Thursday, March 19 | 7–10pm
Experimental Station
Co-hosted by Common Threads & Experimental Station

Refreshments will be provided. Stick around after the screening for a discussion and conversation.

About the movie:

The wry, incisive debut feature by Cheryl Dunye gave cinema something bracingly new and groundbreaking: a vibrant representation of Black lesbian identity by a Black lesbian filmmaker. Dunye stars as Cheryl, a video-store clerk and aspiring director whose interest in forgotten Black actresses leads her to investigate an obscure 1930s performer known as the Watermelon Woman, whose story proves to have surprising resonances with Cheryl’s own life as she navigates a new relationship with a white girlfriend (Guinevere Turner). Balancing breezy romantic comedy with a serious inquiry into the history of Black and queer women in Hollywood, The Watermelon Woman slyly rewrites long-standing constructions of race and sexuality on-screen, introducing an important voice in American cinema.

—The Criterion Collection

While RSVP is not required, it helps us prepare.
Free & open to all.

Watch the Trailer

About Ground Rules

Ground Rules is Experimental Station’s year-long series of social gatherings designed to bring neighbors together through conversations, collaboration, and play. Each event creates a warm, welcoming space where community members can slow down, connect, and engage with one another in meaningful ways.

From film nights and community bread bakes to interactive workshops and game nights, Ground Rules encourages civility, curiosity, and joyful participation. The series invites people of all ages to share experiences that strengthen understanding, build trust, and nurture a more connected South Side community.

Ground Rules is supported by the Field Foundation of Illinois.