Performance + Video Projection

Despite being pioneers and influencers in genres centered on string instruments such as the guitar and the harp, Black women are often excluded from the social narrative surrounding guitarists and instrumentalists. To increase access and representation, Jess Garland presented a series of performances that highlight the diversity and intersectionality of Black women, girls, and femmes through a unique project that includes history and opportunities for musicians to be confident in their identity and artistry. The performance also featured a film titled Behind the Strings: Amplifying Black Feminism in Guitar Culture, created in partnership with the Pegasus Media Project.