User:Sharonbae/sandbox

The seed of Rasu Jilani's social consciousness began in the late 80s. In 1989, Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power” video in response to Spike Lee’s film “Do The Right Thing,” in the midst of the rising racial tension in NYC due to the death of Yusef Hawkins, has had a profound effect on the way he sees art and its impact on communities. Yusef Hawkins could have been him; he was only a few years older than him, and it was the first time it sank in that he could be a victim of police brutality or a racial crime. This sparked a consciousness of empathy for someone he had not already known, which is the notion of seeing yourself in someone else’s struggle. It was the first time that he can recall seeing socially engaged artists rally a community, redirecting the energy to honor the heroes, collective celebration and created an artistic product as a result{{Cite web|url=http://www.culturebot.org/2015/09/24597/open-spectrum-community-dialogues-faces-of-resistance-young-organized-unified-foryou/|title=OPEN SPECTRUM COMMUNITY DIALOGUES|last=Admin|first=|date=25 Sep 2015|website=Culturebot|publisher=|access-date=30 Mar 2016}}. In addition, Hip Hop moment in his pre-teen years has influenced his approach to including communities as a critical piece to his practice as a community organizer and art producer. In 2008 when his first business, Coup d’etat Brooklyn, was conceived, the stoop at his former home on Hancock Street in Bedstuy is the place where his activism was realized, where stories from the neighborhood were shared, and the sense of community was reinforced.{{Cite web|url=http://laundromatproject.org/meet-rasu-jilani/|title=Meet Rasu Jilani|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=The Laundromat Project|access-date=30 March 2016}}

Rasu Jilani is an art curator and develops professional programs in the community. The goal of his work is to increase the calibration between artists, the local community, and the public to bring more awareness around social issues that are taking place.{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/6256453|title=Rasu Jilani, Owner + Creator of Coup d'etat Brooklyn :: 120 Seconds|website=Vimeo|access-date=2016-04-02}} He accomplishes this through art exhibitions, volunteering in the community, developing local community programs and cultural events.{{Cite web|url=http://laundromatproject.org/meet-rasu-jilani/|title=Meet Rasu Jilani {{!}} The Laundromat Project|website=laundromatproject.org|access-date=2016-03-27}}

Jilani has worked with over 125 artists to curate, design and manage artistic and community events that address social concerns and local issues.{{Cite web|url=http://brooklynmuseum.tumblr.com/post/100081517259/this-weekend-the-brooklyn-museum-is-joining|title=Brooklyn Museum|website=Brooklyn Museum|access-date=2016-04-02}} He spent two years as a member at Culture and Sustainability at the Pratt Center for Community Development. This is where he oversaw art and cultural programs that connected New York City communities with Pratt Center's community and environmental sustainability projects. Jilani also served two years as [http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/research/casva/fellowships.html Senior Fellow of the Arts].{{Cite web|url=http://rasujilani.com/Bio|title=Bio and Projects|website=rasujilani.com|access-date=2016-03-27}}

Jilani is co-founder of [http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2008/11/nyc-the-coup-detat-art-collective-exhibition-111408/ Coup d'etat Arts] which is a platform for creative expression and changes cultural boundaries. He organized the [http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2008/11/nyc-the-coup-detat-art-collective-exhibition-111408/ Coup d'etat Art Collective in 2008], which is a Brooklyn-based collaboration of between artists to create art-related events and activities around New York City. The Coup d’etat Art Collective provides a unique platform for creative synergy while filling an undeniable void in the arts and culture community. These events include Afropunk Festival, [http://www.beatbrooklyn.com BEAT Festival], Long Island University, Pratt Institute, Columbia University, The New School, [http://www.mightytanaka.com Mighty Tanaka Gallery], and the [http://www.restorationplaza.org/arts-and-culture/skylight-gallery Skylight Gallery].

