March 5-8
2020
Welcome Welcome and thank you for supporting the first annual Women of Color Arts Festival. WoCAF is centrally located in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District coinciding with First Friday festivities, March 5th - 8th. It is an opportunity to celebrate Las Vegas’s Women of Color artists of all disciplines along with the centennial of women getting the right to vote, on the heels of Black History month, and with International Women’s Day! Women of Color Arts Festival is grateful to be a part of a national and global movement to call in voices who have been marginalized in cultural and political systems and give women of color real power that comes with representation. Women of color have been systemically left out of movements such as women’s suffrage and now 100 years later wocs are leading the charge on political and social change. Las Vegas Women of Color Artists of all disciplines are often the generators of social, cultural, artistic change. This festival seeks to not only make women of color artwork visible to a wider audience, but also to include wocs in the planning, production and decision making of this festival. We are grateful to organizations and leaders in the community who have made this festival possible with their generosity and vision. The Festival is hosting an array of events: a galleried exhibit, “Art of Us,” at the Arts Factory Warhol Loft featuring all Women of Color Department of Art Faculty members from UNLV; free community workshops in visual art, dance, storytelling, zine making and more; live theater performances of Men On Boats at Vegas Theatre Company; a Jazz Brunch hosted by Skye Dee Miles followed by a panel discussion on how to move forward as a community.
Festival Schedule Thursday March 5 5pm “Art of Us” Opening Party Arts Factory Warhol Loft 9pm Music and Poetry Artiface
Friday March 6 5pm First Friday Arts Square 7-10pm LV Kaminari Taiko Drummers Arts Square Theatre 7:30pm PAATI Majestic Repertory Theatre
Saturday March 7 10am Storytelling Workshop Art Square Theatre 11am Passion Planner Workshop Warhol Loft 12pm Afro Sexy Dance Workshop Blue Sky Yoga 2pm Men on Boats Art Square Theatre 2pm Black Women Speak: A Roundtable Nevada State Museum 2pm Dance Nation The Playhouse 3pm Zine Making Workshop Warhol Loft 7:30pm Men on Boats Art Square Theatre 7:30pm PAATI Majestic Repertory Theatre
Sunday March 8 8am 11am 1pm 5pm 5pm
Yoga Ferguson’s Jazz Brunch w/ Skye Dee Miles 18Bin WOC in the Arts Panel Discussion Art Square Theatre Men on Boats Art Square Theatre PAATI Majestic Repertory Theatre
Women of Color Arts Festival Executive Producer Elizabeth Colon Nelson Visual Art Producer Fawn Douglas Community Liason Ashanti McGee Event Coordinator Alicia Sanchez Revzin Music Liason Tree Hill Producing Consultant Jennifer Cleven Graphic Designer Crystal Ann Mitchell Event Photograopher Krystal Ramirez Cornerstone Producer Vegas Theatre Company Executive Artistic Director Daz Weller Thank You to Brian Knudsen, Jennifer Cornthwaite, UNLV Art Departmewnt, Wendy Kveck, Toby Allen, Jeff Carter, Gabe Mc KInney, Evey Weller, Lauren Rosenblatt and the boars of Vegas Theatre Company, Maythinee Washington, Breanna McCallum, Dina Titus, Yvanna Cancela The Women of Color Arts Festival is made possible with as grant from the Nevada Arts Council
Women of Color Arts Festival began from a question. I went to see a play over a year ago because of a woman in the play who’s work I admire. She is one of those performers that can change the feel of the room by walking on stage. She is powerful, dynamic, and truthful. The play she was in was… fine, but this brilliantly talented African American woman struggled, not with her performance, but with so many production details. Her costume didn’t fit right and so her beautiful full figure looked misshapen and lumpy. The color choices for her costume dulled her skin. The lighting choices made her look sickly and on and on. And this production was at a well-respected theater that had a large budget for production, but it wasn’t used with thought and care for people of color. I was mad after the show. I couldn’t understand how a production team could miss all of this!?! And if you know me, then you know I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut especially when something feels wrong. So, I met up with my friend the performer and I shared with her my observations. It was like someone let open the flood gates. She told me all about her struggles with the director and the design team and how she just had to shut down a bit in order to do the show. And then I thought, “What would this play look like if every aspect of the production was put in place to support this woman of color?” It was one of those question that I couldn’t unask and it became a lens that I started to see all arts programming, events or productions… and then in that way that happens, I started to ask myself if I ever had that kind of production support: writers who were women of color willing