48 Hours of Socially Engaged Art & Conversation Summit
August 16-17, 2024
What is 48 Hours?
48 Hours of Socially Engaged Art & Conversation is a two day summit and celebration supported by Denver Arts and Venues that engages cultural organizations, non-profits, artists, and individuals to share their expertise on cultural responsiveness, social responsibility, and collective leadership.
48 Hours aims to promote positive social change through creativity and innovation.
The theme of this year’s summit is Stories_UnderScored.
What is Stories_UnderScored?
Through a curated series of exhibitions, programs, and events, we invite you to journey through the hidden corridors of history to celebrate the lives and legacies of those whose voices have been systematically underrepresented, and the stories which are at the center of RedLine’s collective communities.
Support
RedLine would Like to thank Denver Arts and Venues for sponsoring 48 Hours of Socially Engaged Art & Conversation Summit. Additionally, we would like to thank our leading Annual Fund Sponsors for their support Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Colorado Creative Industries, David & Laura Merage Foundation, Lynda M. Goldstein Foundation, SCFD, and the Residents Society members for their support.
Vendors & Refreshments
Friday, August 16:
9am-9:30am: Breakfast burritos, pastries, and coffee
4:30pm: Happy Hour with Tya Anthony (RedLine Art Education and Community Outreach Director)
6-9pm: Drinks for The Other Side of the Tracks opening reception
Food trucks: Smoke in the City and Mi Refugio
Saturday, August 17:
8:30am-9:00am: Pastries and coffee
10am-5pm: Lisa’s Quilts & Crafts & Luna Rosa Designs
3pm: Billy’s Gourmet Hot Dogs
5:30-10pm: Snacks and drinks for Block Party
Stories_Underscored 48 Hours Artists & Presenters
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16TH
Touching Beauty: The Importance of Accessible Art
Friday, August 16, 9:30-9:45am
Presenter: Ted Tahquechi, he/him
I imagine a world where everyone can experience the beauty of visual art, regardless of their ability to see. In this talk, I explore the transformative power of accessibility in visual art for the blind and visually impaired.
As a blind photographer, I dreamed of finding a way to make visual art accessible. Rather than waiting for someone else to do it, I developed a method to extract the texture from an image allowing it to be printed with a 3d printer. Let's explore redefining visual art to include those who cannot see, allowing them to "touch" beauty.
About Ted Tahquechi, he/him
Ted has loved photography since 1986. His career path led him to video game production, but in 1999, a car accident left Ted with no vision in his right eye, and low functioning vision in his left.
Despite visual limitations, the camera became his tool to capture moments he couldn’t perceive directly. Ted returned to school and completed degrees in studio art photography and fine art photography.
Ted and his wife Carrie have shown at Access Gallery, and bodyscapes.photography. In 2023, Ted and Carrie were INSITE Fund grantees through RedLine, and this multisensorial project made its debut at the National Federation of the Blind national conference in 2024. Ted now donates his photography to organizations that uplift lives.
Instagram: @nedskee
T'boli Women of Lake Sebu
Friday, August 16, 9:45-10am
Presenter: Elaine Antonio Bordeaux, she/her
My art is my heritage, my life experiences, my dreams and my aspirations for our people. My presentation explores the rich diversity of my Philippine heritage, focusing on the indigenous T’boli women of Lake Sebu in Mindanao.
We will delve into the vibrant cultural heritage, traditions, and artistic expressions of the T’boli, highlighting their unique craftsmanship, traditional music, and intricate weaving techniques.
This exploration aims to celebrate the T’boli’s distinct identity within the broader Filipino community, emphasizing the importance of preserving their cultural heritage in the face of modernization and globalization. Join me in appreciating the profound contributions of the T’boli to the cultural mosaic of the Philippines and the world.
About Elaine Antonio Bordeaux, she/her
Elaine Antonio Bordeaux is a Filipina American lawyer and sculptor based in Colorado, US. An immigrant advocate, a veteran immigration lawyer and a multi-talented visual artist. She is the President and Executive Director of the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, a nonprofit with a mission of promoting Philippine Arts, culture and History.
Elaine was awarded the 2023 Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World Award in Prague by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN). Her global pitch project is the Filipina war hero Magdalena Leones sculpture project. Elaine lives with her husband in Colorado, where they enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature.
Instagram: @eabordeauxart
Cultural Erasure in Arts Districts
Friday, August 16, 10-10:15am
Presenter: Von Guinness Ventures - Charity Von Guinness, she/her
The cycle plays out again and again: artists move into an abandoned urban neighborhood, finding vacant warehouse space that works as a make shift studio. Word gets out that artists have moved to what promises to be the “next hip epicenter.” Developers and retailers swoop in to cash in on the inevitable hype of the cool new locale. Many of the areas are near or in the middle of minority communities with homes, businesses, and deep histories that span generations.
