Holly Bass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Holly Bass
|
|
|---|---|
Bass in 2017
|
|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Writer, artist, journalist |
Holly Bass is an amazing American artist, writer, and journalist. She lives and works in Washington, D.C.. She is known for her creative performances and writings that make people think.
Contents
Learning and Education
Holly Bass studied modern dance with a famous dancer named Viola Farber. She also learned creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College. She even gave a speech when she graduated in 1993! Later, in 1994, she earned a Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Her Creative Work
Holly Bass creates performances that combine movement and spoken words. Her art often explores how we see things and how art itself is valued. She has performed her unique pieces all over the United States and in other countries too.
Writing and Journalism
Holly is a fellow at the Cave Canem Foundation, which supports Black poets. Her poems, essays, and articles have been published in many places. You might have seen her work in the Wall Street Journal or The Washington Post. In 1999, she was the first person to use the phrase “Hip-Hop Theater” in print. This term describes a type of theater that uses elements of hip-hop culture.
Art Installations
One of her interesting artworks is an installation called Black Space. It was shown at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C. This artwork featured a small house placed on an outline of the city. It made people think about the tiny house movement and housing challenges in D.C.
Dance and Performance Pieces
In 2005, Holly wrote and performed a solo dance piece called Diary of a Baby Diva. This show was about growing up in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Washington Post newspaper said she had a "wicked sense of humor" and was also an "eloquent poet."
Holly Bass was recognized as the Best Performance Artist of 2012 by the Washington City Paper.
In 2018, she created and performed The Trans-Atlantic Time Traveling Company. This piece tells the story of three women who travel through time. They go from the present day back to the 1860s, a time when many enslaved people became free. The show explores what it truly means to be free.
More recently, in 2020, Holly wrote and performed Moneymaker at New York Live Arts in New York City. This performance mixes political ideas with a celebration of social dance. Moneymaker looks at the history of Black artistry and also explores how Black women have been seen and treated throughout history.
Her work American Woman was a special long-lasting performance and digital video with sound. It was chosen for the 2022 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition at the National Portrait Gallery.
