The photo-documentary work of Carlos Javier Ortiz, part of his work-in-progress “Too Young To Die,” will be presented at five churches on the South and West Sides next week as part of “Urban Delarosa: The Sorrowing City,” a program of sacred music, performance and art to memorialize children killed by violence.
The program is sponsored by Urban Delarosa, a citywide ecumenical anti-violence witness that provides care for survivors of violence, promotes peacemaking through sacred music and arts, and works to mobilize the religious communities and civic leadrs of the city to address the root causes of youth violence.
The program features the world premier of “Urban Delarosa,” sacred music by Fr. Vaughn Fayle with libretto by Rev. Susan Johnson, both of Hyde Park Union Church. It features the Chicago Community Chorus along with youth choirs and instrumentalists from Johnson College Prep, Holy Cross Parish, and North Park University, along with spoken word poetry by Mama Brenda Matthews. Artistic direction is by Steppenwolf for Young Adults.
“Too Young To Die,” available at Facing Change and on Ortiz’ own website, depicts the human impact of violence on the South and West Sides and a variety of responses – anti-violence murals and street memorials; the funeral of a 19-year-old killed on the West Side; friends mourning a 13-year-old shot and killed on a Bronzeville basketball court; the mother of a murdered Woodlawn youth marching for a trauma center on the South Side; Bronzeville youth enacting a shootout while producing a rap video; anti-violence marches on the South and West Sides; the daily life of a 16-year-old paralyzed at a shooting at a birthday party.
The program will be presented Tuesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. at St. Sabina, 1210 W. 78th Place; November 2, 5:30 p.m. at Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington; November 3, 7 p.m. at New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, 4301 W. Washington; November 4, 7 p.m. at Holy Cross IHM Parish, 46th and Hermitage; and November 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn.