The development is typically swift, dismissive, and impulsive, quickly transforming a community from a close-knit cultural neighborhood to a sleek, homogenized entertainment epicenter. This rapid increase in investment, luxury residential, foot traffic, and retail bloats prices, creating an impossible scenario for residents, local businesses, galleries, and artists—eradicating the very things that gave value to the area in the first place, while silencing the voices, values, and rich cultures that give our cities exceptional strength and resilience.
Von Guinness will tackle critical questions in finding more equitable solutions to this cycle of what she refers to as "not gentrification but cultural eradication." How are we defining what an art district is? How can we stop these cycles of displacement through intentionality? Where can residents and artists have very early power in determining the direction and development of the communities they call home? And most importantly: How can we leverage the creative economy to benefit all?
About Charity Von Guinness, she/her
Charity Von Guinness holds a degree from New York University, and several certifications in equitable change leadership and design/systems thinking facilitation. She has served in significant executive roles at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, ProjectArt, Locust Projects and RiNo Art District.
In 2023, Von Guinness founded a consultancy to champion the integration of artists into unconventional industries and contexts. She believes that creative, imaginative, and avant-garde thinking are essential for thriving through breakneck progress. She currently resides in Denver, CO with her art collection, bulldog and Persian cat.
Instagram: @baroness_von_b
She Speaks
Friday, August 16, 10-11am
Presenters: Moe Gram, she/her & Kandice Porter, she/her
She Speaks is an intergenerational story telling workshop that encourages participants to offer each other the gift of being heard. Together, Moe Gram and Kandice Porter have curated a facilitated conversation that encourages generations of women to feel empowered by their story.
Telling our story is a way for us all to reconnect to our humanity and our community. When we share space and share stories, we heal, connect, feel, and consider the unconsidered. The experience of exchanging stories benefits all of us: internally, collectively, and intergenerationally.
In this spirit, we invite you to a facilitated intergenerational storytelling conversation that will allow us to collect and share stories between women.
About Moe Gram, she/her
Moe Gram is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Denver, CO and works on a diverse array of mediums that include murals, collage, and large scale—installation works. Gram graduated from California State University Bakersfield with a major in Visual Arts and a minor in Cultural Studies, during which she participated in a 6-month museum studies and studio art program in Florence, Italy.
Her art can be seen in murals throughout Colorado, an installation in the Denver Art Museum's Creative Hub, Empower Field at Mile High, and at various locations throughout the Denver metro area and state of Colorado.
About Kandice Porter, she/her
Kandice Porter is a dynamic force in the world of storytelling, using her platform as an inspirational speaker and workshop facilitator to empower individuals to share their narratives and amplify their voices. As the visionary behind The Filling Well, a video content agency, Kandice provides a unique space for people to step into the spotlight and connect with larger audiences through the power of visual storytelling.
Grounded in her unwavering faith, Kandice brings a spiritual perspective to her work, encouraging individuals to not only share their stories but also to embrace their inner strength and tap into their divine purpose. Through her guidance and inspiration, she empowers others to find their voices and make a positive impact in their communities.
Instagram: @mi_moegram and @kandicelporter
Patterns of Seeing
Friday, August 16, 10:15-11:00am
Presenter: Tsehai Johnson, she/they
Patterns of Seeing is a walking tour of 3-4 blocks around RedLine to identify, celebrate, and discuss the most common weeds found in Denver. We will discuss the weeds, our relationship to the plants, and their health benefits.
The macroscopic scale of our earth is tied to the microscopic details of how we live our lives and organize our relationship to our immediate environment. Patterns of Seeing attempts to transform the narrative that the non-cultivated plants are unwelcome and that they should be eradicated. This walk exploring the minutiae of the streetscape will add to the participants understanding of the details that surround us that often get overlooked or are underappreciated.
We will celebrate nearby wild plants that succeed without any human support while sharing stories, research, and exchanging recipes.
Walkers will meet at the front desk at RedLine.
About Tsehai Johnson, she/they
Tsehai Johnson is a Colorado based artist whose interests explore the boundaries between public and private life, particularly the everyday choices we make and their impact on our environment. Recent topics of investigation have been her household consumption, her relationship to the cultivated and wild plants in the environs, and issues of food consumption and food insecurity.
