An Interview with Michaela Pilar Brown

By Jonathan Thomas

Jonathan Thomas: You’re one of the Creative Leaders on the Two Cities project and I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about the endeavor? What is Two Cities?

Michael Pilar Brown: Two Cities is an opportunity to use the power of art to examine the dichotomies around race, economics and geography that define and instruct how the citizens of Columbia live together.  In spite of changing demographics, Columbia is often viewed as a Black and white city.  Historically race relations have determined where and how its citizens lived, and what opportunities and resources they could access.  This project and the participating fellows are asking hard questions about these structures through projects informed by community input with the goal of increasing dialogue, and celebrating the past, present and future of the North Main community.

JT: What does the particular title for this project, “Two Cities,” mean to you? What does it call to mind when you consider the city of Columbia in particular?

MPB: Two Cities is a direct reference to the racial division in Columbia often defined on the binary of Black and white.  How do white and Black communities participate in culture, access city and community resources?  How are they different?  Is there equity?

JT: What are some of the specific questions you are asking or researching as a creative leader and as one of the participants?

MPB: What are the specific stories that define and shape the existing North Main Community.  What are the desires of the community?  How is the community changing?  Who was, who is and who will be a part of defining this community?  Are improvements to community infrastructure available to all residents?  What are the dividing lines and who draws them?  How do we protect and celebrate existing culture while making room for the new?

JT: What are some of the questions other artist-fellows are asking? Are there other critical urban-social issues that are being explored in this context?

MPB: You can find among the fellows’ projects questions regarding food security, history and who controls the historical narrative, the power of shared language.  Afro-futurism and the need for optimistic projections of Black Americans.  One project will examine corporate sponsorship of community-based activities.  Others will offer nuanced critiques of existing power structures and how they carve and shape community development.