FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Intermedia Arts Presents
B-GIRL BE
:: A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN IN HIP-HOP ::
Fourth International Multimedia Festival

Summer Camps — August 11 – 14, 2009
Mama Said Knock U Out! Exhibition — August 27 through October 23, 2009
Dance Performances — September 17 – 20, 2009
B-Girl Be Block Party— Saturday, September 19, 2009

art . dance . dialogues . dj . fashion . film . graff . history . media . poetry . rap

Minneapolis, MN— After B-Girl Be’s year hiatus and a challenging start to 2009 for Intermedia Arts, the organization and directors of B-Girl Be are proud to announce that the much-loved event will be resurrected this fall. Thanks to the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts, Intermedia Arts is able to breathe life into the B-Girl Be festival for the fourth installment of this internationally recognized platform for women in hip-hop.

Building on three years of a wildly successful summit, Intermedia Arts is proud to present its fourth B-Girl Be: A Celebration of Women in Hip-Hop, a multimedia festival encompassing the four elements of hip-hop: MCing, turntablism, breakdancing, graffiti—and more. The mission of B-Girl Be is to influence and inspire leadership to change the perceptions and roles of women in hip-hop for current and future generations. This annual event is a place to make connections, build confidence, sharpen skills and gain access to the tools to create music, film, poetry, rap, aerosol art and dance.

The celebration begins with summer youth camps for girls August 11-14 at Intermedia Arts led by Desdamona and Katrina Knudson. Leading up to and during the block party, check out an international graffiti mural in progress throughout the weekend and don’t miss a hip-hop dance showcase featuring local and national talent curated by local dancer and choreographer Amy Sackett.

On Saturday, September 19, 2009 B-Girl Be culminates its series of events from August through October in a one-day festival at Intermedia Arts. The festival is a multidisciplinary showcase that brings international, national and local women in hip-hop together in Minneapolis for dialogues, painting, screenings, music, performances, workshops and networking opportunities.

Curated by Theresa Sweetland and Michele Spaise, this year’s B-Girl Be gallery exhibition, Mama Said Knock U Out!, will be a multi-disciplinary, cutting edge exhibition that highlights the distinct aesthetics of hip-hop. B-Girl Be proves that women in hip-hop aren’t making a comeback; we’ve been here for years- fighting oppression and knocking down barriers to equal representation in hip hop culture. These artists from all over the world paint on walls, wood, clothing, vinyl, canvas, and metal. Female filmmakers direct, produce and edit their visual journeys. Inside Intermedia Arts’ main gallery, viewers can check out aerosol art, clothing, paintings, photographs, music videos, sculpture, and illustrations representing hip-hop inspired artwork from women around the world. The exhibit Mama Said Knock U Out! runs from August 27 – October 23.
 
For the most up-to-date information and to learn how to purchase tickets, call Intermedia Arts at (612) 871-4444 or visit www.intermediaarts.org. All events take place at Intermedia Arts unless otherwise noted. Intermedia Arts is located at 2822 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408.

Funding by: The National Endowment for the Arts/ Sponsored by: Moxie Salon and Emetrece Productions.
 
Intermedia Arts is a catalyst that builds understanding among people through art.
Check our website (www.intermediaarts.org) for more details.

Schedule of Events:

B-Girl Be Block Party
Saturday, September 19, 2009; Noon-10:00 PM

Project Girl & B-Girl Be Summer Camps
August 11-14, 2009

Mama Said Knock U Out! Exhibition
August 27-October 23, 2009
*Exhibition Opening Reception
Friday, August 28, 2009; 7:00-10:00 PM

B-Girl Be Dance Performances
September 17-20, 2009
September17-18: 8:00 PM
September 19: 2:00 & 10:00 PM
September 20: 3:00 PM

Fundraising Events:

Moxie Hair Salon
Hair Raising Event For B-Girl Be*
Sunday, August 30th; 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Uptown Location
$30 Haircuts, Reservations and Walk-ins welcome
#612-813-0330

PHOTO / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: Featured Artists and Curators, Local B-Girls,
Intermedia Arts’ Staff and Board 

CONTACTS:
 
Melisa Riviere                                                           Theresa Sweetland
B-Girl Be Co-Founding Director                                  B-Girl Be Co-Founding Director
Media and Marketing Director & Aerosol Art Curator    Executive/Artistic Dir.                                                                                Intermedia Arts
Phone: 612-281-9970                                              Phone: 612-874-2813
Email: mriviere@emetreceproductions.com                E-mail:theresa@intermediaarts.org


   

It's been a while and B-Girl Be is still bubbling up here and there. We just posted a new profile picture that has the latest screenings of the B-Girl Be DVD in Seattle.