Her extensive exhibitions include Denver Art Museum,, Biennale Internationale de Vallauris, Magnelli Museum (France), White Columns (New York), and the World Ceramic Biennale (Korea).
Johnson is a Professor in the Department of Art at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She has received several public commissions in Colorado.
Instagram: @Tsehai1
The Vernacular of Memory
Friday, August 16, 11am-12pm
Presenters: Sidewalk Poets and Eileen Roscina, she/her
This workshop would guide the participants to resurface personal stories through the use of *vernacular photographs. These photos could either be sourced from the participants personal archive, or provided found photos that might spark a personal memory/story.
We’re interested in investigating perception, the idea of “truth” in a photograph and how this interacts with our memories and their related stories. Photos have a tendency to overwrite or augment our memories/stories, especially over long periods of time. Memory, too, itself is a process of storytelling, of fiction-making.
With these ideas as our foundation, we will guide participants through creative writing exercises, giving words to the silent language of photography and image. This workshop will culminate in the making of a group collage poem and image, after a dedicated time for sharing.
*images by amateur photographers of everyday life and subjects, commonly in the form of snapshots.
Sidewalk Poets provides free self-empowerment and healing-based creative writing, storytelling and arts workshops to under-resourced communities.
Through these workshops, emerging writers from underrepresented backgrounds gain resources, tools and opportunities to share their voices, activate self-confidence, process the past, and receive support to enrich and empower their communities. Courtney Morgan and Abby Templeton Greene are both published authors and creative writing educators, with more than two decades of teaching experience.
Eileen Roscina, she/her, is an artist, experimental filmmaker and naturalist from Denver, Colorado. She holds an MFA in Art Practices from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a BFA from Emerson College in Boston, MA, and also trained at the School of Botanical Art and Illustration in Denver. Through biomimicry and the study of biophilia, her work examines human’s spiritual and social (dis)connection with nature, and seeks to raise questions about realizing a radically different metaphoric mapping of time, space and our place in the world.
Instagram: @sidewalk_poets and @eileenroscina
Creating Alternate Universes: Analyzing Fanfiction Through a Commons Framework
Friday, August 16, 11am-12pm
Presenter: Sierra Karas, they/them
This workshop will explore the intersections of storytelling, fanfiction, and the commons. When mainstream media doesn’t satisfy our curiosity, needs, identities, etc., people turn to fanfiction--both to write and to read.
But what if we analyzed fanfiction as an example of a commons? We would see that fanfiction serves as a tool and example of our ability to share resources, build rhizomatic community networks, engage creatively with the world around us, and do so without monetary incentive or gain.
We will ask: Why does fanfiction exist at such prevalence and what communal and individual needs it may be meeting? What else is possible when we embrace our own authority over the narratives we consume and that exist around us? And, how can intentionally naming commoning at work give us examples and inspiration to further share resources and create community in other areas?
About Sierra Karas, they/them
Sierra Karas is a queer mixed-media artist and writer who’s passionate about exploring the intersections of art, community building, and social change, informed by commons/undercommons frameworks.
They are fascinated by tracing the edges of forms known and made, subverting expectations, and beckoning a closer look at the world around us with a focus on decentering and dismantling systems of oppression by foraging rhizomatic networks of support and communal care.
Bubbling Up: Shattering Silence
Friday, August 16, 1-3pm
Presenter: Healing Grace Studio
Bubbling Up is a call to action for all members of our communities to come together and heal. In a time when incidents of racist and xenophobic violence are on the rise, it’s essential that there’s a safe and inclusive space for individuals to share their experiences. This social justice healing art project provides an opportunity to heal racial divides and unify community.
The BIPOC community is invited to write their stories of racism, discrimination, harassment, and injustice on fabricated, sphere-like units that represent the bubbles that some people who are sheltered from this experience of discrimination sometimes live in. These stories allow people to know they are not alone, a counterpoint to the isolation and fear that can linger long afterward.
Everyone is invited to write a response of empathy, or commitment to change in response to the stories. It’s an opportunity for those not writing bubbles to understand what the BIPOC experience is, and the invisible wounds that are carried by the people they walk side by side with. Recognizing these issues helps us move toward a more inclusive, equitable society.
About Grace Gee, she/her
Grace Gee’s healing art explores the boundaries of the human condition, bringing to light the deep, often unspoken aspects of our shared experiences.
She works in a variety of media including sculpture, fiber, artist books and installation work. Since 2003, she has produced healing and social justice art events for all ages, reflecting her commitment to collective well-being and social change. Her unique approach to life, art, and healing is shaped by her BA in Psychology and an MA in Conscious Evolution.
