August 3, 2016
Page 13
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
Hughes Home Wanted for Cultural Space
Renée Watson, a former
Portland resident now work-
ing as an author and educa-
tor in New York, has under-
taken a project to turn the
historic Langston Hughes
home in Harlem into a space
for emerging and established
authors to gather, create and
showcase their work.
Watson has launched a
nonprofit organization, I,
Too, Arts Collective, with the
goal of celebrating the lega-
cy of the black poet, novelist
and playwright by leasing the
Harlem brownstone where
he lived and created during
the last 20 years of his life.
Currently empty, Watson en-
visions the brownstone as a
space for artists, poets, and
creators to come together,
mentor one another, and build
The Harlem
brownstone where
Langston Hughes lived
and created during his
last 20 years of life.
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Renée Watson
upon the rich cultural legacy
left by Hughes.
“I’ve walked past the
brownstone where Langston
Hughes lived many times and
wondered why it was empty,”
explains Watson. “How could
it be that his home wasn’t pre-
served as a space for poets, a
space to honor his legacy?
“The historical and cul-
tural spaces where African
American pioneers lived and
created should be preserved,”
she adds. “This is not just for
nostalgic reasons, but I see
a need for young people to
know about and understand
the legacy they are a part of;
the artists and activists who
paved the way for them.”
I, Too, Arts Collective is
currently seeking donors to
help raise funds for their first
year of expenses, including
renovations to the brownstone
and leasing costs. They have
until the end of August to
gather the funds, and they’ve
established a website where
supporters can help them
reach their goal at generosi-
ty.com/community-fundrais-
ing/i-too-arts-collective.
To find out more about
Renée’s work and to support
the I, Too, Arts Collective,
visit her website at rennewat-
son.net or email her at info@
reneewatson.net.