Check it out and if you're in the Seattle area come check it out.

Moving Forward!
The B-Girl Be Team

B-Girl Be Summer 2008

Intermedia Arts will not be producing a B-Girl Be summit in summer 2008 but we are gearing up for a full international summit again in 2009. This decision was made by Intermedia Arts and the B-Girl Be curatorial committee at the completion of last summer's summit to give us a chance to rest, regroup, raise funds and sustain ourselves for the long haul. Look forward to more news about summer 2008 and 2009 and please feel free to send us other events taking place this summer that we can help promote through BGB E-News and on our websites www.intermediaarts.org, www.myspace.com/bgirlbe and www.bgirlbe.com by emailing Theresa at theresa@intermediaarts.org.

******************************************
B-Girl Be News: February 2008
******************************************

In this edition:
Leah Nelson Says Goodbye
Staff Updates
K-12 Curriculum
Summer 2008
2006 Documentary Available for $10
Related Events at Intermedia Arts
Community Opportunities

********************************************************
From Leah Nelson To the B-girl Be Community!
It is with sadness that I leave my roles as Dance Curator, Youth Workshop and DJ Coordinator for B-Girl Be. I have been honored to have co-founded this amazing Project with 5 strong women, Theresa, Melisa, Desdamona, DeAnna and Rachel along with the very necessary and often unsung support of Intermedia Arts Staff. They have taught me a lot about myself : my strengths and my weaknesses. By extension every person involved with this project especially the Twin Cities Dance Community have helped contribute to my education as an organizer and as a cultural advocate. I look forward to serving the B-Girl Be family in the following ways:
--As an advocate in the market place and the various other circles I am blessed to run in.
--As an employee or reference for various events and venues I produce in or have connections with.
--As a volunteer when time permits
--As a lifelong cheerleader! – (if only cheerleaders were b-girls!)

It has been a blessing to have been allowed to create in such a supported environment and to have been in the presence of, and be trusted by, so much talent. I very much look forward to witnessing the next cycle and remain excited for the B-Girl Be community – worldwide! Later!

Peace! Mad Love & Respect!
Leah Nelson/Nubia
B-girl Be Co-founder.
Dance Curator, Youth Workshop & DJ Coordinator (2005 – 2007).

Staff Updates:

--DeAnna Cummings, Visual Arts Curator (2005-present), will be headed off to Harvard University in the fall for a year of intense study towards her masters in public policy at the Kennedy School.
--Melisa Riviere, Aerosol Art curator (2005 - present) and Project Manager (2007) is teaching her "Anthropology of Hip-Hop in a Global Perspective" course at the University of Minnesota and as adjunct faculty at Hamline this semester. The course will take a tour for the next year appearing in colleges from Minnesota to Puerto Rico.
--Desdamona, Performance Curator is planning a tour, developing a new project and hosting the open mic at the Blue Nile Restaurant in Minneapolis.
--Theresa Sweetland is named Executive/Artistic Director at Intermedia Arts and is expecting her first child in July. While she takes on more responsibility, she will still remain deeply involved in B-Girl Be. Full information about the leadership change at Intermedia Arts link here:

CREATE. INSPIRE. CHANGE.



B-Girl Be K-12 Curriculum:
Intermedia Arts received a grant through General Mills Communities of Color program to develop K-12 curriculum based on the values and teachings of hip hop women involved with B-Girl Be. We will be developing these lessons throughout 2008 in partnership with Perpich Center for Arts Education to be used in Minnesota schools for years to come. If you want more information about this initiative or want to get involved contact Theresa at

B-Girl Be Summer 2008:
Intermedia Arts will not be producing a B-Girl Be summit in summer 2008 but we are gearing up for a full international summit again in 2009. This decision was made by Intermedia Arts and the B-Girl Be curatorial committee at the completion of last summer's summit to give us a chance to rest, regroup, raise funds and sustain ourselves for the long haul. We WILL be holding a fundraising event this summer and possibly another graffiti wall production in June. Look forward to more news about summer 2008 and 2009 and please feel free to send us other events taking place this summer that we can help promote through BGB E-News and on our website by emailing Theresa at .

