A weekend arts conference will offer African-American women artists an opportunity to see each other`s works and share ideas about such topics as working in the arts and how to get published.
The conference, ”A Focus on New Works,” features performances, exhibits, film screenings and panel discussions and is open to the public. It is expected to bring together more than 300 artists from film, photography, theater and writing, according to Kemati J. Porter, coordinator of the event. This is the second year the conference has been offered by ETA Creative Arts Foundation, a 20-year-old theater organization dedicated to performing and encouraging dramatic work by African-Americans.
Porter said the event`s goal is to provide a networking opportunity.
”They can find out what other women are doing, where to look for jobs, how to present themselves and whom to talk to,” Porter said.
The weekend will begin Friday evening with a screening of ”Daughters of the Dust,” a film by director Julie Dash about the lives of turn-of-the-century African-American women on the South Atlantic coast. It will be followed by a videotaped interview with Dash conducted by Chicago filmmakers Yvonne Welbon and Ayanna Udongo last year.
Three Saturday afternoon panels on the arts will be free and open to the public. The first will deal with how to get published and on ethics in writing and will feature Barbara Kensey and Marylene Whitehead, local playwrights.
A panel on the roles for African-American women in theater will feature actress Jonell Kennedy, playwright Kelly Garrett, director Andrea Diamond and set designer Dorian Sylvan.
A film and video panel will address how to get movies made. Panelists will include Chicago filmmakers Katherine Nero, Welbon and Udongo, producer Tamara T. Laville and Margaret Caples of the Community Film Workshop.
A comedy competition Saturday evening will offer an open mike to women, with the funniest taking home a $500 prize.
Sunday afternoon performances will include entertainment by jazz singer Sue Conway, poetry readings and a dance work by Chicagoan Tenee Smiley.
Throughout the weekend a photo exhibit of work by African-American women will be on display at the ETA Creative Arts Foundation.
Evening events will begin at 6 p.m. at ETA Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 South Chicago Ave. Film screenings are $5 each. The comedy competition is $10. The performance at 1 p.m. Sunday is $10.
For more information, including times of the Saturday panel discussions, call 312-752-3955.
