Brooklyn-based artist Modesto Flako Jimenez is bringing his acclaimed show, Taxilandia, to cities across America. In Washington, DC, Flako will design and host a series of hybrid salons with local artists Melani Douglass, John Johnson, and Jason Anderson (JaySun), whose work intersects with gentrification. In-person and streamed live, these participatory salons are open to all and explore our notion of what it means to be a local, an immigrant, or a resident of a place. The salons will challenge us to answer “What is my personal roadmap of home?” and offer creative strategies for confronting gentrification.
Anacostia Salon Team
Mēlani N. Douglass - Local Salon Artist
Jason Anderson (Jay Sun) - Local Artist
Healer, conceptual artist and curator Mēlani N. Douglass is the founder of the awardwinning Family Arts Museum—a migratory institution focused on the celebration of family as fine art, home as curated space, and community as gallery. Inspired by the birth of her daughter, Mēlani started her own museum, reimagined her studio practice, and refined her innovative approach to community engagement, audience development, and exhibition design.
Mēlani’s art and life practice is rooted in rituals of healing informed by mitochondrial memories, ancestral technology, the web of interdependency, and communal connections. Sought out for her unique approach to community engagement, she works with museums, businesses, and other cultural institutions to redefine audience development using her Transformative Engagement Method to create symbiotic relationships between institutions and the public that move from inspiration to engagement and then action.
Mēlani was recently named East of the River Artist in Residence serving Ward 8 with a focus on Anacostia. She is currently the director of public programs at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Her work has been highlighted by the New York Times, Atlas Obscura, Shondaland, Bmore Art, American Museum Alliance Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, Artnet, and National Geographic.
John Johnson - Local Artist
John A. Johnson is a Native Washingtonian and is the 2022 Artist in Residence at the Honfleur Art Gallery in Washington DC. He is the founder and creator of Verbal Gymnastics Theater Company and also moonlights as a Poet/Playwright. Mr. Johnson holds a B.A. in theater form the University of the District of Columbia and uses his background in theater to create a unique interactive experience when writing and performing. Mr. Johnson has worked as a drama therapist with a partnership with the Districts Youth Services Center. Some of Mr. Johnson's early career accolades include being a published author of a book of poetry called Love for Her. He has written and produced six plays that reflect and celebrate the culture of his native city Washington DC. He has also been a three-time Artist Fellow of the DC Arts Commission.
Other honors include participation in Sounds of the Underground DC HIP HOP Theatre festival one act plays. His most recent contribution is to a radio project at American University WAMU 88.5 in conjunction with the Association of Independent Radio called Anacostia Unmapped which captures the narratives of local residents in rapidly changing communities East of the River in Washington D.C. Mr. Johnson has been recently exploring an innovative form of theatre/storytelling called Playback Theatre which he performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, where he used his experience in theater to explore the emotional impact of September 11 with improvisational storytelling. Playback Theatre is now giving area-wide performances to a wide variety of audiences helping foster meaningful discussions about race, generational disparities, and economic challenges that come with development in Washington, DC with residents that live in the predominately African American neighborhoods.
Jay Sun is a multi-dimensional artist. Born and raised in Washington DC’s Anacostia region, he has been a community leader in arts, sports and politics. After graduating from the University of the District of Columbia in 2000, he worked as a writer and producer for Black Entertainment Television. He is a recipient of an NAACP Image award for his work on Teen Summit and was featured on ABC Nightline with Dan Rather for his work on Cita’s World.
In 2003, Jay returned to DC to start his own production company and to help build his community in Anacostia. Since then, he has completed films, stage plays, workshops and albums that have greatly contributed to the culture of Washington DC.
Jay has been an advocate for youth development and alternate education, partnering with organizations such as The Southeast White House, DC Dream Center, Global Kids, Shaw Community Center and several other youth based non-profit organizations for over 20 years. Eventually partnering with members of his own community to form their own non-profit, Cedar United, Inc.
One of Jay’s proudest accomplishments is coordinating an after-school program at Anacostia High School and also coaching varsity football and basketball.
In 2006 and 2010, Jay Sun campaigned for mayor of Washington DC to highlight the political contradictions his community faces and to heighten awareness about local electoral politics.
Jay has had several artist residencies with John Hopkins University, Sibley Hospital, Washington Performing Arts and Honfleur Gallery.
His mission is to heal the world through art
In Collaboration with:
Phase 1: Salon Conversations
With Guest Artists
We design and co-host a series of salons, each with local artists whose work intersects with gentrification.
There is a $10 general admission cost ($5 for seniors and teens) to join a salon, and it requires a brief amount of pre-work to document your neighborhood. The presentation is a co-production of Valley Place Arts Arts Collaborative and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
Estimated run time: 120 minutes. Light snacks and beverages will be available.
Event Dates:
Friday, February 28, 2024
Time: Doors open at 6:30pm
Location: Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D Street, NW, Washington DC 20004
Join local artist Mēlani Douglass as they share photos and explore their Anacostia neighborhood.
Saturday, March 1, 2024
Time: Doors open at 6:30pm
Location: Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Marion Barry Avenue, SE, Washington DC 20020
Join local artist John Johnson as they share photos and explore their Anacostia neighborhood.
Sunday, March 2, 2024
Time: Doors open at 3:00pm
Location: 1357 Maple View Avenue, SE, Washington DC 20020
Join local artist JaySun as they share photos and explore their Anacostia neighborhood.