The Cedar Presents
Flowers Now!
Sunday, May 31, 2026/ Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 4:30 PM
All Ages
Seated
$18 Advance, $23 Day of Show
This is a seated show with general admission, first-come-first-served seating. The Cedar is happy to reserve seats for patrons who require special seating accommodations. To request seating or other access accommodations, please go to our Access page.
For Cedar presented shows, online ticket sales typically end one hour before the door time, and then, based on availability, tickets will be available at the door.
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Givens Collection of African American Literature and Life is proud to present its next iteration of Flowers Now!, a performance and awards ceremony honoring the contributions of artists and arts leaders who have left indelible and sustained crucial contributions to the artistic culture of the Twin Cities. Hosted by poet Tish Jones with performances by Cornbread Harris, Libby Turner, Queen Drea and Lela Pierce.
This year’s honorees include:
Walter Griffin, photographer
Mary Moore Easter, poet and dancer
Mahmoud El-Kati, scholar & teacher
Titilayo Bediako, educator
Vusi Zulu, master storyteller
Serena Wright, arts leader
James Samuel "Cornbread" Harris Jr., musician
Josie Johnson, arts leader
Bill Jeter, visual artist
John Devine, musician (ally honor)
Faye Washington, musician and teacher (ancestor honor)
Toni Pierce-Sands, dancer & choreographer (ancestor honor)
Join us as we gather at The Cedar to celebrate and award honorees with an original piece of art, a token of gratitude for their work as institution-builders, teachers, mentors, and devotees of the artistic calling.
Sponsors include: University of Minnesota Libraries, The Cedar, and KFAI Community Radio.
Tish Jones
Tish Jones is a Sally Award winning poet, emcee, and Hip Hop Theater artist from Saint Paul, MN, with a deep and resounding love for Black people.
James Samuel "Cornbread" Harris Jr.
James Samuel "Cornbread" Harris Jr. is a jazz and blues singer and pianist. He was a performer on Minnesota's first rock 'n' roll record, and is the father of record producer Jimmy Jam. He is the subject of Andrea Swensson's book Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs and Salvation of Cornbread Harris.
Libby Turner
Libby Turner is a seasoned Minneapolis-based singer and vocal instructor, best known as a former member of the Grammy-winning gospel group Sounds of Blackness and for her work with artists like Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones. She has an extensive career as a vocalist and vocal coach, including work with the improvisational a cappella ensemble Give Get Sistet.
Queen Drea
Queen Drea is an electronic musician and vocalist who uses voice loops and effects to create conceptual soundscapes. She is a sound alchemist. Mixing up potions laced with looped natural and affected vocals, jagged rhythms, and found sounds, Queen’s compositions are often conceived under the auspices of improvisational settings which is where she thrives most. She is a recipient of the 2022 McKnight Foundation Composers Fellowship, 2021 Jerome Hill Artist Finalist, 2021 Zeitgeist Music Sounding Ground Fellow, 2019 Penumbra Theater ASHE Lab Fellow, and a 2017 American Composers Forum Minnesota Emerging Composer award.
Lela Pierce
Lela Pierce has danced extensively with Ananya Dance Theatre as a founding member (2004-2016) as well as Rosy Simas Danse and Pramila Vasudevan of Anichha Arts (both 2015-present).