ARTIST STATEMENT & BIO

Sean Avery is a rapper, poet & educator from Avondale, Arizona. Their work opens a dialogue about Black masculinity by sharing their personal narrative. Sean is an alum of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in English Creative Writing. They received the nation’s only full-tuition Hip-Hop Theatre scholarship, First Wave. Sean has been on stage with Saul Williams, Lemon Anderson & J. Ivy. They have been published by Illumination Magazine & Art Hoe Collective. Their music & performance poetry has been featured on both Afropunk & Blavity. Currently, Sean is finishing an autobiographical solo show titled “skinnyblk.”

 

EDUCATION

University of Madison-Wisconsin May 2016

• Bachelor of Arts in English with an Emphasis in Creative Writing
  • Certificate in African-American Studies

 

FACILITATION, TEACHING ARTIST, AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

South Pointe High School July 2017-May 2018

Creative Writing Teachers

• Plan weekly lesson plans based on creative writing standards
• Instruct two creative writing classes Mon-Fri
• Grade & assess student writing
• Coordinate on and off campus student performances

 

Childsplay: Theatre for Kids & Families May 2017-July 2017

Summer Academy Teaching Artist

• Planned weekly lesson plans for youth based on performance objectives
• Directed youth theatre presentations
• Provided childcare for youth at the beginning and end of each day
• Co-taught theatre activities with other Teaching Artists and summer interns

 

Phonetic Spit: Literary Arts, Youth Development & Social Justice Programming September 2016- April 2018

Lead Teaching Artist, Workshop Facilitator

• Instructing creative writing and performance workshops for high school and junior high school students
• Hosting a monthly youth open mic for Phonetic Spit students
• Facilitating Poetry Out Loud workshops for students interested in poetry recitation
• Artistically directing and/or performing in a yearly Hip-Hop theater festival
• Devising arts programming aimed to interest and retain youth poets

 

P.E.O.P.L.E. Program Middle School Spoken Word Instructor June-July 2016

Teaching Artist, Workshop Facilitator

• Wrote three-week curriculum with published poems, Spoken Word, and Hip-Hop music/lyrics
• Facilitated and encouraged a safe space for youth to explore their personal narratives and workshop student’s writing five days a week
• Collaborated with other three-week P.E.O.P.L.E. Teaching Artists on multidisciplinary workshops
• Developed a culminating performance to showcase student’s creative work on July 8th

 

Whoopensocker Arts Outreach and Education Company January-March 2016

Teaching Artist

• Taught theater and writing to a 3rd-grade Spanish immersion class at Sandburg Elementary

• Collaborated on weekly lesson plans with a cohort of teaching artists
• Facilitated individual writing, group writing, and performance activities
• Developed student’s skits and short stories over a three month period

 

Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI)/ First Wave October 2012-May 2016   

Student Liaison, Just Bust! Open Mic & Workshop Coordinating Producer  

• Coordinated and hosted monthly Open Mic and Writing Workshop series
• Organized artists and performers for 2016 Linebreaks Hip-Hop Theater Festival
• Organized, hosted, and coordinated 2016 Passing the Mic Pre-College Recruitment Youth Poetry Festival
• Prepared and coached performers for OMAI/First Wave presentations, showcases, and events
• Managed OMAI/ Firsts Wave’s social media and office needs

 

Phonetic Spit: Literary Arts, Youth Development & Social Justice Programming August 2015

Intern & Youth Poet August 2011-February 2012

• Organized and hosted Open Mics at the Phoenix Burton Barr Public Library
• Updated and maintained Phonetic Spit’s social media
• Facilitated workshops for youth in high schools, juvenile detention centers, after-school programs, and charter schools.
• Chaperoned the 2015 Phoenix Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival Slam Team

 

Willis L. Jones Leadership Center August 2014-August 2015
Engage Leadership Series Coordinator

• Developed speaker series on leadership and entrepreneurship
• Maintained and balanced budget for speakers

• Facilitated workshops on leadership and community building

 

Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) April-August 2014

First Wave New Student Leader April-August 2013

• Wrote, performed, and facilitated a Hip-Hop theater show with accompanying workshops on identity and intersectionality for incoming freshmen
• Led tours on UW Madison Campus focusing on Native American, POC, and LGBTQ history
• Guided incoming freshmen through orientation, advising, registration, campus resources, culture, and social climate.

