Jazz is dangerous

Wolay has been described as one of the most driving forces in Sweden's alternative music scene. Currently, Wolay works as a music and literature officer for the city of Malmö and a music archivist for the Moki and Don Cherry archives. Recent curatorial projects include "Sun Ra" at Mellanrummet, Malmö Konsthall (2021), Åke Hodell, Malmö Konsthall (2022) and Åke Hodell "220 Volt Buddha" Kalmars Konstmuseum (2022). Elena Wolay participated as an artist with her fanzines in the group exhibition "File under freedom", Bergen kunsthall (2022) and as a curator in 2022 and 2023 for the music program at Uppsala Art Museum.

Monika Marianne Karlsson, better known as Moki Cherry, (1943–2009) was born in Koler in Norrbotten. She grew up in Skåne and moved to Stockholm in 1962 to study fashion. In 1970, she moved with her family to Tågarp in Skåne and transformed a former school into the family home, but also into a gathering place for music, theatre, children's activities and art. With her husband, musician Don Cherry, she established the Organic Music Society (1966–1977). She lyrically describes their shared visions in a letter as the greatest thing that has happened to the art scene since the Ballets Russes (1909–1929). A comparison that underlines the pursuit of a universal work of art and fusion of artistic genres. From the late 1970s she divided her time between Tågarp and New York.

In a lecture about the artist couple, Wolay gives us insight into a world of utopias.

Organizer: Forum Museum Rönnskär and Boston Jazz Club in collaboration with Västerbottensteatern