Mary Prescott: Mother Tongue
Supported by Minnesota Humanities
In partnership with Public Functionary
In partnership with American Composers Forum
Dates & Times:
Thu, Jan 30, 2025, 6:00 pm
Venue: Public Functionary
Cost: $10
Join us for an evening of film, food, and conversation with Minnesota composer Mary Prescott at the premiere of Mother Tongue. This film screening and artist talk explores the deep connections between food, community, and family.
In September 2024, Prescott and The Great Northern hosted a potluck dinner with five artists, writers, and community leaders—José Luis, Ifrah Mansour, Kate Beane, Kao Kalia Yang, and Eyenga Bokamba. Each guest brought a family dish, sharing the stories and cultural significance behind their recipes. This intimate gathering was captured in a short documentary film that we are thrilled to share with you for the first time.
The work and conversations documented in Mother Tongue will form the foundation for Ancestral Table, a large-scale performance artwork by Mary Prescott that will celebrate her maternal Thai heritage. This exciting project is set to be a highlight of our 2026 festival programming.
As part of the experience, you’ll also have the opportunity to sample food from some of the featured participants. Don’t miss this celebration of our diverse culinary traditions.
About the Artist
Mary Prescott is a Thai-American interdisciplinary artist, composer and pianist who explores the foundations and facets of identity and social conditions through experiential performance. She aims to foster understanding and create pathways for change by voicing emotional and human truths through artistic investigation and dissemination.
Mary Prescott is a fiscal year 2024 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.