“RiverDrums” Celebration of Freedom
June 12, 2016
“RiverDrums” Celebration of Freedom
June 19, 2016 is RiverDrums: A Celebration of Freedom.
On June 19 in 1865 it was declared “all slaves are free.”
Riverdrums is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.
In honor of our rivers and ourselves, there will be drumming, dancing, music, art and discussion.
There’s also a Little Turtle painting by Nancy Lutz.
A Miami war chief who twice defeated armies of the United States, Little Turtle became an ambassador for peace and is the inspiration for Riverdrums.
Bring lawn chairs or blankets.
If you want to display, you need to bring a table. If you want to sell items contact the parks department for a vending application. The cost is $35.
RiverDrums is a free public event featuring volunteer artists representing Fort Wayne’s history as we, again, focus on our rivers as a unique community resource.
Fort Wayne was founded on the rivers and the original settlement called Kekionga was located at the head of the Maumee River in what is now the Lakeside area of our city.
From the Riverdrums brochure:
SPONSORS:
Friends of the Third World
Sweetwater Sound
Basche Martial Arts
El Mexicano Newspaper
Fresh-Eye Promotions
Infinity Casket, Vault and Monument Company
Anthem Insurance
Videotaping made possible by a grant from the Cable Fund Access Board
Airing at 6 pm on Saturdays on Access Fort Wayne Comcast 57/Frontier 27
And also will be on Youtube
RiverDrums is a presentation of TRACK (Three Rivers Art Center for Kids/Facebook), a non-profit organization
trackfortwayne@gmail.com
Using the power of art and community dialogue to raise awareness on abuse and other social issues
To our sponsors, our performers, our river team, to everyone who helped to make RiverDrums possible
AFTERNOON SCHEDULE: Kicks off at 12 Noon with opening ceremony, with poem “RiverDrums” by Patty Hunter with Cherokee Artist Ken Noland’s flute playing as Save Maumee’s Abby King “sails” down the St. Mary’s River to the Wells Street Bridge and talks on “Keeping Our Rivers Clean.” “El Mexicano” publisher Fernando Zapari, reflects on “Remembering Kekionga,” the main village of the Miami Tribe located at the headwaters of the Maumee River in the Lakeside Park area.
Throughout the event:
Art for kids with Peggy Tassler, the owner of SOZO Art Gallery Kendallville, from noon to 2:20 p.m.
2:00 p.m. till closing: Artist Frank Louis Allen, will work with kids and adults to create a Riverdrums mural
12:35 p.m.: Alicia Pyle and Trinell Armour with her sisters – Jazz Stylists
1:40 p.m. : Shelley Septer, from Huntington, talks about the organization she and her children founded in honor of her son, Zach, “Backpacks of Hope.” The City of Fort Wayne evicts the homeless. Zach devoted his life to helping them.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Ken Noland, will be doing solo and “innovative” duets with Teacher Ka, a member of Indianapolis Chinese Symphony Orchestra Chinese Drum demo by Kwan Hui and performance by members of the orchestra (both traditional Chinese and Western) using traditional Chinese instruments
3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Hip Hop with brother sister duo, Chrome Cats
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Steve Basche martial arts class
4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Jain Young and members of the Fort Wayne Drum Circle And the afternoon ends with everyone dancing on the Wells St. Bridge
5:00-6:00 p.m.: Intermission
6:00 p.m.:Maleah Heck “Surviving Child Abuse,” shares her inspiring story of abuse suffered as a child, being homeless, and now a CEO of her own company.
6:30 p.m.: TRACK founder Terrence Doran reflects “On Being a Dad,” why he started TRACK and RIVERDRUMS and invites all to reflect on “RIVERDRUMS.”
7 p.m.: Original songs by Blind Uncle Harry from Bloomington
7:35 p.m.: Pineapple Project with nine teen dancers from the Fort Wayne Dance Collective
8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Steve Basche of Basche Martial Arts
8:30 p.m.: Closing Ceremony with everyone dancing on the Wells Street Bridge Check the Facebook page for updates
