Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly
conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on
one oh six point seven light FM.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thanks for listening to get connected for the next few
minutes talking about Uptown Voices and Uptown Story, a multimedia
exhibition and development that will document Harlem's history through intimate,
large format portraits and oral histories of residents who have
lived in the community for thirty years or more. The
project has just launched an open call for nominations, inviting
(00:33):
New Yorkers to put forward family, friends, or neighbors whose
Harlem stories should be preserved. And our guests are the
siblings behind the project, photographer and creator Will Pierce and
curator of Uptown Voices, Joyus Pierce, Joyous and Will thank
you for being on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Thanks for having me, Thanks for having us. Happy to
be here.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
You can find out more about the exhibit about the
entry at will Pierce dot com with one l Wilpierce
dot com. So Uptown Voice is and Uptown Story. Maybe
let's just start with the genesis of the project. Where
did the idea come from?
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Well, this has been an idea kicking around in my
head for quite a while now. I've lived in Harlem
for the last twenty years and my father's from Parlem,
and the idea came pretty much from my neighbors on
the block. You know, there is a group of older
people who have, through the years of me living there,
(01:32):
have given me wisdom and nuggets of information. And I
thought it would be amazing to photograph these people first,
because that's where my mind went to first. But then
it's it went towards well, I think the story is
a little bit richer if I get more of that
wisdom they shared with me and the history of Harlem
they shared with me when I first moved in and
(01:55):
record that and have it for not just myself but forever.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
So you've just launched an open call for Harlem residents.
And so many projects that want to document a specific
time or a place, I think they always focus on
famous names or recognizable names. Why are you doing an
open call just talking to average folks?
Speaker 4 (02:18):
Well, I feel like because the people that we're looking
for are have their own stories to tell, and they've
helped shape Harlem to be what it is today. And
you know it's not the unsung hero, but like these
people the stories get lost in time, and this is
what enriches Haarlem as we know it's you know, every
(02:41):
day man, every day woman that I know. It's about community,
it's about neighborhood, and it's about cultural history. And I
think it's important to highlight everyone, not just you know,
recognizable names or faces, but everyone because Harlem is a
community and it's very much of the people that we're
(03:02):
looking for to get to speak to us about the community,
about their history, about the places they like to go.
And for me, that's interesting and a richer story.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
So will be taking the photographs. I joyous. Perhaps are
you doing the interviews?
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Yeah, we actually tag teamate together that like brother sister
connection bond kicks in and the it's kind.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Of like a little bit of a relay race. I
would say it's really great.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
So when you think about interviewing, interviewing is really it's
one thing when it's an interview like this. It's another
thing when you're trying to speak with somebody who has
never been interviewed and you're asking about history. What kind
of questions are you thinking about asking and what are
you especially curious to know?
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Well, the goal is to get as flushed out of
a perspective of Harlem from that person's individual experience. So
the questions that we're asking are relatively into like we're
trying to push past the surface level, right. I can
give you an example, like in some of the interviews
(04:06):
that we've had, we get pretty deep into people's like
first loves and relationships and you know where they went on.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Their first dates.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
Or I think Will's also an incredible DJ, so he's asked,
like what songs we're playing, and you know what were
some of like the disco halls or like gathering spaces.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
And the idea is to really like.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Walk down memory lane with people to the point where
you can almost see the memory right that they're describing.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
So we're really digging.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
Pretty deep into the intimate lives of folks in Harlem.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Our guests are Will Pierce and Joyous Pierce. They're the
siblings behind Uptown Voices and Uptown Story and exhibition and
development that will document Harlem's history through residents who have
lived in the community for thirty years or more. There's
an open call to submit people who have lived in
Harlem thirty years or more, family friends, neighb whose story
should be preserved. You can find out how to submit,
(05:03):
where to submit at Willpierce dot com, w I L
p I E r CE dot com, Anina del Rio.
You listening to get connected on one O six point
seven light FM. And just a couple of nuts and
bolts before we go back to what you were talking about, Joys.
What's the deadline to submit? When is the exhibit? That
(05:24):
sort of thing.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
So this is a rolling open call. We really do
want to create an extensive archive for people to be
able to access. So we have an intake form that's
on Will's website.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Three questions.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
It'll take you lesson two minutes to fill out, and
you'll hear directly from us where a small team will
reach out and schedule a time. So we'll be accepting
stories pretty much indefinitely.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
And just to be clear, there's no cost to anybody
who wants to participate.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Not at all.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
We actually would love to break red with folks and
we provide lunch and dinner if it runs over.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
And by the way, how are you being funded?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Thanks to the support of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone
and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council through their Creative Engagement
Scrant We got a lovely you know funding support from them,
but we're also running a Kickstarter and go Fundy as well,
which is featured on both websites. We would love if
(06:24):
people could support that way as well.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
What is it like to work together on this project?
Is siblings? And why did you want to take this
on together? Joyce and Willer brother and sister. Well, I'll
let you go first.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Well, I mean I was one first time to go first. No,
just plain, But I love my sister and I like
her like, you know, it's even if we weren't family,
I would still hang out. Like she's a wonderful person.
And I think we've watched each other like grow in
(06:58):
our respective artistic corners and have you know, great admiration.
