Soul Singing and an Arctic Opening

Grace McLean has a voice that could launch a thousand ships filled with history’s greatest jazz musicians.  Perched on the precarious edge of 'œabout to make it big,' Grace is still a broke-ass like us and tickets are still cheap.  This Wednesday night, you can see her at Joe’s Pub accompanied by a bassist and percussionist, and someday you’ll be telling people 'œyou saw her when…!'  Check out Grace’s new demo here, and make sure you listen to the colorful 'œWe’re Just Friends' and the simple, unearthing 'œPoverty Triumphant.'

Grace McLean at Joe’s Pub
Wednesday, September 16
425 Lafayette St. (between W. 4^th and Astor Place) [Greenwich Village]
Doors 6pm, Show at 7pm
Tickets $12

In the late 1950s, a West African boy reads a book about Greenland.  He dreams to someday travel there.  And he does.  Then, in the late '˜70s, he writes a book about his unique ten-year journey from his native Togo to Greenland.  The book goes on to win awards, including being one of The New York Times’ Notable Books of the year in 1983.

In 2009, a group of New York artists called the Arctic Book Club meet regularly for seven months to explore and discuss the book.  They then are asked to create art in response, and this Thursday, September 17, the exhibition opens.

The man we are talking about is Tété Michel Kpomassie, and the book, An African in Greenland.  And on September 23^rd, the Arctic Book Club will welcome Tété Michel Kpomassie in a public dialogue about his reaction to their reaction arts exhibition.

You all still with me?

If you are as delighted and intrigued by this story as I am, here’s what we do.  Let’s read the book and visit the exhibition before October 24^th (when it closes).  If you’re feeling really ambitious, maybe you will create your own Arctic Book Club Deux.  Or maybe you will go to the discussion on Sept. 23^rd and create your own reactionary song about Tété’s reaction to the exhibition that was in reaction to the book' or maybe not.  Regardless, the opening is FREE and makes for great blind date material!

Arctic Book Club
sponsored by EFA Project Space and Flux Factory
Thursday, September 17
323 West 39th Street, 2^nd Floor (between 8^th and 9^th Aves) [Manhattan]
6-8vpm Opening; $FREE
Continues through October 24

Public Discussion with Tété Michel Kpomassie
September 23
6:30 pm

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