2006 Documentary DVD Available:
Our B-Girl Be: A Celebration of Women in Hip-Hop 2006 Documentary DVD is available now for only $10 by visiting our website:
BGB DVD AVAILABLE HERE!

calling 612-871-4444 or emailing info@intermediaarts.org. Support B-Girl Be by purchasing a little bit of herstory today!

Other Related Events at Intermedia Arts:
Project Girl Exhibition : June 5-August 16, 2008; Opening Night: June 6, 2008; 7:00-11:00 PM

"It is hard out there for a girl. Girls are bombarded daily by the media with highly sexual and often destructive or violent messages about what will make them popular and the place of women in our society. From the widely publicized partying antics and self-starvation of young actresses like Lindsey Lohan and Nicole Richie to the promiscuity and exhibitionism of the "Girls Gone Wild" series and rap lyrics deriding women as bitches and hos, it's hard for adolescent girls to understand what their real choices are and how and what they are being manipulated" Lyn Mikel Brown, Project Girl

Project Girl in Wisconsin's first girl-led arts-based initiative created to take action toward becoming better informed critical consumers of mass media advertising and entertainment. In partnership with the Walker Art Center and Perpich Center for Arts Education, Intermedia Arts continues its commitment to providing women and girls a positive and empowering space for change-making. While taking a year off from the B-Girl Be Summit, we invited artists Kelly Park Sneider and Jane Bartell from Madison, WI. to bring their powerful Project Girl exhibit to our gallery. Youth workshops for middle school and teen girls and tours for youth and adults of all ages take place throughout the summer.

If you are interested in being a part of Project Girl, leading workshops, bring a group of girls, giving tours or any other ideas, please email Theresa at

Community Opportunity:

Articulating Our Voices Now is a FREE Class offered to young women [ages 16-22] at Hope Community Center. The class will focus on the artistic and creative expression of women, especially those in our community. We will listen to music, write poetry/spoken word, dance, take photographs, freestyle, tell our stories and learn to channel our visions in a variety of ways. We will also work with guest artists [poets, dancers, spoken word artists, writers, musicians] from the Twin Cities. No artistic experience is necessary! All you need is the energy, ideas, and interest to join this class! ENROLL TODAY!

Details:

What: Articulating Our Voices Now [a class for women 16-22]
Where: Hope Community Center, Franklin and Portland Ave.
When: Thursdays 5:30-7:30 pm, March 13th-May 22nd
Cost: FREE!
Call (612) 435-1683 to enroll. There are only 20 spots available!

*******************************
Theresa Sweetland
Executive/Artistic Director
Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN. 55408
612.874.2813
theresa@intermediaarts.org

35 Years of Making Change!
Intermedia Arts is catalyst that builds understanding among people through art.

Join us in membership today!
INTERMEDIA ARTS WEBSITE

Friday, June 29, 2007

10:30-Noon
Dance Workshop w/Rokafella @ Hennepin Center for the Arts ($15)

11:00-Noon
Youth Dance Workshop ages 3-5

Noon - 8PM
Aerosol Art Production

Noon-1:30PM
Gallery tour and discussion

1:30 – 2:30PM
Puerto Rico Presente! B-Girl's Mio, Lady Denis & MC Aneurizma

2:30 – 3:30PM
Youth Hour with Minnesota Spoken Word Associations & special guests on the Target Stage.

3:00-4:30PM
B-Girl Sitdown

4:30 – 5:30PM
Open Mic hosted by Karma & Ashawnti on the Target Stage.

6:30 – 8:00PM
Autumn Compton and The Most Wanted and Indigo and Spikaboxxx as Bloody Black Eyes with Shock B on the Target Stage.

7:00PM & 9:30PM
Evolution of the Power Cipher : A Dance Showcase. Hosted by Karma featuring Universal Dance Destiny, Art of Dance, Aneka McMullen, Members of the Collective, Rhythm Queenz, Brandi Philips and Angel Adams, and more. Words by Traycee Lynn & Isis. ($7 general, $5 youth.)

9PM–2AM
21+ Evening of Spoken Word at the Nomad World Pub featuring RhapsodE, Isis, Desdamona and URSULA RUCKER ($7)

We don't have ever individual event listed on our calendar.....So, here is a list of what's happening today for the opening of B-Girl Be.

