CITY OF BONES
CITY OF BONES / GEM OF THE CONFLUENCE
A mixtape and installation based on August Wilson’s play Gem of the Ocean and his Century Cycle of plays. Exploring Wilson’s artistic life through the rich history of Black music in Pittsburgh, the mixtape collages archival audio and play dialogue with the sounds of artists such as Mary Lou Williams, Ahmad Jamal, Romare Bearden, and more.
BACKGROUND & INSTALLATION
In the play Gem of the Ocean, set in Pittsburgh circa 1904, the elder Aunt Ester invites a troubled man named Citizen Barlow on a journey of self-redemption to the City of Bones. But before he can gain passage, Aunt Ester instructs him that he must first trek across the city to recover a handful of items.
Citizen Barlow’s hunt throughout the city sets the stage for a ritual that takes him to the metaphysical place of his ancestors’ memory.
The mixtape is installed at various locations across Pittsburgh, where individuals can listen to tracks via QR code and enter Pittsburgh’s rich history of Black music, art, and literature.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Malik Washington is a writer and artist. August Wilson Community Artist-Scholar Award. This project was completed with support from the August Wilson Archive Community Artist-Scholar Award at the University of Pittsburgh Library System