Grace is a Chinese Canadian now residing in Louisville, Colorado. Her work is influenced by her bi-cultural upbringing, and is strongly rooted in spiritual growth, healing, and transformation.
Instagram: @gracegeeart
The Euphoria Quilt Quilting Bee
Friday, August 16, 1-2:45pm
Presenter: Eliot Anderberg, they/them
The Euphoria Quilt is a trans and queer group quilt made of blocks sent by over 165 people from 40 states and 4 countries that answer the question, “What does your gender expansive joy look like?” It aims to be an archive that celebrates joy and marks our resistance during this time of persecution and scapegoating of trans and gender-variant people. The 11'x12' quilt is currently touring the country to be hand quilted in community.
At this quilting bee, attendees will gather and add their own stitches to the quilt. It is also an opportunity to view the quilt and take in all 165 blocks that appear in it. Stitching instruction will be provided, and people of all sewing abilities (including no experience!) are encouraged to attend.
About Eliot Anderberg, they/them
Eliot Anderberg (they/them) is a quilter and artist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are the creator of the Euphoria Quilt, a trans and queer group quilt project that seeks to celebrate and archive expressions of gender-expansive joy.
In the spirit of their great-great and great grandmothers, four of whom gathered frequently with their community to make quilts, they are interested in quilting as a community-based art form that fosters connection, both in the present and across space and time.
Instagram: @euphoriaquilt
Boundaries: Homeless by America
Friday, August 16, 1:30-1:40pm
Presenter: Yong Cho, he/him
About Yong Cho (he/him)
With over a quarter century of experience, Yong is a visionary architect and planner whose designs are celebrated for their elegant simplicity and economic sensibility. His innovative approach to architecture and keen eye for detail have enriched communities, leaving an indelible mark on the built environment.
As a principal at Studio Completiva, Yong has established himself as a leader in mixed-use, mixed-income, and mixed-construction planning and design within intricate site contexts. His ability to navigate complex city blocks involving multiple stakeholders and owners is unparalleled, earning him a reputation for delivering award-winning projects that set new standards for design excellence.
Instagram: @yongbcho
My Ibuprofen: I love you, I do
Friday, August 16, 1:40-1:50pm
Presenter: Akusua Akoto, she/her
'Ibuprofen, I love you too' weaves memoir and essay. It’s about where disability and chronic conditions meets pop and black culture and humor. As a proud '80s and '90s kid, pop culture saved my life, but I didn't see where I could fit in these cultures.
My goal is to bring the conversations of disability without fear. Some examples include Notorious B.I.G., overcooked shrimp and asthma; proving disability in a social security office; it gets better (but what if it doesn't)—notes on depression, positivity, and reality.
About Akusua Akoto, she/her
Akusua Akoto, a native of Dallas, is a black disabled writer of poetry, memoir, and spoken word. A 2024 Lighthouse Writers Emerging BIPOC fellow and 2023 Muse Mentorship fellow, her work has been published by Heavy Feather Review and Syntax Magazine and she has been interviewed by the New York Times for the article “30 people tell us what homelessness is really like.”
LinkedIn: Akusua A Akoto
Colonial Stockholm Syndrome: Unveiling Puerto Rico’s Psychological Bonds
Friday, August 16, 1:50-2:00pm
Presenter: Denise Zubizarreta, she/they
Join us for a captivating presentation on Colonial Stockholm Syndrome (CSS) in Puerto Rico, exploring the deep psychological bonds formed through centuries of colonization. We will uncover the island’s historical ties with the United States, analyze the psychological mechanisms of CSS, and share personal stories that bring these theories to life.
Learn about modern political movements, the 2024 special committee on decolonization, and the influence of cultural artifacts like Spanish Casta paintings. Discover how these complex relationships shape Puerto Rican identity and future aspirations. Don’t miss this insightful journey into Puerto Rico’s colonial past and present.
About Denise Zubizarreta, she/they
Denise Zubizarreta is a neurodivergent Cultural Operations Specialist and Interdisciplinary Artist of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, with decades of experience in various creative fields.
She is currently an arts and culture writer for multiple leading publications that offer curated and critical perspectives on contemporary art, film, television, and culture.
Zubizarreta holds a B.F.A. in Fine Art from Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, and is completing her Master’s in Arts Leadership and Cultural Management (M.A.L.C.M.) at Colorado State University.
Instagram: @thevampdeville
Film Screening and the making of Buffalo Soldiers: reVision
Friday, August 16, 2:00-2:45pm
Presenter: Eric Carpio, he/him
History, place, and fine art intersect in buffalo soldiers: reVision, an exhibition at the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center, for an examination of the complicated legacy of the all-Black Army regiments established in 1866 following the Civil War.