to struggle with me to help bring out my funny; costume designers who were women of color and could look at a costume and know if it would be a right color choice for my skin; lighting designers, carpenters, marketers, PRODUCERS… Had I ever had other women of color adovating for me as an artist? The answer was no. No, I had never had the kind of support my female white counter parts had in terms of support, understanding, space to make mistakes, a production team given permission to make my wildest ideas possible, support to take up space, support to bring out what is uniquely exceptional about me. I had always thought the problem was with my vagina. That I had often been the only woman in the rehearsal room or the only woman in a writing session, and surely the problem was that a bunch of men didn’t know what to do with women. And yes, that was part of it for sure, but as this question “What would this play look like if every aspect of the production was put in place to support this woman of color?” began to grow for me, I saw how my female white co-workers were getting the support they needed and was like “Why is that different for me?”
And this is where the real work of this festival began. I suddenly saw that the only difference between me and these other women, had nothing to do with our gender or our abilities, it had to do with the color of our skin and the privilege that comes with whiteness. I say this as a white passing Latinx woman of Puerto Rican decent. I say this as I am embarrassingly new to knowing that being able to pass into white spaces is a privilege that many of my fellow women of color do not have. I say this as living through 38 years of my life “passing” into spaces, but not begin able to understand the cultural differences that still do not allow me to fully be a part of those spaces. I say this with a deep sadness and a feeling that I let my mother down. My mom came to the states from Puerto Rico in the height of the Civil Rights Movement. My grandfather was in the Army and was stationed in South Carolina. Let’s just say it was not easy for my mother whose skin is darker than mine, whose hair is kinky and wild, who is passionate and loud and fights back. She was beaten, spit on and not allow into state parks or pools because of the color of her skin. My mom didn’t teach me Spanish. She didn’t want me to have the “hang ups she did.” She wanted me to graduate High school, become an English teacher… do everything she couldn’t and I have and yet in many ways I was still not allowed to go to the pool party. So, as the question started me on this path of doing so REAL work around my privilege looking at structural racism and how it manifests in organizations as tokenism, passive aggressive culture, silencing etc, I began to wonder if I could produce a play that worked to support women of color by engaging women of color in every aspect of the production. I started talking with other women in other art mediums and realizing that it was not just performers who are unsupported, its so many women of color in all areas of the arts. And then I knew, it was not just a play, we, the women of color artists in Las Vegas needed a full-on Festival. At that point, I called a trusted friend and ally, Darren Weller of Vegas Theatre Company, and shared with him the need and the vision of the festival. He said, “You have full support of the Theatre to help make this happen.” Wow. Full support. True to his word, Darren and the Vegas Theatre Company became our Cornerstone Producers. V T haas helped and supported WoCAF every step along this path both big and small mundane ways. They are true partners and the kind of leaders that are willing to lift up others for the betterment of us all. From there we went slow, we wrote a grant and started calling in women of color to join our producing team. Many that got us started had to move on to other projects which helped make space for new team that eventually coalesced. Now, we have made Nevada history, with the first event of its kind. We proudly stand on the shoulders of great men and women who helped get Las Vegas ready for this festival and we cannot wait to see what and who this festival will open opportunities for in the future. Thank you for your support Elizabeth Colon Nelson Executive Producer Women of Color Arts Festival
WoCAF Opening Event
march 5
ART OF US
5:00 pm
FREE
An exhibition featuring the artwork by women of color artists from the UNLV Department of Art: art educators, students and community leaders. Participating artists: Sapira Cheuk, Marissa Gibson, Tiffany Lin, Zully Mejia, Jung Min, Jean Munson and Krystal Ramirez. Curated by Fawn Douglas
Join us in the Art Factory’s Warhol’s Loft Gallery for the opening reception as we discuss themes of body, power, and existence. This is the opening event for Women of Color Arts Festival weekend. The Arts Factory Warhol Loft 107 E Charleston Blvd Las Vegas NV
Reception begins at 5pm with official welcome at 6pm followed by an Artist Talk at 7pm.
