Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. 1 Art, Identity and Urban Revitalization Houston, 2013-2014
OBA An examination of the dynamic interaction between art, creation and cultural identity as a means to advance dialogue in the context of urban revitalization in both French and American cultures. Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. Co-organized By Monte Laster/ French American Creative Exchange (Paris) and Texan French Alliance for the Arts (Houston) In partnership with many of Houston ’ s cultural and educational organizations With the support of the Consulate General of France in Houston and the City of Houston 2
OBA History • Conceived by Monte Laster, an American artist with a long-term engagement in the community of La Cite des 4000 in La Courneuve, the most socially stigmatized housing project in France. Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. • Born from an organic process which looks at the history of a contemporary struggle for identity in the context of a quickly expanding global culture. • Four years in the making and after its successful implementation in France, Washington D.C and New York City, the project is coming to Houston from 3 November 2013-December 2014.
What is OBA? • OBA is the final phase of a three-part project that connects artists; scholars; art, educational and cultural institutions/organizations. Both French and American contributors will create a participative and contextual co-op which will be looking at subjects such as: Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. • Black is Beautiful : An analysis, archiving and celebration of African- American culture and its influence on the world in which we live. • Banlieue is Beautiful : An analysis, archiving and celebration of urban cultures in the suburbs of Paris, New York and Houston • The CO-OP : An analysis, archiving and celebration of multi-cultural identities and their dynamic interactions. • OBA is a multi-disciplinary project designed as a set of consciousness- raising think-tanks, urban walks, musical encounters and workshops 4
OBA Objectives 1. Support academic exchanges and research on: the cultural structure of communities in France and Texas the role played by culture in the social integration of these communities Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. 2. Facilitate exchange between France and Houston on the mobilization of art in social policy and urban revitalization 3. Support and implement cultural events aimed at promoting the social integration of different communities 5
OBA in Houston • In Houston, the project will assist in creating a platform which is designed to research, document and archive: - The history of the equal rights movement in the city under the title “ Black is Beautiful ” Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. - Local urban cultures and their history, whether through music, dance, literature or other creative expressions: “ Banlieue is Beautiful” - the various art forms which have been flourishing in the city, where art and culture have strengthened social ties and given the people a voice in urban planning, and provide opportunities and avenues for these multiple expressions to interact within the framework of OBA: “ The CO-OP ” 6 • And “ Co-operate ” in the research and development of new forms to encourage social exchange and the emergence of many voices in the context of urban revitalization.
OBA Programs in Houston • Think Tanks on topics such as “ Art, Identity, and revitalization ” , “ banlieue is Beautiful: Urban culture vs. Urban Planning ” • Urban Walks: including a procession, bike ride and urban ride. • Musical encounters Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. • Concerts • Writing workshops • Exhibitions • Thematic meals • Film Production • Workshops and exchange programs • Symposiums 7
OBA Houston Partners OBA is co-organized • By Monte Laster/French American Creative Exchange (Paris) and Texan French Alliance for the Arts (Houston) Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. • In partnership with Houston ’ s art, educational and cultural institutions/organizations, including: Avenue CDC/Go Neighborhoods, Houston Public Library, Neighborhood Centers Inc., Project Row Houses, The Mayor ’ s office of cultural affairs, The Mayor ’ s department of Neighborhoods, SHAPE, The University of Houston Downtown • With the special support of 8 The French Consulate and the City of Houston
OBA Houston locations OBA will be present in numerous neighborhoods such as the third, fourth, fifth and sixth wards, The East- End, the Northside, University campuses, Public Libraries, Rothko Chapel and other cultural and public venues including parks and open spaces. Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. 9
OBA The projected timeline Writing Think Tanks workshops Urban Walks ( April 2013, and Film fall 2013, Fall 2013, exchanges Projections Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. Early 2014) Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Winter 2015 Musical Thematic Exhibitions Symposium Encounters Meals Winter 2015 Spring 2015 and concerts summer fall 2013, 2014 winter 2014 10
Join us… … At OBA where you will be a part of a global initiative that seeks to bring together Houston ’ s diverse cultural communities and enrich our people through art, exchanges and collaborations. Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. 12
Initiator / co-organizers Confidential. Do not distribute 13 without approval of FACE & TFAA.
Monte Laster / FACE • Monte Laster is an American Artist with a long-term engagement in the community of La Cité des 4000 in La Courneuve, the most socially stigmatized housing project in France. • In 2001, Laster created an association known as FACE (French American Creative Exchange). FACE is based in Moulin Fayvon, a historical mill Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. located in the middle of the infamous housing projects known as ‘ La cite des 4000 ’ in the northern suburbs of Paris. And transformed in a cultural center. OBA (Our better Angels) is Laster ’ s latest initiative. • His artistic expressions reflect his committed approach to creativity through participation. • Laster's art is organized and produced around interventions, which take multiple forms (urban walks, concerts, poetry readings and think tanks) 14 and systematically engage the local communities at different levels.
Monte Laster / FACE 201 2 "OBA II" Palais de Tokyo & Louvre Museum Paris 2012 "OBA II" Shrine with Abiodun Oyewole Harlem, New York 2011 "OBA II" MAD and Museum of African Arts New York 2010 "OBA I" Moulin Fayvon with Lacaton & Vassal La Courneuve, France 2008 "Choeur Divisé" Cité des 4000 with le collectif Stalker La Courneuve, France 2008 "Lieu, non-lieu" Cité des 4000 with Gilles Clément La Courneuve, France Works associated with Association Face 2010-2012 "OBA II" Confidential. Do not distribute without approval of FACE & TFAA. A project conceived by Laster and produced under the direction of FACE and Quancard Contemporary Art. It consists of a series of documentary videos, photographs, poems, musical creations, artistic interventions and sculptures. Each piece reflects on themes of education, violence, imitation, belief systems, immigration and the concept of what a "masterpiece" is in today's context. The project links commonalities found between two cities, Harlem, New York and La Courneuve, France, each famous for its strong urban culture, social dynamics, bad-boy image and political influence. 2009-2010 "OBA I" In this project, Laster took a group of young rappers from their hometown of La Courneuve in France to Harlem, New York, a neighborhood known for its social complexity and musical heritage. The exchange between the French and Harlem rappers produced a number of exciting connections that eventually led all the way to the White House and the production of a series of films, photos and other materials as part of a large-scale exhibition representing the entire OBA project. 2006-2010 "Think-tanks" Think-tanks were created and moderated by Laster to initiate a laboratory for thinking, refelection, and collaboration between 15 various experts, specialists, and academics who met with local citizens of La Courneuve. The objective was to initiate a series of mutually beneficial exchanges. Laster documented these exchanges through a variety of artistic mediums.
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