Center for the Arts of Homer welcomes 2nd Artist in Residence
Artist and scholar Chaz Antoine Barracks will be working at the Center for the Arts of Homer from June 29 to July 12, as the Center’s second Artist in Residence.
Nighttime film screening and gallery to be held at Phillips Free Library
Sunday July 13
8:00pm – 10:00pm
After two weeks as the Center for the Arts of Homer’s artist in residence, multidisciplinary artist Chaz Barracks will be showing his film and work at the Phillips Free Library Sunday night.
Barracks will discuss his work and time in Homer at 8 p.m., show his film “Everyday Black Matter” from 8:15-8:40 p.m., and have his gallery display open for a special evening viewing until 10 p.m. Light desserts will be served at this free event.
Barrack’s multi-disciplinary artistry includes performance, photography, visual art, filmmaking and public exhibitions; exploring themes of Black queer aesthetics, placemaking and storytelling.
In “Everyday Black Matter,” characters wear opulent, extravagant durags that are 6 to 8 feet long, as they tell their own stories about their everyday Black life.
“It celebrates the diversity of the wearer,” Barracks said. “Durags have a completely different vibe based on who is wearing them, how they’re being worn and how they celebrate this mundane innovation. They’re originally made to protect one’s hairstyle, but because Black folks are so innovative with style, the thing that is meant to protect your hairstyle becomes style in its own.”
At the American Black Film Festival, the film was honored with Diversity Richmond’s 2022 Black and Bold Award, which recognizes and celebrates leadership on behalf of the Black LGBTQ+ community.
For the past two weeks, one of Barracks’ durags has been on display in the front window of the library, surrounded by books that follow similar themes to his work. Another durag is displayed on the balcony of the Center for the Arts theater.
The Center for the Arts summer residency is designed to enhance the cultural landscape of Homer, NY, offering unique opportunities for learning and collaboration, especially for creatives interested in learning more about how to engage with dynamic fields in the visual and performing arts, including television, film, digital media, and content creation.
Barrack’s multi-disciplinary artistry includes performance, photography, visual art, filmmaking and public exhibitions; exploring themes of Black queer aesthetics, placemaking and storytelling. He was drawn to the Homer residency program due to both the nature and calmness of Homer, as it is “the perfect environment for creativity,” he said.
“I’m doing a lot of storytelling that centers on Black queer life, so I like the idea of being able to slow down the archive a bit – capturing narratives that show queer folks living a more slow-paced life, ” Barracks said.
“As LGBTQ artists, we’re often heavily influenced on focusing our work on the big gay metropolitan areas, and I’m really interested in exploring a slower pace.”
In 2020, Barracks earned their Ph.D. in media, art, and text from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is currently a Future Professors Fellow at Syracuse University’s Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, the Syracuse University website says.
One of the projects Barracks plans to work on during his time in Homer is tentatively called “Mic on a Bike,” where he will connect a microphone to his bike during his rides around Homer and the area.
“I’m going to curate a reading list for myself this summer, and then do daily bike rides where I reflect and unpack, and kind of give messy, sloppy lecture points on the things I’m consuming, the things I’m seeing in Homer and how it’s all connected,” Barracks said.
He is excited to reconnect with his love of biking, as they were forced to take a break from it last Fall. It’s where they get some of their best ideas.
At the American Black Film Festival, Barracks’ film “Everyday Black Matter” was honored with Diversity Richmond’s 2022 Black and Bold Award, which recognizes and celebrates leadership on behalf of the Black LGBTQ+ community.
In “Everyday Black Matter,” characters wear opulent, extravagant durags that are 6 to 8 feet long, as they tell their own stories about their everyday Black life. “It celebrates the diversity of the wearer,” Barracks said. “Durags have a completely different vibe based on who is wearing them, how they’re being worn and how they celebrate this mundane innovation. They’re originally made to protect one’s hairstyle, but because Black folks are so innovative with style, the thing that is meant to protect your hairstyle becomes style in its own.” Exploring durags artistically connects Black cultural experiences to mundane rituals, he said. He plans to continue this project during his time in Homer.
Barracks also hosts the Black Matter podcast, a social platform for Black queer femmes to explore Black dimensions. He is also a part of the collective, The Potluck, at the Talking Dolls gallery in Detroit. They have also held positions at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication, Virginia Commonwealth University’s School for the Arts and the University of Richmond’s Bonner Center for Civic Engagement.
Barracks will be at the Homer Regional Farmer’s Market on July 5th for any interested community members to come meet them.
“When we think about queer people, we don’t always think about the fact that we are everywhere,” Barracks said.
“We live everywhere. We create culture everywhere.”