 

ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Completed Projects

• “Requiem: A Personal Narrative of Black Masculinity & Rap Music,” Multimedia Manuscript, English Creative Senior Thesis Project, 66 pages, April 2016
• “808’s & Otherworlds,” Blog, The Black Voice Senior Thesis Project, 12 Posts (Personal Essays, Hip-Hop Reviews, Lists, Videos), January-April 2016
• “Nigga: A Monologue,” Performance Art Video, Short Film, 4 mins., December 2015
• “EMOFUNK,” Rap Mixtape, Music Project, 10 songs: 28 mins, June 2014

 

Poetry Publications

• “Dear Masculinity,” Maskuline x Dear Masculinity Chapbook, Print, Pg. 4
• “skinny-black jeans,” Art Hoe Collective, August 2016, Electronic, N/A
• “Otherworld,” Illumination: Undergraduate Journal of Humanities, December 2015, Pg. 22
• “In My Dreams,” Illumination: Undergraduate Journal of Humanities, December 2015, Pg. 23
  • Wisconsin People & Ideas Magazine, May 2015, Pg. 69
• “Prayer (Song) For Magic,” Wisconsin People & Ideas Magazine, May 2015, Pg. 68
• “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” Toothtaker, February 2014
• “Toast,” The Blue Guitar Magazine, Fall 2010, Pg. 19

 

Devised Theater Productions

• Soul Justice Project Presents Pendulum (Writer, Performer)
  • Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ, 18 & 19 May 2017
• The Election Monologues
  • Empty Space Theatre, Tempe, AZ, January 2017
• We the 350: Stories of Racism, Poverty, and Incarceration in Wisconsin (Actor)
  • First Unitarian Society, Madison, WI, April 2016
  • Edgewood College, Madison, WI, January 2016
  • Fredric March Play Circle Theater, Memorial Union, Madison, WI, January 2016
  • Overture Center for the Arts, Promenade Hall, Madison, WI, November 2015

 

Hip-Hop Theater Productions

• Sub-Everything (Writer, Director, Actor, Performer)
  • “Faculty College,” Coppertop Theatre, University of Wisconsin-Richland, Richland, WI, May 2016

• Own It (Writer, Actor, Performer)
  • “Boys & Girls Club Keystone Conference,” Ballroom Stage, Renaissance Orlando at Seaworld, Orlando, FL, April 2015

• First Wave Touring Ensemble at Louder Than A Bomb (Writer, Performer)
  • Illinois Black Legislators’ Theater, The DuSable Museum of African-American History, Chicago, IL, March 2015
• Diversity in the School of Education (Writer, Performer)
• • Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, February 2015
  • Rackham Amphitheatre, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, January 2015
• First Wave at Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival Opening Ceremonies (Performer, Writer)
• • “Brave New Voices 2016,” Emory University Glynn Memorial Church, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, July 2015
• Walls (Actor, Writer, Performer)
• • “Multicultural Homecoming,” (w/ SOAR Ensemble & First Wave Touring Ensemble) H.F. DeLuca Forum, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Madison, WI, October 2014
  • Marquee Theater, Union South, Madison, WI, June-August 2014
  • “Teaching Academy Summer Institute,” Classroom, University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, Madison, WI, May 2014
• Intersectionality (Actor, Writer, Performer)
• • “2013 Diversity Forum,” (w/ SOAR Ensemble) Varsity Hall, Union South, University of Madison-Wisconsin, Madison, WI, October 2013
  • “Teaching Academy Summer Institute,” Classroom, University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, Madison, WI, May 2013
  • Marquee Theater, Union South, Madison, WI, June-August 2013
• The #1 County to Lie in (Actor, Writer, Performer)
  • Young Auditorium, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Madison, WI, January 2015
  • 100state, Madison, WI, November 2014
  • Promenade Hall, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI, November 2014
• Welcome Mat at Capacity (Actor, Writer, Performer)
• • Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall, Madison, WI, March 2012
• Ethics (Performer, Writer)