:00 PM
Aerosol Art Mural jumps off coordinated by Siloette, featuring Lady Pink, Femme9, Zori4, Muck, Stef, Shiro and many more

4:30-5:30PM
Featured DJ

5:30-6:30PM
Performances by Ashley Gold, Akira Johnson, H.E.A.T

6 – 9:30PM
Visual Art Exhibit opens "The Art of T&A...Truth and Activism" is a multi-disciplinary international group show that highlights women's visual voice through the aesthetic lens of hip-hop culture. Featuring painted installations by Lady Pink (New York) and Joy E. A. Spike (Chicago) and more than twenty-five artists representing the United States, Puerto Rico, Cape Town South Africa and Switzerland.

6:30 PM
B-Girl Be Welcoming Ceremony featuring the Aztec Dance Youth, Drummers, B-Girl Be Drum & Dance & Tish Jones.

7:00 – 8:30PM
Rosa Clemente Keynote, ($5/ $2 students)

7:30 - 8:30PM
Youth Open Mic

8:30-10PM
Youth(Teen) Dance Workshop hosted by the Collective @ Jawahiir Studios ($5)

10pm – 2AM
18+ Sistaz In Rhyme @ Foundation Nightclub Featuring Maria Isa, Stacy Epps, Invincible and Bahamadia. ($10)

Friday, June 29 at The Nomad!

B-Girl Be & Intermedia Arts Presents: An evening of Spoken Word with

Ursula Rucker - Philly (feat. on The Roots' projects)
Isis - Minneapolis (Soulistic Playhouse)
Desdamona - Minneapolis (B-Girl Be co-founder)
RhapsodE - Philly (feat. on 'The Ledge')

Doors at 9pm / 21+ / $7 ---------> COME EARLY to get a good spot. Last year this even was JAM PACKED!!


The Nomad World Pub is located on Minneapolis' West Bank @
501 Cedar Ave.
612-338-6424

Peace & I'll see you there!
Desdamona

Ursula is also teaching a Spoken word writing workshop on SATURDAY, JUNE 30 at B-Girl be / $15 / 2:30 - 4:30pm

and Medusa is returning to host our mainstage even on Saturday Night at the Intermedia Arts outdoor stage on Saturday night.

Medusa will also be teaching an MC workshop on Saturday, June 30 from NOON - 2:00pm. $15

These ladies are PROS! Come and learn from the best!

Welcome to B-Girl Be Summit 2007

A Celebration of Women in Hip-Hop in its 3rd year brought to you by Intermedia Arts and the B-Girl Be Team and Co – Founders. We are Theresa Sweetland –Artistic Director of Intermedia Arts, Melisa Riviere, - Program Manager, Aerosol Art, Leah Nelson – Dance, DJ, Youth Workshop, DeAnna Cummings, Visual Art and Desdamona – Performance.
B-Girl Be is an annual summit and series of events, workshops, exhibits, and performances celebrating women in hip-hop. We fundraise annually and always welcome sponsorship and donations – without which we could not bring this powerful, internationally renowned collaboration to life.

The mission of BGB is to influence and inspire leadership to change the perceptions and roles of women in hip-hop for current and future generations. We need to change the landscape of what we know is wrong with hip-hop and replace it with positive options that make sense for young and old alike.

Welcome to the cipher!

Reservations and Inquiries for ALL B-Girl Be Events should be directed to:

Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 871.4444
info@intermediaarts.org




$30 All-Access Event Passes Available Online and by Calling Intermedia Arts
All events are at Intermedia arts and are all Ages and free unless otherwise noted.

Offsite venues

Bryant Lake Bowl
810 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Capri Theater
2027 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis 55403

Fifth Element
2411 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55405

Foundation Nightclub
10 S Fifth Street Minneapolis, MN 55402

Hennepin Center for the Arts
528 Hennepin Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55403

Jawahiir Studios
1940 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403

Nomad World Pub
501 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454


Thursday, June 28, 2007

1:00 PM
Aerosol Art Mural jumps off coordinated by Siloette, featuring Lady Pink, Femme9, Zori4, Muck, Stef, Shiro and many more

4:30-5:30PM
Featured DJ

5:30-6:30PM
Performances by Da Black Pearl, Ashley Gold, Akira Johnson, H.E.A.T on the Target Stage

6 – 9:30PM
Visual Art Exhibit opens "The Art of T&A...Truth and Activism" is a multi-disciplinary international group show that highlights women's visual voice through the aesthetic lens of hip-hop culture. Featuring painted installations by Lady Pink (New York) and Joy E. A. Spike (Chicago) and more than twenty-five artists representing the United States, Puerto Rico, Cape Town South Africa and Switzerland.

