Showing Up

The Civilians presents SHOWING UP, a free livestreamed evening of music and performance inspired by photographer Accra Shepp’s portraits of Black Lives Matter activists. In the spring of 2020, Shepp began taking portraits of first responders; these images became the first chapter “Contagion” of his Covid Journals shared on Instagram, a second chapter “Hunger,” and then, as historic activism filled the streets of New York, a third, ongoing chapter, “Justice.” The Civilians interviewed some of the activists depicted in Shepp’s “Justice” chapter, each photographed at various Black Lives Matter gatherings in NYC. SHOWING UP, directed by Colette Robert, draws on these interviews to create performances by actors (casting to be announced), and original songs by artists including Rashaan Carter, Jacinth Greywoode & Rebecca Hart; Jaime Lozano; and Katie Madison & Jarrett Murray. A conversation with Accra Shepp frames the evening.