The documentary films showcase the lives of four incredible women: Ada Woodson Adams, Former President of the Multicultural Genealogical Center in Chesterhill, Ohio, an organization that documents, preserves and shares the stories of Black, Native American and other underrepresented Americans in our region Dr. “Legacy: Women of Southeast Ohio” is documentary film series, that highlights the incredible accomplishments of four Southeastern Ohio women who have dedicated their lives to community action, activism, teaching and social justice.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a documentary film project that Andie Walla and I have worked on for the past four years, which premiered in August 2021 at Stuart’s Opera House. The rendition of “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” alone, is worth the price of admission.Ĥ.
So now, when I listen to the soundtrack my heart aches remembering details of each scene true indications of both an incredibly written movie and score. The soundtrack is scored by composer Emile Mosseri (“Kajillionaire” 2021, “Minari” 2020). You truly can’t take your eyes off of Majors when he’s on screen. Actor Jonathan Majors delivers an exquisite performance. It is a film about place, friendship and moving towards discovering a sense of belonging. Written by Joe Talbot and Jimmy Fails, the film stars Fails as a man obsessed with trying to reclaim a home that his grandfather built. This is by far, one my favorite films of the last 10 years. “The Last Black Man in San Fransisco Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (2019) TW: It is a heavy topic, but a beautiful breakdown.ģ. I recommend listening to Lucy break down her song “Thumbs” on Song Exploder ( ). “Hot & Heavy,” “First Time” and “VBS” are my three favorites, all synonymous with “growing up”. Dacus’ songwriting is specifically autobiographical, yet so universal. But yet, I wanted to listen to them again. I didn’t enjoy re-living feelings some of these songs rustled up. The first listen was a little too spot on. “Home Video” is an album dedicated to coming of age. Shamefully, I had never listened to Lucy until my good friend Kelly Cooke said I needed to. I highly recommend watching Liz Garbus’ award winning 2015 documentary “What Happened, Miss Simone” and read this piece ( ) by Ohio’s own MacArthur Genius Hanif Aburraqib. Simone’s versions of “I Put a Spell On You” and “Feeling Good” had hundreds of plays in my world this year. Simone’s powerful voice gives me hope and strength. “Mississippi Goddamn” was written in response to the 1963 church bombing that took place in Alabama, and “Old Jim Crow” denounced hateful Jim Crow laws. She intentionally used her platform to draw attention to race discrimination and the Civil Rights Movement, regardless of how it affected her record sales at the time. Every inflection of Nina Simone’s voice embodies the life force of joy, pain and anger. However, these are two essential listens to get into genius Nina Simone’s oeuvre. The High Priestess of Soul needs no introduction.
Nina Simone – “Nina Simone in Concert” (1964) & “I Put A Spell On You” (1965)
Here are my top four art experiences that captivated me this year.ġ. Immersing myself in music and film has been both an effective coping mechanism and an inspirational tool to allow me to keep creating and practicing art in uncertain times. I can best describe the entirety of 2021 as a roller coaster of extreme highs and extreme lows. I am grateful for my family’s health, and the compassion and care that our extended community in Athens has shown each other during unprecedented times. Then a insurrection occurred, and well, you were all there for that.Ī huge solace to the unknowns of 2021 has been my family’s love, and living in such a fantastic community. The year 2021 brought us hope in the form of vaccines and a newly elected President. The previous year brought us a deadly pandemic, shut-downs, an extremely stressful political landscape, Black and Indigenous lives wrongfully taken from the earth, peaceful protests encountered by violence and more. The year 2021 has been intense to say the least.
WOUB End of Year Playlist- Suggested Listening/Watching It’s that time of year again! WOUB Culture has reached out to a variety of folks involved in various capacities with the music and arts throughout WOUB’s diverse coverage region to inquire: “what have you been listening to this year, my friend?” Find their answers on WOUB Culture all throughout the month of December. Liz Pahl spotlights Nina Simone, Lucy Dacus, and more in her year end suggested listening list