Critical Confabulation
A critical Confabulation is a tool, and a method to evaluate stories from the past. Historic East Towson is the center of the landscape of this art happening.
A critical Confabulation is a tool, and a method to evaluate stories from the past.
Critical: 1 exercising or involving careful judgment or judicious evaluation critical thinking 2 including variant readings and scholarly emendations a critical edition of, relating to, or being a turning point or specially important juncture a critical phase 3 Indispensable, vital
Confabulation: 1 to talk informally: CHAT 2 to hold a discussion: CONFER 3 to fill in gaps in memory by fabrication
Source - Merriam Webster
The term critical confabulation, coined by the theorist Saidiyah Hartman has evolved to consider the space of possibility that exists in the gaps of historical narratives. The silences in the space in between are the ones that create the space for the griots, the time-traveling, and the imagination of understanding the past to make sense of the present and inform the future.
Life's Impact is the Canvas
Critical Confabulations is a mixed media art event that will circle around the questions that consider how the past impacts the present. Musicians, dancers, visual artists, theater artists, video artists, and mixed media artists will be asked to respond to a series of questions including but not limited to: How can we remember the stories that are intentionally ignored? How do we reconcile a toxic past to build a more healthy future?
Historic East Towson is the center of the landscape of this art happening.
With this center point, we will create a moment, a happening, an evening of art to remember outside of the mistakes and errors of the construction of the story of the past in the region.
This local story is connected to the global story. From imminent domain to settler colonialism, the ways that power takes control of land and dominates the story of that land is part of the ongoing project that started with the construction of time zones in the 18th century.
Memories of Black and Indigenous peoples are often bulldozed over, erased, and intentionally ignored. While historical memories of people in power remain intact and unscathed.
May 14th will be an evening where stories of historic east Towson will be told through creative interpretations. From music to theater, to video projects, artists of many media will develop a creative space that honors and uplifts the African American community in the blocks that are often overlooked.
Our First Collaboration with Towson University's CoLab
TU's CoLab investigates invisible architecture, places and spaces missing on the landscapes of Towson's history. Our first evening of art and conversation was a great success. This is a multi-year project. Stay tuned for CoLab 2023!
