A guardrail “barrier” located between the towns of Brentwood and North Brentwood geographically divides the community, separating the demographics of people - one side historically Caucasian and the other historically African American. Erected by the town of Brentwood around 1957, the guardrail still stands today.
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THE BARRIER PROJECT by Orange Grove Dance is a part of the Mapping Racism Project. Months of field work and conversations with residents of the historic neighborhood of North Brentwood, Maryland, led THE BARRIER PROJECT to become a multi-location site-specific dance and design performance that traversed audiences through the town in May of 2019. The work started with a sound and projection design installation at the historic Sis's Tavern and then traversed the streets of North Brentwood to the guardrail barrier still standing between the two towns. The performance used wireless headsets, giving audiences an intimate glimpse of the community voices and natural sounds that make up the historic neighborhood and site.
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Premiere
2019, North Brentwood
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Direction & Choreography
Colette Krogol and Matt Reeves
in collaboration with performers
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Performers
Juliana Pongutá Forero
Colette Krogol
Chris Law
Shanice Mason
Matt Reeves
Nicole Sneed
Stage Manager
Tori Ujczo
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Projection & Sound Design
Matt Reeves
Voices of the North Brentwood Community
Mr. Arthur J. Dock
Stuart Eisenberg
Una Palmer
Mayor Petrella Robinson
Denise Thomas
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**Alongside voices from a 1994 interview with North Brentwood residents graciously shared by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Thanks to Chris Law and Ama Law for their vital role within the creation of this work. Through important conversations and a dedication to this project they helped bring this work to life.
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Special Thanks
Joe’s Movement Emporium, Brooke Kidd, Neena Narayanan, Andre Mazelin, Mayor Petrella Robinson, Stuart Eisenberg, PGAAMCC, Jake Rollow, Ryan Craun, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and Gustavo
Collaboration
A partnership between Hyattsville Community Development Corporation and Joe’s Movement Emporium
Community Collaborators:
Cities of Hyattsville & North Brentwood Prince George’s African-American Musuem & Cultural Center Pyramid Atlantic
Support for Mapping Racism comes from:
MID-ATLANTIC ARTS FOUNDATION: Cross-Sector Arts Grant City of Hyattsville
Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Council
Prince George’s County Council Member, Deni Taveras
Long & Foster Real Estate Broker, Ann Barrett