YOU can support the Homer Artist in Residence program by making a contribution HERE Select the “donation” button for a one time donation. Or send a contribution to 72 S. Main St. Homer, NY 13077
Barbara Jones Named Artist and Entrepreneur in Residence at Center for the Arts of Homer, NY This Summer
The Center for the Arts of Homer is proud to announce that Barbara Jones, an esteemed entrepreneur, media professional, and educator, will be the Center’s inaugural “Artist and Entrepreneur in Residence” this summer. With a distinguished career spanning over 35 years in digital products, television production, and higher education, Jones brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Center.Jones’ impressive career trajectory includes a diverse range of roles in the media industry and academia. As an entrepreneur, she has launched international digital businesses and developed successful interactive products that support television properties. Her extensive industry experience includes significant positions such as Vice President of Online Broadcasting at Alliance Atlantis in Toronto, where she managed prominent websites like HGTV.ca and History.ca, and Director of International at The Weather Channel in Atlanta, where she launched and led the international interactive division.
In addition to her industry achievements, Jones has made significant contributions to higher education. She has taught at acclaimed communications schools, including her role as Professor of Practice at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, where she taught courses on TV business, advanced media management, and industry forces. Jones is also a Professor Emerita at Syracuse University.
Her entrepreneurial ventures include founding SailorJones Media in Ontario, Canada, and StayBillety, a company that was based in both Kingston, Ontario, and Syracuse, NY. StayBillety was designed as a peer-to-peer accommodation platform, connecting like-minded individuals, particularly those with shared interests or affiliations, with hosts offering short-term lodging. The platform emphasized community and belonging, catering to groups such as sports teams, alumni associations, and special interest groups.
Jones’ academic roles have also included positions at Ontario’s Georgian College and at the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto, where she taught film and television producing.
Her volunteer residency at the Center for the Arts of Homer will focus on the intersection of art and entrepreneurship. She will engage with the community through workshops, lectures, and collaborative projects. Her current work involves developing a multi-part historical drama series based on a true story, showcasing her continued commitment to storytelling and content creation.
The project she will be developing while in residency, “Wild Devils: The Doans,” is a story spanning several generations of a family of “devil-daring” outlaws, horse thieves, ruffians and spies who became legend during the American Revolution and later the War of 1812. It intertwines events in British, American, and Canadian history, with adventures beginning in Colonial Pennsylvania and various notable American Revolutionary outposts in northeastern states and moving to the Niagara region and then Upper Canada in an area bordered by Cayuga, Oneida, and Tuscarora territories, as well as Lake Erie. The story begins in 1775 and continues to 1822 through 30 episodes. The structure is inspired by notable ensemble series such as Sons of Liberty and Yellowstone.
“I’m delighted to be joining the Center for the Arts this summer as artist in residence to continue research and writing on this project which has been taking shape for over seven years. Doan family members were active participants in America’s ‘first civil war’ and like many colonial families who resisted the revolutionary movement, their story isn’t prominent in history textbooks. This residency will provide me with a concentrated window to move the project forward while contributing to the Center’s summer programming.”
“We are thrilled to have Barbara join us this summer,” said Executive Director Ty Marshal. “Her extensive background in media, education, and entrepreneurship will provide invaluable insights and inspiration. It will be a wonderful way for aspiring creatives to get an inside look into the process of developing a major project and pitching it for funding and production. We look forward to the exciting projects and initiatives that will emerge from local creatives from interacting with her through the residency.”
The Center for the Arts summer residency is designed to enhance the cultural landscape of Homer, NY, offering unique opportunities for learning and collaboration, especially for creatives interested in learning more about how to engage with dynamic fields in the visual and performing arts, including television, film, digital media, and content creation.
She will be in residency from July 17 through August 10, staying at the nearby “David Harum House.” Local creatives are invited to an informal outdoor artist’s reception for Jones on the porches of the historic home, 80 South Main Street, Homer, on Friday, July 19 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The reception is during the interlude of opening day for the Center’s “Portrait of a Place” Plein Air Competition, and the community is also invited to visit Homer earlier that day from 8 p.m. to 4 p.m. to see local artists painting local scenery and historic buildings in Homer.
Jones, along with Linda Hartsock, faculty member at Syracuse University and one of the original group of founders of the Center, will jointly conduct a free community workshop on Arts Entrepreneurship at the Center on Saturday morning, August 3 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. as part of the Gathering Grounds community coffee. No registration is required for the session which will help guide people on how to start and fund a venture or creative project.
The Center for the Arts of Homer, a vibrant cultural hub at the gateway to the Finger Lakes region of New York State, is dedicated to enriching the community through diverse artistic and educational programs. Housed in a beautifully restored historic building, the Center offers a wide range of activities, including art exhibitions, live performances, workshops, and classes. It serves as a gathering place for artists, musicians, and art enthusiasts, fostering a creative environment that celebrates and supports the arts in all its forms. For more information: center4art.org