Known as Buffalo Soldiers, these regiments—including the 9th Cavalry who were stationed at Fort Garland from 1875 to 1879—played an important role in American westward expansion and the displacement of Indigenous populations.
Through the lens of a multi-ethnic, multi-gender team of artists from across the United States, buffalo soldiers: reVision disrupts common narratives of manifest destiny and presents an opportunity to reconcile some of the most difficult aspects of our collective past. This interactive conversation with several people involved in the project will include a short film which follow the artist's journey of discovery and creation.
About Eric J. Carpio, he/him
Eric J. Carpio is the Chief Community Museum Officer for History Colorado and the Director of the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center. At Fort Garland, he's leading the museum toward a renewed vision centered on co-creating and elevating diverse voices through community engagement and collaboration.
Fort Garland was selected as a finalist for the 2023 National Medal, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries, by the Institute of Museum & Library Services.
In 2019, Eric was selected as one of ten Senior Fellows for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) for the American Association of Museums Facing Change initiative. Eric has a B.S. from Colorado State University and a M.A. from Adams State University. He is an alumnus of the University of Denver’s Latino Leadership Institute and the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Social Impact Strategy.
Instagram: @carpioej
Paper Art Storytelling
Friday, August 16, 3-4pm
Presenters: Risa Friedman (she/her) & Devin Urioste (he/him)
Storytelling plays an integral role in social change and art is a powerful tool for sharing our stories. Zines and collage art can allow us to describe our unique lived experiences while simultaneously communicating universal messages to which we can all relate.
In this workshop, participants will learn about the art of collage and simple zine-making with a storytelling approach. Devin and Risa will share some of their own personal stories and how they’ve incorporated them into their art.
They’ll walk you through a brainstorming exercise and some artistic techniques to incorporate elements such as color, texture and shapes to create your own paper-based stories. All supplies will be provided. No previous experience with collage or zines necessary.
About Devin Urioste (he/him)
Devin Urioste's art speaks directly to what it means to use your voice and self expression as a tool to resist oppression and create a platform for those who have not had the opportunity to do so. Using a variety of materials including spray paint, collage, and found objects, his work not only focuses on the creation process but also its ability to facilitate conversations within his community and throughout Denver.
He uses these tools to teach his community how to use their identity as a source of creation as well. Devin has taught his curriculum "Identity, Power, & Art" in multiple spaces including the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art and Rino Art District.
Instagram: @goodlooksvol.1
About Risa Friedman (she/her)
Risa Friedman is a multidisciplinary artist, with a focus on photography, paper arts and installation. She grew up in suburban New York, but draws much of her inspiration from living in cities and watching them change—New York, Brighton (UK), Quito (Ecuador) and currently Denver. One of her favorite parts of her process is people: she loves collaborating with other artists and meeting people who live and work in the spaces she photographs.
Risa has participated in storytelling training to become a better storyteller and listener of other peoples’ stories, as well as training in creating a trauma-informed, stress-responsive workplace. She currently leads a maternal and child health storytelling project at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE).
Instagram: @risafriedman
Imaginary Chinatowns: Using AR for building a memory lane
Friday, August 16, 4-5pm
Presenters: K! Collective
This hands-on AR-making workshop will ideally be experienced with your own laptop computer, but please feel free to join with just a mobile phone.
When did your family move to Colorado, or to the United States? What does it mean to belong to a place or community? Our immersive AR workshop will guide participants through the process of collecting images for a virtual/augmented reality space, and building their own memory lane of family immigration history.
We will also share our process of creating an immersive AR historical walking tour, retelling the events of the 1880 anti-Chinese race riot in Denver, which destroyed the growing Chinese community at the time—and the imaginary Chinatown that might exist in Denver today, had the race riot not taken place.
At a minimum, participants will walk away with having created one simple AR image, placed in front of them, on location in the museum.
About K! Collective
K! Collective is an artistic collaboration between Kai Lin Zhang (they/them) and Kyle Albasi (he/him). Their "Imaginary Chinatown" immersive street theater piece was part of the Denver Fringe Festival, and their installation artwork was recently featured in exhibition at the Kunstquartier Bethanien in Berlin, and will be part of the Colorado History Museum. Kai Lin is a visual artist and playwright, who works as a software engineer at AidKit, and formerly served as an immigrant labor organizer in NYC Chinatown. Kyle Albasi is a writer and visual artist with a BFA in Film and Media Arts from Temple University in PA, with writing published in Happy Harpy Review and Five South Journal.
