Many U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, have recently experienced historic increases in gun-related crime.
Toll the Bell
At Penn Live Arts, philanthropy is supporting a series of performances that explore gun violence as a theme
Published: October 25, 2023
As part of a larger effort to use the arts as a catalyst for positive social change, Penn Live Arts (PLA) is exploring gun violence and its painful aftermath through ongoing artist residencies with the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) and Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM).
Toll the Bell, a series of thematic performances throughout the 2023-24 season, will explore the tragedy and trauma of this epidemic and its disproportionate impact on communities of color. Both artist residencies were made possible through philanthropic support to PLA.
NEC was awarded the Brownstein Residency for Artistic Innovation in 2022. During this time, the NEC focused on productions and programming that reflected underrepresented stories of the Black experience and elevated meaningful and thought-provoking conversations on the role of Black artists. As part of Toll the Bell, NEC continues this work with No Policy, No Justice, the world premiere of two one-act plays: Breathe by Cynthia Grace Robinson and Elevator Not Necessary by Mona Washington. Later in the season, NEC will also revive Charles Fuller’s Zooman and the Sign. Set in Philadelphia in 1979, the play explores the effects of gun violence on a family and their struggle to convince apathetic neighbors to take a stand together to achieve justice.
NEC was the recipient of the Brownstein Residency for Artistic Innovation, which was established in 2020 through a gift from Andrew Brownstein, C’75, W’75, WG’76, PAR’12, PAR’14, and Elise Jaffe Brownstein, C’76, PAR’12, PAR’14. It provides a focus on interdisciplinary work and experiences for broad audiences. Photo by Mark Garvin.
Rennie Harris, one of the most renowned hip-hop choreographers in the U.S., joined PLA for a three-year residency in the fall of 2023—a position that includes his dance company, Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM), and that was made possible thanks to a $360,500 grant from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. “Creating at home in Philadelphia grounds and inspires me,” says Harris. “I look forward to this journey that will bring new work to life and have a meaningful impact in my home community.”
The first year of Harris’ residency will revisit highlights from the choreographer’s catalogue to explore past work addressing topics such as gun violence and gangs. As part of the residency, RHPM company members will also participate in programs at PLA’s partner high schools in West and North Philadelphia, inviting young people to observe their own communities and respond creatively using a range of artistic media including writing, visual art and hip-hop movement vocabulary.
Toll the Bell events will conclude with a city-wide sound installation on June 7, 2024—National Gun Violence Awareness Day. The sound installation will be a simultaneous and sustained bell ringing that honors the victims of gun violence, calls communities to action around common-sense gun reform, and acknowledges the tireless work of antiviolence organizations in the city.
Engaging with the local community has been an ongoing priority for Penn Live Arts. During Toll the Bell, PLA is teaming up with the Penn Libraries to use digital tools to facilitate conversation. In a collaborative session scheduled for early 2024, community stakeholders will gather over a projected map of the city, discussing their experiences with gun violence in their neighborhoods and tracing connections to resources like religious groups and anti-violence partners. The ultimate goal: a digital map that the public can view, interact with, and use to further their own conversations and insights.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to deepen the artistic work within Toll the Bell,” says Christopher Gruits, Executive and Artistic Director at PLA. “Paired with audience engagement opportunities, this season will elevate important and relevant issues for our community.”
Read more about Toll the Bell in this recent blog post by Christopher Gruits.
Header photo by JHsu Media.
