Why As Quiet As It's Kept?

As Quiet As It's Kept (AQAIK), a performance installation, is a foundational expression of how Bailey's Cafe creates with community. The piece evolved out of Bailey's long relationship with Black Veterans for Social Justice and longtime residents of the Bedford Stuyvesant community. Stefanie Siegel, founder and executive director of Bailey’s Cafe, was influenced by Herbert Sweat, a decorated Vietnam Veteran and Bed-Stuy neighbor. “When Sweat says the phrase ‘As Quiet As It’s Kept’ you know something is going to be revealed that people don’t talk about.” When Sweat asked Siegel, in 2013, if Bailey's could tell the story of Black veterans while Obama was in office, it was the beginning of the journey that eventually produced the six performance installations that exist today.   

After a process of exploring veterans stories through a reading/writing group and storytelling workshops with young people, veterans and artists, Siegel partnered with her friend and colleague conceptual artist Monica L. Williams to create a long-term, multidisciplinary, community-based art experience through performance installations. Over a five year period, Williams conducted community conversations with neighbors and curated a team of six collaborating artists. “My hope is that As Quiet As It’s Kept is a model for durational community-based art collaboration between artists, neighborhood business and community members working with collective agency towards community wellness by addressing topics otherwise kept quiet,” says Williams.

It was clear, after presenting earlier versions of the work, there was more to be explored in the intersection of issues experienced by combat veterans of color and longtime residents of the community; issues like, what makes a community home, especially when we return after life

changing events? Can this be maintained in the face of rapid growth, development and a changing demographic? How do we hold on to what we value when we feel devalued?

The next steps included a monologue created by Zoë Flowers evolving into a digital installation, Jake's  Home. This installation seeks to answer: What happens when you are forced to leave your home? Is it possible to heal the feeling of displacement? What happens when people invade the place you call home and life continues around you?  Online Spring 2021

Robyn Twomey expanded her photo project specifically focusing on residents of Bed-Stuy who have lived there for twenty years or more. “We Are Here” centers images and stories of long-time Bed-Stuy residents, cementing their place as neighborhood icons in the name of resilience and permanence. Featuring photographs by Robyn Twomey and interviews by Monica L. Williams, the portraits will be life-size posters, including quotes from the participant, and mounted in public spaces throughout the neighborhood.   Included in Photoville's traveling exhibition, the Fence, in Brooklyn Spring 2021.  

Anna Pond's original ten minute skit has evolved into a one-act play in three scenes entitled Homeward. Homeward is the story of Vietnam Veteran Rufus Jefferson and his struggle to find home as he remains haunted by the invisible wounds of war.  Fall 2020 we released a video on our YouTube channel of the actor Greg Reid performing Rufus' opening monologue from the play followed by his conversation with two Black Vietnam Veterans, Herbert Sweat and Roger Omar Salaam.  In spring 2021 there will be a virtual dramatic reading of the entire play.  

Kadeem Alston Roman choreographed a solo dance piece for a male dancer, relaying the story of a soldier's journey to war who doesn't return home but confronts his own death.  The performance was filmed on Rockaway Beach in September 2020 and streamed on our YouTube channel as a dance film in October.  

Michael Hill, blues guitarist, lyricist and vocalist is creating “Crooklyn Soundshots,” a projected trilogy of song cycles that will each seek to convey some of the feelings, experiences and ideas of an amazing citizen of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn (based on the interviews from Robyn Twomey's photography installation). Their humor, passion, struggles and humanity will be spotlighted in succinct musical snapshots in the way that can only be done by music. To be released online spring 2021.  

 “We Made It: A Bed-Stuy Sonic Exchange,” curated and mixed by DJ Reborn, is a sound collage that combines audio interview snippets from resilient Bed-Stuy veterans (based on the interviews from Robyn Twomey's photography installation and community conversations) woven with eclectic music spanning the last four decades to tell the sonic story of life after military duty in a rapidly changing world and neighborhood.  To be released online spring 2021.

Bringing it all together is our outstanding, multi-talented Cultural Producer, Pia Monique Murray.  

AQAIK brings a variety of voices into the conversation around gentrification taking place in Brooklyn and the City as a whole. By creating an artistic platform for presenting the faces, voices and stories of the community, the feeling of being stuck and the inevitability of the problems and challenges is countered as people’s ideas about what is possible and their role in creating that possibility can change.