Instagram: @k.not_arts
The Other Side of the Tracks Exhibition Opening Reception
Friday, August 16, 6-9pm MST
PLUS a performance by Dead Pioneers at 8pm!
Curated by Jorge Rojas
The Other Side of the Tracks, a traveling exhibition, features the work of nine national and internationally recognized contemporary artists from communities whose voices have been excluded from the triumphal tales of the American railroad.
The Other Side of the Tracks presents an imaginative new understanding of the locomotive through the eyes of artists from historically marginalized communities. As a new generation of faster trains emerges, we must think critically about the history of our railways: who they have served, who they’ve neglected, and who they have hurt.
The power that trains have to move and inspire us is still strong, but if we are to build a more equitable future, we must make a more concerted effort to clearly see our past.
Punk band Dead Pioneers play at 8pm, led by vocalist Gregg Deal, nationally known Indigenous artist of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
Destination Rest
Saturday, August 17, 9:00-10:00am
Presenter: Ashley Cornelius, she/her
Destination Rest is a community nap that invites participants to rest, relax, and replenish, in the community and the arts. Attendees will be invited sleep, nap, and relax to the sounds of original affirmation poetry from the Poet Laureate of the Pikes Peak Region, Ashley Cornelius. Attendees will be asked to write an affirmation for themselves that will be incorporated into the poetry performance.
A guided meditation will lead the group into a period of rest. As attendees come back to the present moment after the rest, they will be led through a creative art exercise to promote artistic expression and share in a community discussion about rest. This presentation explores how prioritizing rest is a social issue that can be addressed and sustained within the collective experience and artistic expression.
About Ashley Cornelius, she/her
Ashley Cornelius is the first Black Poet Laureate of the Pikes Peak Region. She was raised and still resides in Colorado Springs. She is a nationally recognized and award-winning spoken-word poet, facilitator, and keynote speaker. Her poetry reflects her intersectionality as a Black, fat, queer, woman.
Ashley has her master’s degree in International Disaster Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Ashley is the Co-Director of Poetry719, a Black-led poetry group lifting the voices of marginalized communities through events such as Black Voices Matter, Queer BIPOC open Mic, and Disability Awareness Open Mic. Ashley has shared the stage with former U.S. Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo, commissioned work for the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee and the James Turrell Skyspace.
Instagram: @accpoetrynow
Keynote Performance/Q&A: Breaking Bread with Jamaal ‘Black Root’ Collier
Saturday, August 17, 10-11:15 am
Food is essential for nourishment, growth and life. If it’s prepared in a special way, it tastes great, too! This morning's conversation will be food for thought. We will be discussing how to prepare, season, and share the best version of ourselves with each other in community through mantra, music and storytelling. There is an undeniable connection we all have when we decide to sit down and eat together. Let's break bread.
About Jamaal Black Root Collier, he/him
Jamaal 'Black Root' Collier is an artist and educator based in Baltimore, Maryland(USA). As a human beatbox, he has garnered recognition for his innovative use of vocal percussion, and toured with Step Afrika, one of the top 10 African American Dance Companies in the nation. He's channeled his passion for movement and music into co-founding Beatbox Dads, a live performance program for kids that has performed internationally. As a songwriter, he has contributed to musical projects that have been nominated for a Grammy Award. As a host and master teaching artist, Jamaal has won the Artist of the Year award and shared his talents with audiences around the world, effectively impacting over 500,000 people through stage, workshops and professional development.
As a spoken word artist, musician and emcee, Root has shared the stage with The Roots, Sonia Sanchez, Amir Baraka, The Legendary Last Poets, and Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles to name a few. With roots in Central America (Costa Rica) & South America (Guyana)., Jamaal brings a unique perspective to his artistry and continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with the human voice.
Instagram: @blackroot1
Intimate Conversations: Exploring Connection in the Black Community
Saturday, August 17, 11:30-11:40am
Presenter: Yvens Alex Saintil, he/they
Join me as I share my journey toward understanding intimacy and healthy masculinity within the Black community. I’ll discuss the unlearning and relearning of intimacy, the importance of platonic relationships, and how Intimacy Mapping deepened my connections.
Growing up in a culture of toxic masculinity, I became a facilitator of its toxicity until bell hooks transformed my perspective. Her writings on power, gender, and race reshaped my worldview. Inspired by bell hooks and Dr. Cornel West, I embraced feminism and activism. Like James Baldwin, I critique my country out of love, striving for a society where everyone can live their truth.
