
Karen Smith
2024 Illuminate The Arts Grantee & 2023 Pew Fellow "Possible is possible!"
“My drum is a spiritual connection to the African ancestors and to the world around me."
“My drum is a spiritual connection to the African ancestors and to the world around me."
Karen Smith is the proud recipient of a 2023 Pew Fellowship grant. https://www.pewcenterarts.org/2023grants
A New York Native/Philadelphia Transplant, Karen is a percussionist, playwright, director, producer, and poet. She is also the founder and leader of two musical collectives: The Karen Smith Experience, and Sistahs Laying Down Hands (SLDH).
"I create spaces where other artists can join in a spirit of trust and improvisation.”
For more than 10 years Karen Smith has been taking her drums on the road with her movement, Have Drums Will Travel Immediately. She has provided rhythms for projects in the Delaware Valley Tri-state area, and also in Alabama, Houston, Atlanta, and Jamaica, West Indies. She also performed at the United States Human Rights Network Conference. Karen captures "the rhythm of a place and the cadences of people.” The beat continues wherever the movement may take her!
Karen Smith curates artistic projects, hosts private drumming lessons, provides musical backgrounds, plays at festivals, and especially loves collaborations!
Here's a segment of Karen's interview with Teyanna Stone of Imagine Stone Productions, on being a multi-faceted artist. See full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvdL0xYSCkY
As part of Anula Shetty’s Philly Daydreams: Stories In Transit, percussionist, Karen Smith shares the world she imagines in her Philly Daydream while riding the Broad Street Subway, against the background of the soothing, meditative sounds of her tongue drum.
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258 E. Girard Ave
Sounds Bowls played by Karen "Magic Fingaz" Smith.
258 E. Girard Ave
Community Education Center 3500 Lancaster Avenue,Philadlphia 19104
The Group Motion Workshop is a guided process of dance/movement improvisation with live music that originated as a practice by Brigitta Herr...
Community Education Center 3500 Lancaster Avenue,Philadlphia 19104
Cherry Hill Public Library 1100 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Scholarship reception, Drumming & Conversations around the drums and our legacy.
Cherry Hill Public Library 1100 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
6800 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 9144
Celebration and honor of life of George Floyd. This performance will be in collaboration with the Denise King Trio.
6800 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 9144
Kanvas Event Center 3870 Lancaster Ave 19104
Kanvas Event Center 3870 Lancaster Ave 19104
for inquiries about Karen Smith and her rhythmic energy, drumming performances, and more!
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PO Box 29734 Philadelphia, PA 19119, USA
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