This summer, Exposed, a local organization “designed to create events which allow artists to present and perform their written work,” has been “On the Road.” Branching out from their usual digs at Soma in downtown Champaign, “On the Road” allows Exposed to cater to a wider audience, to facilitate greater community collaboration, and of course, continue their mission to enhance the performing arts in the area. The summer weather and a calmer Champaign-Urbana with the students gone don’t hurt either. Continuing to highlight “performances of Poetry, Spoken Word, Comedy, Visual Art, Film, and Live Music,” they were at the corner of Sixth and John on campus with the Champaign Center Partnership in June and showcased local artists at UrbanaLove in July.
Coming this weekend to the Art Theater in downtown Champaign, Exposed’s final “On the Road” event before returning to Soma, is designed with Champaign-Urbana’s youth in mind, and the causes that most directly influence and interest them. The Illumination Celebration, created, produced, and directed by area youth ages 14-21, was created in partnership with Spotlight, Build Programs Not Jails, 4-H Metro, and Undercut Collective. Each organization worked with students and played a role in the show’s production. Spotlight was created by a U of I student, Krya Mitchell, whose goal through the program is to reverse negative stereotypes in the media, in addition to providing mentorship and increasing youth self-esteem. Over the course of the summer Kyra worked with 10 students to produce short films that focus on a positive aspect of their lives.
Because the Illumination Celebration itself is the product of a multitude of people and organizations, it makes sense that the inspiration came from many places as well. For Amy Ali, the Founder and Creative Director of Exposed, the idea came from “We Day,” a concert for kids in Chicago put on by Chicago Public Schools and an organization that Ali collaborates with. In order to attend “We Day,” the youth earn attendance through community service hours, rather than purchasing a ticket. Another source of inspiration was Saskia Baker, Urbana High School student, founder of Undercut Collective. Looking to fill a need for live music events for people her age, Baker partnered with Lindsey Barr from Wicked Walls, to begin putting on events, this is the reason she was chosen as lead to help create this weekends celebration.
The Illumination Celebration, although similar to other Exposed events because of the structure and focus on the arts, differs in the youth focus and the emphasis of on social justice. Though Ali knew that Exposed would be working with 4-H during the course of the summer, the event soon turned into a collaboration with multiple groups and organizations. T.R.U.T.H, a local artist, came to Ali asking for assistance planning an event with Build Programs, Not Jails in order to increase local awareness of racial injustice in the area as well as provide alternatives to the proposal to build a 32 million dollar new jail facility. Build Programs, Not Jails, like Ali is passionate about using that money in more constructive, preventative ways through programs that assist in skill, experience, and confidence building. The Illumination Celebration allows just that, by giving the community a taste of what can happen when local organizations collaborate for a cause. In addition, the celebration gives the kids a voice as well by incorporating interviews of the youth by Swede Films, another partner, by using them on conjunction with live performances. The magnitude of the youth responses to questions regarding their experiences with and views of injustice are humbling, says Ali.
Comprised of youth from a variety of backgrounds, recruited by Exposed partners and Exposed itself, the Illumination Celebration is sure to be so much more than just a celebration.
“These young people are incredibly talented but many of them have never performed in front of an audience before. They are nervous but also very excited and grateful for the opportunity,” says Ali. While the show is bound to be “enlightening, inspiring, entertaining,” the real reason to go is for the kids. Each has become a part of creating something positive, exciting, something that is truly their own that they can be proud of. The Illumination Celebration is a great way for the youth to feel like they’re part of something, try something they’ve never done before, and empower them.
One of the biggest goals of the program is to breakdown negative stereotypes many of these kids face, especially youth of color, by creating pieces to express and portray themselves in a positive light. Further, the celebration can facilitate in the creation of a larger dialogue within Champaign-Urbana about race, racism, and injustice. Ali says she hopes for diversity among the attendees and that the show will open people’s eyes to a new perspective and fills them with hope and optimism.
The Illumination Celebration is this Sunday, August 30 from 7-9pm at the Art Theater in downtown Champaign. Tickets are $5 and go to cover the costs of producing the event. If you find yourself willing, but unable to attend the Illumination Celebration, you can still help the cause and support the youth by donating to cover the $1,500 cost of the event at this GoFundMe page.
The Illumination Celebration will no doubt be a success and definitely not a one-time thing.
“If this is what we were able to accomplish in two months, imagine what could happen in a year,” said Ali, speaking of her ambitions to expand the project to a year with an annual youth show.
To get a sneak peak of what you’ll be seeing on Sunday, checkout the Illumination Celebration’s promo video.
If you’re interested in volunteering with Exposed and becoming involved in their future events, reach out to Amy Ali at [email protected]. Amy and her team are always open to anyone as enthusiastic about enhancing and celebrating the arts in Champaign-Urbana as they are.