MUSIC & march 5
9:00 pm
FREE
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Artifice 1025 S 1st St Las Vegas, NV
artificebarlv.com
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WoCAF Opening Party
POETRY
Women of Color Arts Festival celebrates the opening of the festival with Music and Poetry We have a stellar line up for the night:
Sonia Barcelona Named Best of Las Vegas by the Las Vegas Weekly & Desert Companion, Sonia celona has opened for the likes of Japanese Breakfast, SALES, Deap Vally, and Pearl Charles.
Poetry with Ms.AyeVee performance fireball of metaphor and feeling, flashing light on the struggles of divine average souls. She brings that moment of instant recognition that binds artist to audience, that makes us root for her. Beyond the trash-traps of subjugation commercialism that dominates public messaging, her poems reveal there can be a better way.
Poetry with @Jam_Poet A champion for feminism and challenging the status-quo, JAM is a show-stopping spoken word artist, performer and community organizer. Author of the book “To Get Ahead”(JANCO, 2017), JAM has been published by Linger Post Journal, Belladonna Series, Penn Sound, and Plot Twist Publishing. She has featured at Soul Sessions LV, he Truth Spot, Saturday Snaps, Flow Your Awesome, Mike Xavier’s Hip Hop & Poetry ght among many others. In 2018, JAM founded The JAM LV Open Mic and Show – a new culture for underground artists and entertainers in Las Vegas.
Music and More withTree Hillzz @TreeHillzz o’ many things.” My thought when one asks “Tree, what do you do?” Each time I take moment, breathe, or impulsively proceed to give my resume undesirably. I care about hat I do BUT not about what most people mean/intend they ask this question. What I o is only an Effect of who I am naturally. Though most important to me is connection Source. Which I understand to be, is connection to all - we are One. Giver/Receiver of , now that - I am. And as a result, I just so happen to be “good” at a few things in this Dimensional plane in order to be of service to You (i.e. Event Curator, Poet, and Light Therapist). Gratitude. Lo Dino Lo Dino is a Las Vegas Producer/DJ that serves Neo Nostalgia vibes under The Rabbit Hole Collective.===
Vegas Theatre Company Presents
MEN ON BOATS By Jaclyn Backhaus
march 7 march 8 march 13 march 14 march 15
2pm & 7:30 pm 5:00 pm 7:30pm 2pm & 7:30pm 5pm
TICKETS $25/33 all tickets during Women of Color Arts Festival $20 with code WOCAF
Art Square Theatre 1025 S 1st St #110 Las Vegas, NV
www.theatre.vegas
Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon. MEN ON BOATS is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River. Masculinity and manifest destiny meet their gender-flipped match in this hilarious and highly physical show. Join Vegas Theatre Company as we embark upon retelling this pivotal piece of local history in Men on Boats, a new play by Jaclyn Backhaus, brilliantly directed by Allegra Libonati with a powerhouse, all-female cast playing the iconic adventurers.