6:30 PM
B-Girl Be Welcoming Ceremony featuring the Aztec Dance Youth, Drummers, B-Girl Be Drum & Dance & Tish Jones on the Target Stage.

7:00 – 8:30PM
Rosa Clemente Keynote, ($5/ $2 students)

7:30 - 8:30PM
Youth Open Mic on the Target Stage.

8:30-10PM
Youth(Teen) Dance Workshop hosted by the Collective @ Jawahiir Studios ($5)

10pm – 2AM
18+ Sistaz In Rhyme @ Foundation Nightclub Featuring Maria Isa, Stacy Epps, Invincible and Bahamadia. ($10)

Exhibit runs, June 21-September 1, 2007.
Gallery Hours: Monday-Saturday from 12-5 PM.




Friday, June 29, 2007

10:30-Noon
Dance Workshop w/Rokafella @ Hennepin Center for the Arts ($15)

11:00-Noon
Youth Dance Workshop ages 3-5

Noon - 8PM
Aerosol Art Production

Noon-1:30PM
Gallery tour and discussion

1:30 – 2:30PM
Puerto Rico Presente! B-Girl's Mio, Lady Denis & MC Aneurizma

2:30 – 3:30PM
Youth Hour with Minnesota Spoken Word Associations & special guests on the Target Stage.

3:00-4:30PM
B-Girl Sitdown

4:30 – 5:30PM
Open Mic hosted by Karma & Ashawnti on the Target Stage.

6:30 – 8:00PM
Autumn Compton and The Most Wanted and Indigo and Spikaboxxx as Bloody Black Eyes with Shock B on the Target Stage.

7:00PM & 9:30PM
Evolution of the Power Cipher : A Dance Showcase. Hosted by Karma featuring Universal Dance Destiny, Art of Dance, Aneka McMullen, Members of the Collective, Rhythm Queenz, Brandi Philips and Angel Adams, and more. Words by Traycee Lynn & Isis. ($7 general, $5 youth.)

9PM–2AM
21+ Evening of Spoken Word at the Nomad World Pub featuring RhapsodE, Isis, Desdamona and Ursula Rucker ($7)









Saturday, June 30, 2007

10:30 – 12:00 PM
Dance Workshop with B-Girl Aiko @ Hennepin Center for Arts ($15)

Noon – 10:00 PM
Aerosol Art Production


Noon - 1:30 PM
Gallery tour –Youth Event

Noon – 2:00 PM
Medusa MC Workshop @ Bryant Lake Bowl ($15)

2:00 – 3:30PM
Performance by Kali Quotes, White Lesbian Rapper, Katana, and Maui on the Target Stage.

2:00 – 4:00 PM
DJ Clinic with Pam the Funkstress @ Fifth Element ($15)

2:30 – 4:30 PM
Spoken Word Workshop with Ursula Rucker ($15)

2:00-3:30 PM
B-Girl Knowledge Drop! ($7)
Featuring Collective 7 (B-Girls Aiko, Baby Love, Lady Champ, Rokafella, Severe & Vendetta) and B-Girl Aruna & Twin City All-Stars & B-girls of the PR Team.

3:30 – 4:30 PM
Open Mic
4:30 – 5:30PM
Bonnie & Clyde: The Showoff hosted by Tish Jones & Truth Maze with Extra Special Guests KMOJ's Melissa & Crstyle on the Target Stage.

7:00 – 10:00 PM
Ladies Night hosted by Medusa with performances by Wonda Woman Project, Traycee Lynn, Tish Jones, PaviElle and Black Blondie with DJ Shortee and B-Girl Power Cipher ($7 general/$5 youth) on the Target Stage.

10PM – 2AM
DJ After Party @ Foundation Nightclub featuring Pam the Funkstress and DJ Shortee. ($5)


Sunday, July 1, 2007

12:00 -5:00PM
B-Girl BBQ

12:00-2:00 PM
B-Girl Be 2006 Documentary

12:00 – 2:30 PM
DJs and Open mic on the Target Stage.

2:30 –3:30 PM
Youth Performance Showcase on the Target Stage.

3:30-5:00 PM
Films and DJs

3:45-4:45 PM
Teen Dance Workshop
hosted by Universal Dance Destiny at Capri Theatre

There will be two volunteer meetings this week. Come on out if you haven't been to one before.

Those meetings are Tuesday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. both here at Intermedia Arts. And as always, it helps me to know if you're coming and to which one.


email: shannon@intermediaarts.org to confirm if you can make it or not.

Hope to see you at the meetings! BGB is only 2 weeks away!