5 Things To Do This Weekend, Including Anjimile At The ICA And Women's History Month Celebrations

The gusty winds have blown us right into the first week of March, which also marks the beginning of Women’s History Month. This week, there’s a few events that connect back to the importance of this month as well as offer up some sweet melodies by local artists and jazz tunes from musicians worldwide. From a discussion on women’s history to a presentation on a forgotten art exhibit, I am excited about the chance we have to be engaged in our community, as well as the chance we have to ask questions about these important topics.

Now + There, a Boston-based nonprofit focused on public art curation, has been hosting a discussion series posing the question “Where do you see your neighborhood in the year 2030?” Leading the conversation will be Now + There’s executive director, Kate Gilbert, along with artist Ana Crowley Noordzij and Alia Hamada Forrest from Roslindale Main Streets. After the 30-minute conversation, there will be a 30-minute open discussion where attendees can share their thoughts as well.

Hosted by Unbound Visual Arts, this event explores the intersectionality of women and their identities. Janine Fondon, an assistant professor at Bay Path University, and scholars Dr. Demetria Shabazz and Dr. Lucie K. Lewis will present about the lives of women in Massachusetts who’ve made an impact in history. This event accompanies the exhibit “Stronger Sisterhood: Representing Intersectional Identity,” which features artists  Linda Clave, Mary Vannucci, Maia Monteagudo and more, and  explores third-wave feminism and recognizes all the ways women have been marginalized throughout history.

Something you might have picked up on about me is that I love discovering new music. But when I discover local artists, I get even happier! Anjimilie is an artist I came across not too long ago, and their music makes you feel warm inside with their sweet and soft melodies. The ICA’s event will feature Anjimilie and Justin Bowe for a dual performance. These two artists are bandmates from Anjimilie’s debut album that came out in 2020, “Giver Taker.” [Read ARTery reporter Amelia Mason’s story about Animile’s album here.]

Women in World Jazz celebrates women by putting on a virtual concert that has an educational element! Not only is the international ensemble made up of all women, but all the music has also been composed by women. The performance will feature different variations of jazz styles from around the world, jumping from Japan to Brazil to Cape Verde and more! To add a unique and creative spin, audience members are encouraged to make their own shaker instrument by using a soda bottle or vitamin container and create their own music with it.

MassArt professor Judy Dunaway will be discussing her paper “The Forgotten 1979 MoMA Sound Art Exhibition'' followed by a live Q+A session. The term Sound Art has become an emerging artistic category, but one of it’s very first significant exhibitions is often overlooked. Dunaway will discuss her paper that includes interviews, archival research and analysis of work on the 1979 exhibition that was curated by a woman in conjunction with three women artists. This paper also explores discriminatory practices that caused this important exhibit to fly under the radar.