Holy Activism

For many decades the Church of the Advocate, located in North Philadelphia, has served as both a source of spiritual enlightenment as well as a catalyst for social activism. In the '60s the church provided staunch support of the civil rights movement, including the hosting of a Black Panther convention, and in later years it was the site of the first ordination of Episcopalian female priests. In 1964, members of this congregation held demonstrations calling for the integration of Girard College. These and other incidents of community engagement are brought to light in a multimedia performance titled North Called Home which presents a series of vignettes based on interviews of congregants along with text from Other Sheep I Have, the autobiography of Father Paul M. Washington, who led the church flock through its most memorable events.

This engaging collaboration combines the talents of professional artists, neighborhood teens and church elders for a multimedia extravaganza featuring dance, poetry, visual art, music and video: Spoken wordsmith Trapeta Mayson narrates as the teens play out scenes of historic activism. The site-specific work winds through a glorious gothic structure, while video projections appear on walls to add an intriguing architectural element.

North Called Home, Fri.-Sat., May 3-4, 7 p.m., $5, 18 and under free, presented by Art Sanctuary at the Church of the Advocate, 18th and W. Diamond sts. 215-232-4485.

—Deni Kasrel

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