• • “Rotary Ethics Symposium,” (w/ 6th Cohort Ensemble) Lakeside Commons, Monona Terrace, Madison, WI, February 2012
• First Wave 6th Cohort Showcase (Performer, Writer)
• • Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall, Madison, WI, November 2011

 

Spoken Word & Hip-Hop Performances

• “Come As You Are Ball: The Escape”, A.E. England Building ASU, Phoenix, Arizona, 14 October 2017
• “Wordplay Cafe Open Mic,” Volstead Public House, Mesa, Arizona, 10 August 2017
• “Pen Cap Collective 2017 Poetry + Art Showcase,” 51 West, Tempe, Arizona, 29 July 2017
• “HXCORE//HIPHOP,” Ppc Crakhaus, 602 W. Fillmore St., Phoenix, Arizona, 28 July 2017
• “Jazz June (Gwendolyn Brooks Tribute)” 7 June 2018
• “Hands & Feet Open Mic Night,” Jeremiah’s Coffee, Tempe, Arizona, 28 April 2017.
• “Old Story Music Video Release Party,” Last Exit Live, Phoenix, Arizona, April 1st, 2017
• “Make Noise: An Open Mic in Barrio Campito,” Santa Rita Center, Phoenix, Arizona, March 11th, 2017
• “Arizona Spoken Word & Rap Showcase,” The Underground, Nile Theater, Mesa, Arizona, March 3, 2017
• “African Americans and Mental Health: Moving Forward,” Halle Heart Children’s Museum, Tempe, Arizona, 24 February 2017
• “Tucson Youth Poetry Slam Poet Feature,” Bentley’s Cafe, Tucson Arizona, 18 February 2017
• “Wordplay Cafe,” Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, Arizona, 16 February 2017.
• “AZ/NM Connection Group Art Show,” Thirdspace Art Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona, 3 February 2017.
• Phonetic Spit Poetry Out Loud RUSH Days,” Auditorium & classroom, Willow Canyon High School, Surprise, Arizona, Herberger Young Scholars Academy, Glendale, Arizona, January 2017.
• “Classic-ISH Slam Series Championship (4 of 4),” Dobson Lecture Hall, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, Arizona, December 2016.
• “Expressions @ Gammage,” Arizona State University Gammage Theater, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, November 2016
• “Phonetic Spit RUSH Days,” Auditoriums & English classrooms, Kino Junior High School, Mesa High School, Westwood High School, Mesa, Arizona, September & November 2016
• “Welcome Black Poetry Explosion,” Ventana Ballroom, Memorial Union, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, August 2016
• “2016 Madison Hip-Hop Festival,” Terrace, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin, Madison, August 2016.
• “Hip-Hop in the Heartland Open Mic,” Auditorium, Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin, Madison, July 2016
• “The Spoken Truth,” P.E.O.P.L.E. Program, Witte Residence Hall, University of Wisconsin, Madison, July 2016
• “Sorry Not Sorry,” 100state, 30 W. Mifflin St., Madison, WI, June 2016
• “Madison Poetry Day,” Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, WI, May 2016
• “Intersextionality,” Masley Media Room, Madison, WI, April 2016
• “Truth.Tongue.SPIT,” Cinematheque, Vilas Hall, Madison, WI, April 2016
• “BONK! Performance Series #89,” Racine Arts Council, Racine, WI, February 2016
• “The Color of Sex,” Multicultural Student Center, Madison, WI, November 2015
• “EMOFUNK Anniversary Concert,” House Show, Tempe, AZ, August 2015
• “Young, Gifted and Black Youth Showcase,” Promenade Hall, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI, June 2015
• “Dear God,” “The Soul Justice Project,” Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ, May 2015.
• “Nigga: A Monologue Performance and Workshop,” 10th Grade English Class, Shabazz City High School, Madison, WI, May 2015
• “First by First Wave Music Showcase,” Promenade Hall, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI, March 2015
• “Marc Lamont Hill UW-Madison Black History Month Keynote,” (Opening Act) Gordon Commons, Madison, WI, February 2015
• “Boys & Girls Club of Dane County Leadership Awards Ceremony” Conference Room, Madison Concourse Hotel, Madison, WI, February 2015
• “Alpha Sig Slam,” Segredos, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, April 2015
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison Hillel Foundation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, October 2013
• “The Studio Showcase,” Sellery Hall Black Box Theater, Sellery Hall, Madison, WI, November 2014
• “Delta Sigma Theta,” Rotunda Studio, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI, December 2013
• “One Madison Community Festival,” Villager Mall, Madison, WI, September 2013
• “Sasha Go Hard w/ Members of First Wave,” Der Rathskeller, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, May 2013
• “The Leak: First Wave Music Workshop Showcase,” Der Rathskeller, Memorial Union, Madison, WI, December 2012
• “Phonetic Spit Festival,” Civic Space Park, Phoenix, AZ, May 2012
• “Estrella Mountain Community College Open Mic,” Plaza Gallery, Estrella Mountain Community College, Avondale, AZ, May 2012
• “Phoenix Youth Hip-Hop Showcase,” Civic Space Park, Phoenix, AZ, April 2012
• “Tucson Festival of Books,” University of Arizona Bookstore, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, March 2012
• “Conspire Open Mic,” Conspire Coffee Shop, Phoenix, AZ, March 2012
• “Saul Williams,” (Opening Act) Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix, AZ, March 2012
• “RAW Artists Showcase,” Foundry on First, Phoenix, AZ, September 2011
• “Infuse Open Mic,” The Artisan, Phoenix, AZ, August 2011
• “Agua Fria High School  Baccalaureate Ceremony,” Agua Fria High School Auditorium, Agua Fria High School, Avondale, AZ, May 2011
• “Adelante Empowermentation,” L.S. Neeb Hall, Arizona State University-Tempe, April 2011
• “Civil Disobedience Park Jam,” Fine Arts Plaza, Arizona State University-Tempe, Tempe, AZ, March 2011
• “Glendale Community College Free Association Poetry,” Student Union, Glendale Community College, Glendale, AZ, February 2011
• “Tucson Youth Poetry Slam,” Bentley’s House of Coffee & Tea, Tucson, Az, February 2011
• “Speak on, Speak on it,” Lyceum Theatre, Arizona State University-Tempe, Tempe, AZ, February 2011
• “Sun Devil Poetry Slam,” MADCAP Theatre, Tempe, AZ, January 2010
• “Blue Guitar Festival of the Arts,” Delph Courtyard, Arizona State University-West, Glendale, AZ, April 2010
  • University Center, Arizona State University-West, Glendale, AZ, April 2009