About Yvens Alex Saintil, he/they
Haitian-born multidisciplinary artist and veteran, Yvens Alex Saintil was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and raised in Queens, New York. He currently resides and work in Denver, Colorado. Saintil served 10 years in the United States Army as an Infantryman and is a recipient of the Purple Heart.
With a deep commitment to the storytelling of historical events, cultural heritage, and personal experiences, Yvens creates art that connects past injustices to present systems of oppression. His work often explores themes of identity, systemic injustice, and community strength—providing a platform for underrepresented voices and sparking crucial conversations about race, equality, and justice.
Instagram: @alex_shootz
Millennials Performance
Saturday, August 17, 11:40-11:50am
Performer: Schama Noel (he/him)
Schama Noel will be performing songs from his unreleased project “Millennials.”
About Schama Noel (he/him)
Born in Port Au Prince, Haiti to two conservative Christian parents, Noel’s rap aspirations were nearly dead on arrival. Despite his adamance on not cursing and staying away from sexually explicit material, Noel still couldn’t get his parent’s blessing nor their blind eye. Yet Noel continued onward in secret, filling his teenage years with poetry that evolved into voracious flows that have established him as the artist he is today.
Instagram: @SchamaNoel
Escuela Tlatelolco: Healing Communal Wounds with Art
Saturday, August 17, 11:50-12:00pm
Presenter: Neena Expressions, she/her
Neena will discuss her experience hosting the Community Gathering for the last three years. The inspiration of this project was the erasure of the iconic mural from the front side of Escuela Tlatelolco’s building after the school closed in 2017, made by renowned Chicana artist Carlota Espinoza. The murals were constructed by pioneers of the Chicano movement, and became part of the cultural identity of the Northside. They were erased by investors who bought the building, yet didn’t understand the history.
The gathering began as a way to bring the school community together to heal from the school closure, and celebrate the Chicano artists of Denver. Neena will discuss how to build trust between various communities after this type of cultural destruction, and how to create public art that represents the evolving community of the Northside. Understanding the outcomes and directional flow of this project will benefit others dealing with similar situations in their cities.
About Neena Expressions, she/her
Neena Expressions encourages self healing through artistic expression. She began dancing at the age of 4, and went on to study Middle Eastern Dance and Classical South Indian dance. She obtained her MFA-IA in 2019 in Performance Art Education and honed her skills in live presentation, writing, photo, and video, adding Urdu Poetics to her repertoire.
As a first generation Pakistani American, her performance art engages traditional South Indian ritual and ceremony with poetry, mantra, and meditation that draws on diverse languages and cultures. She’s performed over 50 times in Denver, New York, and Port Townsend.
Through integrative work, she creates spaces of individual and collective healing in order to amplify the potential for trauma recovery, unlocking genuine self awareness and potent self transformation.
Instagram: @neenaexp
Synesthesia Song Performance & Film Screening
Saturday, August 17, 1-1:30pm
Presenter: Rita Corey, she/her
Synesthesia is a phenomenon that causes sensory crossovers, such as tasting colors or feeling sounds. It is also the name of Rita Corey's new film in collaboration with Reaf Van Abby Arts- and performance in collaboration with Alex Milewski about living with bipolar disorder.
We will share a short excerpt from the live performance as well as the complete film shown for the first time in public. The full show involves 20 performers—ballet dancers, acrobats, break-dancers, and musicians—in a phantasmagoria through which Corey’s consciousness is traced through a troupe of “lunatics” who perform around her.
Corey aims to characterize illness through movement; she provides an audience of peers an opening to celebrate themselves destigmatized, while she and her troupe challenge the broader public to share her experience through entertainment, drama, and humor.
About Rita Corey (she/her)
Rita Jasmine Corey is choreographer, teacher and performer living in Denver Colorado. In her most recent project Synesthesia she directed a performance, film, and mental health reception under the directors initiative program of the company LuneAseas. For 5 years, she worked with Heartbeat Ballet in Fort Collins co-directing, choreographing and dancing. For the past 10 years she has made art(choreograph, film, performance art) with various companies and other creatives in Colorado. Her work incites self reflection, healing, and growth.
Dream Create Inspire Tour's DreamTrack
Saturday, August 17, 1:30-2:30pm
Presenter: Destiny Hardney, she/her
Dream Create Inspire Tour's DreamTrack session invites participants to collaborate on a creative journey guided by healing practices with the goal of telling a collective story through music. Together, we will integrate personal and group narratives to build a collective dream that becomes a unique demo.
Participants will explore aspects of music creation with professional musicians and facilitators directing their vision to production. The workshop's emphasis on the healing power of music ensures a nurturing environment, fostering a deep sense of community well-being.
