The Seasoned Woman
At the Carver Community Cultural Center just east of downtown off of Commerce, flocks of attendees filed through the doors in anticipation of the event to unfold. Excited chatter filled the high halls as guests found their seats, while others paused to capture selfies in the soft lighting and lush decor of the Carver’s performance space. Towering, gorgeous paintings depicting a variety of scenes and women–the night’s performers included–illuminated the stage on a massive screen. As the audience settled in, the house lights dimmed, and six instrumentalists took their places upon the stage. Moody, evocative, and rhythmically-engaging, the music was immediately arresting; but then the vocalists began.
What came next was a melodious and intimate portrait of two distinct, impactful voices, writ large. Stirring, sometimes bittersweet, but always captivating, The Seasoned Woman–a project commissioned by Art2Action, the Carver Community Cultural Center, and the National Performance Network–comprised deftly-reworked Jazz and Arab standards, played in tandem with the balletic vocals of Syrian singer Lubana Al Quntar and the soulful tones and poetry of San Antonio’s very own Andrea Sanderson. Pieces touched upon expressions of the physical and emotional; personal and universal explorations of womanhood, articulated by two masters of their craft.
“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my artistic career,” explained singer, rapper, and San Antonio Poet Laureate emeritus Sanderson–better known by her stage name, Vocab–of the intricate performances and moving pieces necessary to bring The Seasoned Woman to fruition. “I’m learning to trust myself more as an artist.” Involving beautiful and dynamic visuals, the product of a collaboration between artist Barbara Felix and London-based video projection designer Eva Auster, as well as a globe-spanning ensemble of musicians (some of whom had only met in person the week leading up to the performance, according to director Andrea Assaf), it’s clear that her trust was well-placed.
The Seasoned Woman engaged with the visceral, the senses, and the passage of time to share a uniquely profound experience. With plans to take the performance to other cities, visit Art2Action.org to follow along, and perhaps even get the opportunity to see it yourself!
Editor: Nick Blevins
Photography: Torry Sledge
