New Short Film about Commemorative Works by Living Art Company TEN31 featuring Ida B Wells
Unalienable, a short film that reimagines a Robert E. Lee statue, to release on February 20, 2021 in honor of Black History Month
The film shows how communities can reunite, reexamine and reimagine commemorative spaces to reflect the true story of America and all of its people.
PAWTUCKET, RI — Rhode Island-based TEN31 Productions, Inc. will host a virtual release of Unalienable — a new short film that portrays an imagined interaction of living statues portraying the likenesses of Ida B. Wells, Robert E. Lee and Virginia Brooks, as a lens to examine the debate over controversial monuments — on Saturday, February 20 at 8:00pm.
Filmed at Prospect Terrace in Providence, Rhode Island, Unalienable is the vision of TEN31 co-founder Joe Pari, who wrote, directed, and produced the film. TEN31 co-founder Eric Auger served as an editor, co-producer and creative consultant. As communities nationwide and across the globe reflect on 2020 and reckon with the past and commemorative works, the list of events that inspired the film is long — from the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many other Black Americans, to the vandalized Christopher Columbus statue in Providence, and to Banksy’s response to the toppled Colston statue in England.
As we begin 2021, “Americans are being challenged to examine our past and to reimagine public spaces and how they can represent the true full story of our country,” said Pari. “And this demands thoughtful debate around removing, relocating and/or contextualizing statues and monuments, and erecting new ones that celebrate inclusion.”
At three minutes in length, the silent film is a powerful telling of an imagined interaction between Robert E. Lee, an American Confederate general and Ida B. Wells, a journalist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement, as well as a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Virginia Brooks, a suffragist and political reformer, is also portrayed in a supporting role in the film. In real life, Brooks had a close relationship with Wells and the pair worked together to advance and broaden the role of all women within the suffrage movement.
Since its inception TEN31, as a LGBTQ-owned organization, has strived, pushed and promoted inclusion in all aspects of its artwork, including a diverse production team and a diverse performer roster. This includes encouraging clients to include Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) historical figures as part of their installations, performances and event experiences; and also sharing images and quotes of their living statues of Black Americans on Instagram, including Nina Simone, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and more.
Pari, a Providence native, is also a member of The Special Committee for the Review of Commemorative Works, a new committee developed by The City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism to develop a more formal process for bringing commemorative work into the city.
Everyone who participated in the making of Unalienable donated their time, including Montage Media Productions; Mike Henriques, director of photography and editing; and Jessica Brown, cultural consultant. Tammy Brown played the role of Ida B. Wells; Mary Arnold played the role of Virginia Brooks; and Richard Davia played the role of Robert E. Lee. The film was written and directed by Joseph Pari. Production and support by Eric J Auger and Stephanie Carey.
While this film serves as a metaphor for change, “It is a call for communities to unite and formally examine commemorative works in order to consider deaccession or imagine new interpretations of statues and monuments,” said Pari.
For more information about the virtual release of Unalienable and to register to attend, visit https://youtu.be/SnO3yYn5LBU to view and set a reminder to watch on 02/20/2021 or for more information visit
The Providence community is encouraged to learn more about requesting a review of existing commemorative work or proposing a new commemorative work
About TEN31
TEN31 Productions, Inc., located in Pawtucket, RI, grew from a simple, powerful idea that art can be “brought to life” and provide emotionally inspiring entertainment. The human form is TEN31’s canvas. In 2000, founders Eric Auger and Joe Pa.ri began performing as Living Gargoyles at art events and festivals. From their very first performance to today, the designing and creation of characters and costumes has never stopped. Like the pieces and installations TEN31 creates, the company continues to grow and transform itself, driven by that simple and powerful idea born over two decades ago. We are TEN31. We make pretend.