 

Residencies

• Free Arts Hip-Hop Camp, Children First Leadership Academy, Phoenix, Arizona, 10 July – 14 July 2017
• Childsplay Summer Academy Classes, Childsplay Campus, Tempe, Arizona, 30 May – 28 July 2017
• Free Arts Arizona Girls Group Home Slam Workshop, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, Arizona, March 2017-April 2017
• Mountain View High School, Phonetic Spit, Mesa, Arizona, February 2017-April 2017
• Kino Junior High School, Phonetic Spit: Literary Arts, Youth Development & Social Justice Programming, Mesa, Arizona, September 2016-April 2017
• Westwood High School, Phonetic Spit: Literary Arts, Youth Development & Social Justice Programming, Mesa, Arizona, September 2016-April 2017

 

Spoken Word & Writing Workshops

• “Desert Marigold High School Poetry Project,” Phoenix, AZ, 16 March 2017
• “Tucson Youth Poetry Slam Writing Workshop,” Bentley’s Cafe, Tucson Arizona, 18 February 2017
• “Classic-ish Slam Series 2 of 4,” Dobson Lecture Hall, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, Arizona, November 2016.
• “Classic-ish Slam Series 1 of 4,” Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus, Arizona State University, Mesa, Arizona, November 2016.
• “Love Poem to Myself: Writing Workshop,” Kuumba Lynx Hip-Hop Arts Program, Clarendon Park Community Center, Chicago, Illinois, October 2016.
• “Persona, Personal Narrative, & Intro to Spoken Word Workshop,” STEAM Camp, Dane Arts, Capitol Theater, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI, July 2016
• “College Access Program Hip-Hop Education Class,” (Poetry & Hip-Hop workshop) Educational Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, July 2016
• “Speakerboxxx: Into Spoken Word,” (3-week Spoken Word Workshop & Culminating Performance) P.E.O.P.L.E Program, Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin, Madison, June-July 2016
• “Diversity in the School of Education,” (Workshops & Performances) Rackham Amphitheatre, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, January 2015