About the Dream Create Inspire Tour
The Dream Create Inspire Tour is a hub for innovation, healing, and connection. Through music education and community events, we create spaces for individuals to embrace their personal power and for all of us to build synergistic communities.
By partnering with small BIPOC businesses, libraries, youth programs, correctional facilities, senior centers, and more, we facilitate music-based workshops that foster connection through storytelling, collaboration, and liberatory practices.
Instagram: @dcitour
Dear Denver: A Workshop & Presentation of Poems
Saturday, August 17, 2:30-3:30pm
Presenter: Suzi Q. Smith, she/her
"Dear Denver” is both a collection of visual poetry written and performed by Suzi Q. Smith, as well as a workshop series led by Smith and fellow community members who call Denver home. The workshops are designed to inspire odes and elegies to our most cherished Denver memories, places, and people, and remember them together. Denver is one of the most rapidly gentrifying cities in the United States.
When compounded with the grief, isolation, and disorientation of COVID-19, the last few years have many Denver residents feeling a deep sense of loss. This work brings people together in intimate workshop sessions for guided discussions and sharing with one another in a way to connect and remind each other how vibrant, diverse, and powerful our community is.
About Suzi Q. Smith, she/her
Suzi Q. Smith is an award-winning poet, author, interdisciplinary artist, music maker, and dreamer of dreams who lives in Denver, Colorado.
Instagram: @suziqsmith
Block Party
Saturday, August 17, 5:30-10pm
Fashion Talk
Presenter: Lilian Lara, she/her
5:30-6pm
Clothing has and will forever be a method of communication. It is an art form we use to signal who we are, where we belong, and what we believe. It is my own personal persuasion to use what I wear as a form of innovation and storytelling. I will display designs that blend together history, culture, and myth allowing attendees a behind the seams look at how these pieces are imagined, created, and worn to be symbols of power.
Through this fashion showcase and demonstration we will explore the historical and mythical roots of my designs: Malintzin, Coatlicue, and Chalchiuhtlicue.
About Lilian Lara (she/her)
Lilian Lara leans on the dramatic to create outrageous displays of pageantry out of the everyday. In true Rasquachismo fashion, she makes the most from the least, creating a new identity in every work as an act of defiance and innovation by transforming recycled and discarded items into beautiful displays of wearable art.
These designs showcase an amalgam of tradition while exuding a dramatic modern Mexican aesthetic. For her, these displays of outrageous pageantry become a way to celebrate the resilience and resourcefulness found in our communities.
Instagram: @lilianlarastudio
TRANSformative Stories Performance with Motus Theater
Performer: Shauna Brooks (she/her)
Saturday, August 17, 6:15-6:45pm
In this Motus Theater’s TRANSformative Stories performance, Shauna Brooks (she/her) presents her artfully crafted autobiographical monologue “The HRT with HRT.” Shauna tells her story of how as a Black transgender teenage girl without access to gender-affirming care she had to go to the streets to get the hormones and silicone shots that eased her dysphoria and helped her pass as female to survive transphobic violence. Sixteen years later, she is sharing her experience to call for gender-affirming care for all, because the street treatments that protected her from being killed are now poisoning her body.
The performance features music from acclaimed violinist Anthony Salvo (he/him). Shauna Brooks’ monologue was developed in a 24-week transformative storytelling workshop in collaboration with Motus Theater Artistic Executive Director Kirsten Wilson.
Motus Theater TRANSformative Stories Monologist Shauna Brooks (she/her) is an entertainment actress, model & influencer notable in the beauty, fashion & entertainment industries. She’s a visionary with an insatiable desire to create informative, impactful, and progressive systemic changes in the lives of LGBTQIA+ people, particularly those identifying as POC. She aims to support the LGBTQIA+ community to overcome societal barriers, economic disparities, online censorship discrimination, and other systemic obstacles to a thriving livelihood.
Instagram: @motustheater
Ciudad Reina
Saturday, August 17, 8-10pm
Latine DJ duo, Ciudad Reina will bring an engulfing experience of Latine sounds that will take you on an odyssey of exploration.
Expect to be surprised and enchanted by music selections from Méjico woven into the sonic fabric.
Instagram: @ciudadreinaco
Support
RedLine would Like to thank Denver Arts & Venues for sponsoring 48 Hours of Socially Engaged Art & Conversation Summit. Additionally, we would like to thank our leading Annual Fund Sponsors for their support Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Colorado Creative Industries, David & Laura Merage Foundation, Lynda M. Goldstein Foundation, SCFD, and the Residents Society members for their support.
