 Ntozake ShangeImage by Evan Agostino/AP Photo |  correspondence with Ntozake ShangeCourtesy of the Barnard Archives and Special Collections |  Indigoimage by Michael G. McKinne |  Florida Water |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mama Anna Veitmaternal grandmother of Timothy Prolific Edwaujonte |  Orangesimage by Alice Pasqual |  A CelebrationHow To Sit by Thich Nhat Hanh, p.29 |  Lucille Jenkins Rumphmaternal great grandmother of Brittany Grier |
 Toni Cade Bambara |  Efeya SampsonOur friend, sister, and creative comrade. image by Tracie Williams |  Candles |  Ruth Mondol Pérez Fernándezgreat grandmother of Angelica Mondol Viana |
 Rose E. Mosleygreat aunt of Sydnie L. Mosley |  Lavender Fields |  Pearl Primus |  honeyImage by Arwin Neil Baichoo |
 Sitting With Our Spiritual AncestorsHow To Sit by Thich Nhat Hanh, p.93 |  Octavia ButlerImage by Patti Perret |  a card from daughter Savannah to Ntozake ShangeCourtesy of the Barnard Archives and Special Collections |  red dirtImage by Clay Banks |
 Pancrazia "Blanche" Campograndmother of Joan Bradford |  White Lillies |  Diana MarantadisResident of Amsterdam Houses Community Image by Jules Slutsky |  amethystImage by Gabby Conde |
 Lola Wylliematernal great grandmother of Sydnie L. Mosley |  Glasses of Waterimage by Jana Sabeth |  Audre Lorde |  Cinnamon Sticks |
 Thomas Edgaruncle of Bianca Paige Smith |  African VioletsImage by Leticia Almeida |  Blondell Cummings |  Birds of Paradiseimage by David Brooke Martin |
 Zora Neale HurstonImage by World Telegram Staff Photographer |  Rosemaryimage by Julian Hochgesang |  Antonio C. Lloretmaternal grandfather of Lorena Jaramillo and the family dog |  pomegranateImage by Sahand Babali |
 The Stars OverheadHow To Sit by Thich Nhat Hanh, p.80 |  Isabel EspinalResident of the Amsterdam Houses Community Image by Jules Slutsky |  eucalyptusImage by Alex Loup |  Maria M. PerezResident of Amsterdam Houses. image by Jules Slutsky |
 Ntozake Shange journals on gratitudeCourtesy of the Barnard Archives and Special Collections |  Sophie LeeJessica Lee's Nana. image by Maegan Lee |  Aissata KadriHalima Mossi's grandmother |  sageImage by Paulina H. |
 persimmonsImage by Gabriella Clare Marino |  Ethel EnnisImage by Gilles Petard / REDFERNS /GETTY |  bell hooks |
Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God.
Thank you for bringing my sister...
Alice Walker
The Color Purple
PURPLE is a multi-project universe that illuminates the power of “deep sisterhood for social change” through storytelling and movement. This sisterhood is how we thrive: we invest in one another, we honor and celebrate each other's brilliance, and we hold ourselves accountable to experiencing radical joy.
EXPLORE Our Altar
Each galaxy in the PURPLE Universe is anchored by a community created altar honoring family, artistic, and community ancestors who make our work possible and hold us accountable. Our altar practice for this work developed in creative collaboration with Dyane Harvey.
Return to the altar again and again, as desired.
Who is an ancestor that holds you accountable?
SEE Our PURPLE film series
LISTEN To Our Podcast
This podcast is a narrative non-fiction series which follows our unique creative process and the creation of the world premiere of PURPLE: A Ritual In Nine Spells.
We invite you to listen to this offering as a way to care for yourself today. Find a comfortable seat, grab a cup of something warm and delicious, inhale, exhale, and enjoy.
What does it mean to give yourself permission?
you have to come with me
to this place where magic is
Ntozake Shange
Spell #7
Each SLMDances Creative Partner created handmade zines for loved ones and elders in our community. Photos below feature pages from each of us generating a collective zine for the digital space.
DISCOVER Our Zines
The zine pages are filled with invitations:
a recipe to prepare, poems to indulge, affirmations to articulate.
Click to see each page.
How are you caring for your community?
SHARE Your Reflections
PURPLE is based in archives and stars, bodies and stories. We embody sankofa as we literally and figuratively honor and adorn our backspace while we craft our way forward into the cosmos.
Practice imagining with us: What is your vision for a radically joyful future?
What is your #PURPLEvision?
MAY THE SPIRITS BLESS YOU
Ntozake Shange
Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo
Spotlight in PURPLE is made possible with support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Humanities in Place, The Map Fund, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Hi-ARTS, Barnard Center For Research on Women, and made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with City Council and administered by LMCC. LMCC serves, connects, and makes space for artists and community.