It's not just because she's my sister. She's also like
really good at what she does. And we've kicked around
other creative projects, we've helped each other and other creative endeavors,
and I think it was just like a natural progression
for us to do this together. Also, our father is
(07:21):
from Harlem, and he was one of the first people
that we kind of used and photographed and recorded for
this story. So there is like a family history that's
been rooted in Harlem as well. Our grandmother lived in Harlem,
and so it only makes sense to work together, and
(07:42):
it just feels like very natural and very easy.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
I can't help that it's been a real honor to
work with my brother. He said that we you know,
worked on other projects together, but as a curator culture
producer who's not like nonprofit arts administrative career started in Harlem.
Will was right around the corner from my office. So
anytime I needed anything for a program or for you know,
(08:09):
artist community service programming, he was there. So this is
really like the opportunity that I feel like I get
to give back to him in a way that he
supported my career and my visions and like my goals,
but also like he's a brilliant photographer. So I feel
doubly blessed because it's just great to see him continue
to step into his purpose. And it's so lovely that
(08:34):
this iteration, this like solo show that's going to be
essentially his first solo show, is one where he's looking
to highlight the stories of our community. And I think
that speaks so much to his heart, to his eye,
his creative practice, and like I'm happy to be a
part of that and to like help weave all the
stories together. So yeah, it's amazing to work together.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
It's it's really dope.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
I want to circle back to a couple of things
you each said. So you mentioned your father. What did
you since he was the first person in the project
that you spoke with and photographed, what did you take
away or learn sort of that you can apply to
the next interviews and the next people for this project.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Well, it was really just getting to know my father
on a different level, like really digging into his childhood
and his stories about Haarlem, and like, through that, I
could see that, you know, this is someone who I've
known my whole life, and I can get new information,
new insights knowing about him, but about myself and where
(09:35):
you know, my sister and I came from. And this
is somebody you know that I've known my whole life.
So with that model, going into people who I don't know,
I felt like it gave a comfortability to speak with
you know, in the beginning of our sessions strangers and
then kind of and then towards the end of our sessions,
you know, we're hugging and sharing recipes, so it's like,
(09:59):
you know, starting I that was was you know, really
powerful because he's the one who puts first put a
camera in my hand at a younger age. So it's
really you know important that we started with him and
we're able to continue on with that. So he kind
of like helped helped get out some of our jitters
and kind of set up the framework for you know,
(10:22):
each guest that comes after him.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
This is also a sense of a love letter to Harlem,
and Harlem has a history of legendary photographers for people
who aren't aware. I wonder if you could, just if
you want to name a couple of notable photographers, people
worth looking into because you're going to continue on that chain.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Yeah. Absolutely, James vander Zyu, the Smith Brothers, you know,
Gordon Parks, all of these people have photographed and so
many more. I look like, I feel like rather that
we are adding to this legacy and this rich, rich
tapestry that is Horror and the continuing coverage of how
(11:04):
it's changed and how it's like shaping the future.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Joys for the last minute or two, just again, what
do you hope someone listening does next? How can they contribute?
What should they try and reach out and do absolutely so.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
I think one of the really compelling elements of this
project so far has been kind of the web of
connectivity between people and their like intimate relationships that's been created.
And it's we're not expecting folks to self nominate or
to nominate someone else, but most of the people that
we've been able to interview have been nominated by their
(11:41):
loved one or like a family member or like a
really close friend. So in thinking of like creating community
ties and fostering a sense of community and really like
sharing gratitude between one another, if you have somebody that
you care about in your life that you feel like
you'd love to give the spotlight, like to share, to
deep dive and to like recollect, please nominate somebody, Right,
(12:04):
It's really a nice surprise for folks when they see
that they've been nominated. They get a call from us,
like we're inviting you into this studio pretty much like
Pamphrey for the whole day and just want to spend
time with you and talk your ear off essentially, So personally,
I love when folks nominate other people, but also like,
please feel free to nominate yourself as well. We're looking
(12:27):
for folks, particularly who have lived in Harlem for twenty
five plus years. So we've had some lovely individuals who
have been nominated who've lived in the community for like
forty fifty, sixty plus years, and it's really amazing to
see the differences in you know, what the landscape of
the community, how it's changed over time essentially, but also
(12:50):
like where the intersections are. Right, So if you've lived,
for you know, in Harlem for twenty five years, that's fine.
If you lived forty years, fifty years, like, please feel
free to join the conversation and share your story with us.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
And since you mentioned twenty five years, if you're thirty
years old, is that someone you know you're you're thinking
about as well?
Speaker 5 (13:12):
Absolutely? Absolutely yes. I've had some of my friends that
have applied. I'm thirty two, not to give my age,
but I think that's the intergenerational intersection that we're looking for.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Right. A huge part of this is oral history.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
Will is going to be capturing theseing, amazing images that
I think are also going to like speak the stories that.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
We're going to be receiving from folks.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
And part of oral history is its intergenerational aspect is
that you're passing down like orally, verbally with sound, the
lives of one another.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Right, And that can.
Speaker 5 (13:49):
Only happen if you have that intergenerational connection, right, So
thirty years having a conversation with somebody who's been in
the community forty years, right, only a ten year difference,
so much changes. So absolutely, yeah, we would love to
have people from all generations to participate.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
You can find out more about the exhibit at Will
Pierce dot com w I L p I e r
ce dot com. Our guests are the siblings behind the
project Uptown Voices and Uptown Story, Will Pierce and joy
Us Pierce. Thank you for being on Get Connected.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
This was great.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
This has been Get Connected with Nina del Rio on
one oh six point seven light Fm. The views and
opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views
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