographer and performance artist Jaamil Olawale Kosoko, opens the 2013-14 SandBox Series at Miami Theater Center from Friday, December 13 – Sunday, December 22.

Jaamil Olawale Kosoko Photo by Umi Akiyoshi.

Supported by a Knight Arts Challenge grant, “Black Male Revisited” is Kosoko’s “attempt to begin a dialogue about issues of visibility for black male performance and visual artists, using my body, my history, and my work as the focal point to discuss themes of black masculinity from a first-person perspective.”

However, “Black Male Revisited” isn’t just about visibility. It is also a reminder that I haven’t done enough to include black voices, black artists, black performers, actors and dancers in my coverage of the local art scene. “Black Male Revisited” is a performance piece that reminds me that our ingrained biases are ingrained—conscious or otherwise—and we must be reminded. “Black Male Revisited,” which opens this Friday, positions the black male body center stage in a visual installation and live performance piece using Kosoko’s original poetry, live music, theater and human sculpture.

Friday and Saturday performances, December 13, 14, 20 and 21, are at 8 p.m.; the Sunday performance, December 22, is at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person. Group and student rates are available. For further information and tickets, call 305-751-9550 or visit mtcmiami.org. The Miami Theater Center is located at 9806 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Shores.