Octavia Butler’s science fiction writing, in which black heroines and heroes confront and overcome catastrophic events, inspired a generation of artists and writers, especially those drawn to Afrofuturist ideas. In one of his most famous novels, parable of the sower, an empathetic young girl escapes climate catastrophe and societal collapse in California to establish a utopian community aimed at spreading humanity across the cosmos. The prophetic work was first published in October 1993, and its 30th anniversary is being celebrated by artists and arts organizations across the country.
This summer, as part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City program, a lyrical retelling of history, written by performer Toshi Reagon and his music activist mother Bernice Johnson Reagon, will be produced in full for the first time in New York. The play will be presented on two evenings, July 14 and 15, at the Wu Tsai Theater in David Geffen Hall. The project is done in collaboration with the city’s libraries, which will include the graphic novel version of the book on their children’s summer reading lists.
And in Butler’s home state of California, the pseudonymous Brooklyn-based American artist will continue his project. maker of godFirst of all featured on Redcat (The Roy and Edna Disney/Calarts Theatre) last year, with a new iteration at the California African American Museum in January. The installation included drawings based on Bulter’s personal papersnow housed in the Huntington Library in San Marino, Pasadena, as well as a life-size enclosed wall, like that of Lauren Olamina, the main character of parable of the sowerlives behind at the beginning of the novel.