Jilani worked for [http://mappinternational.org MAPP International Productions] in April 2013 as Director of Community Programs. His most recent work at [http://mappinternational.org MAPP] includes [http://www.sekousundiata.org/mapp/web/ Blink Your Eyes: Sekou Sundiata Revisited], [http://www.bettysdaughterarts.com/gallery/triple-consciousness-black-feminisms-in-the-time-of-now/ Triple Consciousness: Black Feminism(s) in the Time of Now], [http://www.eventbrite.com/e/days-of-art-and-ideas-wedapeoples-cabaret-tickets-12833069055 Days of Art and Ideas], and artists led workshops. Prior to joining [http://mappinternational.org MAPP], he served a two-year tenure as [http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/research/casva/fellowships.html Senior Fellow of Arts], Culture and Sustainability at the Pratt Center for Community Development. While at Pratt, projects included [http://artseastny.tumblr.com/post/26433735632/arts-east-new-york-summer-saturdaze Arts East New York’s Summer Saturdaze at East New York Farms], [http://www.prattcenter.net/research/retrofit-bedford-stuyvesant-block-block-2009-2010-summary-report Bedford Stuyvesant’s Retrofit Block-by-Block], [http://www.restorationplaza.org/arts-and-culture/youth-arts-academy Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation’s Restoration Rocks and Youth Arts Education], [http://www.brooklyncommunityfoundation.org/news/events/greening-ground-sustainability-leadership-conference Brooklyn Greens Sustainability Leadership Conference], [http://prattcenter.net/research/cypress-hills-verde-summit-major-themes-report Cypress Hill Verde Summit], and the [http://www.restorationplaza.org/calendar/amplifyactionexhibition2012 “Amplify Action: Sustainability Through The Arts” exhibition].{{Cite web|url=http://www.bkreader.com/2015/09/35334/|title=Griots in the Stuy|last=Reader|first=Brooklyn|website=The Brooklyn Reader|access-date=2016-04-02}}

Jilani is also recognized as one of the resident artists for The Laundromat Project and he was chosen because of the project "[http://www.bkreader.com/2015/09/35334/ Griots in the Stuy]". The project is consisted of the photos are of residents who live in and around Tompkins Avenue. He has set out to collect, share and then archive the personal stories of Bed-Stuy–a parallel narrative around gentrification–using Tompkins Avenue as the spine and its residents as “griots.” A griot is a West African word for a historian or storyteller. Griots are a repository of oral tradition and are often seen as a societal leader due to his or her traditional position as an adviser to royal personages. Rasu Jilani became an Artist-in Residence for the [http://laundromatproject.org/who-we-are/about/ Laundromat Project] on May 6, 2015. The mission behind the [http://laundromatproject.org/who-we-are/about/ Laundromat Project] is to heighten the creativity that already exists within local communities by utilizing art and culture. The result will be strengthened networks within the community, it will solve problems, and enhance the sense of ownership the community has to the place where they live, work, and grow. They strive to have artists be understood and recognized as an asset in every community. Everyday people need to know the power of their own creative power to transform their lives, strengthen their relationships, and improve their surroundings.

• [http://www.brooklyncommunityfoundation.org/programs-impact/special-initiatives/brooklyn-greens Brooklyn Greens] Sustainability Leadership Conference: “Greening from the Ground Up!”, 2012
• [http://prattcenter.net/research/cypress-hills-verde-summit-major-themes-report Cypress Hills Verde Summit] – Youth Arts Workshop, Fall 2011
• Restoration Rocks, 2011 – “Live Healthy, Live Green, Live Well”
• [http://www.restorationplaza.org Bed-Stuy Restoration] – Youth Arts Program, Summer 2011
• Cypress Hills Energy Block Party, Summer 2011
• Coup d’etat Artshow – “Live to change something Through Art”, Fall 2009
• Afropunk Festival, Art Production, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012

• [http://www.restorationplaza.org/arts-and-culture/skylight-gallery Skylight Gallery], Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
• Long Island University, [http://www2.brooklyn.liu.edu/depts/art/pages/salena_gallery.htm Salena Gallery], Flatbush Campus
• [http://savrc.tumblr.com SlyArt & Robot City]
• Brooklyn Academy of Music

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuxI3VKAAVA Create Change spotlight, Rasu Jilani] on YouTube
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmmEgJ8-vhk Rasu Jilani, Owner + Creator Coup d'etat BK :: 120 Seconds] on YouTube

{{Reflist}}