• “Nigga: A Monologue Performance and Workshop,” 10th Grade English Class, Shabazz City High School, Madison, WI, May 2015
• “Young Women’s Christian Association Minneapolis Writing Workshop,” On Wisconsin Room, Red Gym, Madison, WI, July 2015
• “Free Arts Arizona Writing Workshop,” Free Arts of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, August 2011
• “Boys and Girls Club Performance Workshop,” Boys & Girls Club of Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ, June 2011
• “High School Spoken Word Workshop,” Peoria Transitional High School, Peoria, AZ, April-May 2011

 

Screenings

• Maskuline x Dear Masculinity (Performer, Musician)
• • Chazen Museum of Art, Linebreaks Festival 2017, Madison, WI, April 11th, 2017
• Nigga: A Monologue (Actor, Writer, Co-Director)
• • Chazen Museum of Art, Unhood Yourself: The Real UW One Day Exhibition, Madison WI, April 2016
  • Barrymore Theater, Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI, April 2016
  • Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall, Moonshine, Madison, WI, February 2016
  • Sellery Hall Black Box Theater, Sellery Hall, The Studio Showcase, Madison, WI, November 2015
  • Promenade Hall, Overture Center for the Arts, Passing the Mic Festival, Madison, WI, October 2015

 

Lectures/ Panels/ Speeches

• “Real Boy Documentary Screening (Panelist)” Project Humanities (ASU), Changing Hands Bookstore, Phoenix, AZ, 23 May 2017
• “2016 First Wave Graduation Ceremony Speech”
  • Varsity Hall, Union South, Madison, WI, May 2016
• “Skinny Jeans & Blouses: Homophobia & Hypersexuality in Modern Hip-Hop Culture (Lecture)”
  • “Wisconsin Festival of Ideas”. H.F. DeLuca Forum, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Madison, WI, April 2016
  • “Cultural Re-education Lecture Series”. Gordon Commons, Madison, WI, March 2016

 

Published Essays:

• “Rap Music is Becoming Unsafe for Black People,” Msc.wisc.edu, April 2016

 

AWARDS/HONORS

• Black Male Excellence Award, Delta Sigma Theta February 2016
• Mentorship Award, OMAI/First Wave February 2016, January 2015
• 2nd Place Poetry Contest, Wisconsin Academy May 2015
• Marion McCammond Award, Wisconsin Union Directorate March 2015
• 1st Place “The Baddest” Award, The Black Designers & Artists Association February 2011

The homie & badass poet Anna Flores has invited me to be a part of her new collective’s debut showcase!

“How We Love Now” is an interdisciplinary theatre showcase running for one weekend, Nov 3rd & 4th. Organized by Nicole Hugeuz, the showcase is a launching pad for new work from all the artists performing.

The event will be held at South Mountain Community College, 7050 S 24th St., the start time is TBA & it will be free.

I hope to see you there!

I’ve been given the honor of performing this Saturday, October 14th, at ASU’s Fall 2017 Come As You Are Ball! I’m very excited & nervous as this is the first time I’ve been booked specifically because of my queerness.  Although the flyer says $10 at the door, I’ve received confirmation from the organizers that it is FREE!

If you can’t read the flyer, here are the details: Fair Trade Cafe, 424 N. Central Ave., PHX, AZ 85004, 6:30pm-11:30pm.

I go on at 7:30pm. I’ll be performing a 5-minute piece tentatively titled “skinnyblk”. Hope to see you there!

My friends & collaborators over at Empty Space Theatre have invited me to their Storyscope event this Friday at 7pm. The theme for this event is “what does home mean to you?”

I’ll be performing a 5-minute piece tentatively titled “skinnyblk”.  I hope to see you there. To RVSP & get the address, click the link below!

Storyscope Eventbrite