STORY
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march 7
10:00 am - 11:00 am
FREE
Art Square Theatre 1025 S 1st St #110 Las Vegas, NV
WoCAF Presents
YTELLING
ebrating African American Culture and History Through Stories
A storytelling event for the whole family with Ms. Binnie Wilkin. From West Africa to the Deep South and beyond, Ms. Wilkin will weave songs and stories with history and heroes for an hour that will lift your voice and your spirit! This event is FREE open to the whole community. We encourage you to bring a book to exchange. Binnie Tate Wilkin is a nationally recognized professional storyteller, writer, and consultant. In October, 2019, she was inducted into the California Library association’s LIBRARIAN HALL OF FAME. Ms. Wilkin received a Masters in Library Science from the State University of New York, Albany and during her multifaceted career, lectured and taught storytelling at Schools of Library and Information Science in various parts of the nation including Columbia University. Her publications include African American Librarians in the Far West, Pioneers and Trailblazers; African and African American Images in Newbery Award Winning Titles…and A Life in Storytelling all published by Roman and Littlefield/Scarecrow Press. Ms. Wilkin is on the Nevada Arts Council’s roster of performing artists.
Molodi Presents
PAATI {pah-tēē}
march 6 march 7 march 8
7:30 pm 7:30 pm 5:00 pm
TICKETS $30
MOLODI, in collaboration with Majestic Repertory Theatre, presents PAATI — an energetic, electric, inventive theatrical performance about a woman named PAATI and her need for the one thing that unites us all; our longing for connection; connection to people, culture, heritage, history. A story. Our story. Her story.
Majestic Rep 1217 S. Main St. Las Vegas, NV majesticrepertory.com molodilive.com
This invigorating physical theatre production invites the audience to participate in the storytelling, the rhythms, and the set and costume design from the moment they walk into the theatre. They’ll join PAATI’s party of energizing beats, rhythmic movement, and poetic exploration in this celebration of discovery of voice, purpose, and freedom.
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WoCAF Presents
PASSION PLANNER Workshop with Sapire Cheuk
march 7
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
FREE
Ever feel so bogged down with obligations, to-dos, and chores that you feel like you don’t have time to work towards your goals? Join Sapira Cheuk for this FREE Passion Planner workshop!
The Arts Factory Warhol Loft 107 E Charleston Blvd Las Vegas NV passionplanner.com
Together, we will identify your short and long-term goals and help you manage and prioritize what’s most important to you. As we’ll see, planning can even be a creative and personal outlet, to help you reflect and review your progress.
WoCAF Presents
AFRO SEXY
Workshop with Pendu
march 7
12:00pm - 1:00 pm
FREE
Blue Sky Yoga The Arts Factory 107 E Charleston Blvd Las Vegas NV
Created by Kishema Pendu Malik, this workshop is a blend of Jazz, Hip Hop, Burlesque and West African dance styles. The result is a fabulous “Afro Sexy� workout that challenges your mind, body and spirit. Channel your inner sexy as you learn choreography to popular music, and move your body to the pulsating beat.
ZINE MAKING WoCAF Presents
with Jean Munson
march 7
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
FREE
Ever dream of making your own book? Sometimes that can feel impossible with so much to say and so much to show. Learn how to make zines to remedy that urge to create your own DIY publication. Join Jean Munson and her team from Co-Zi LV to craft your creative messaging and work in a chill environment with cutting up magazines, writing ideas, drawing prompts, and diving deep into what drives you creatively.
The Arts Factory Warhol Loft 107 E Charleston Blvd Las Vegas NV
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JAZZ BRUNCH WoCAF Presents
with Skye Dee Miles
march
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
FREE
Skye Dee Miles of Rose. Rabbit. Lie. brings Sunday morning to life with her jazz band and her unparalleled voice Join us on the patio at 18bin and indulge in a mimosa and some brunch creations by Chef Jen as we celebrate of the first Las Vegas Women of Color Arts Festival.
18bin 107 E Charleston Blvd Las Vegas NV
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AMINARI TAIKO WoCAF Presents
march 6
7:00 - 10:00
TICKETS $2
Art Square Theatre 1025 S 1st St #110 Las Vegas, NV
Our mission is to spread the joy and culture of taiko and its history from Japan to as many people within Las Vegas and beyond. By maintaining a strong standard of tradition mixed with the desire of innovation, we teach not only the history and culture of taiko, but also important musical concepts we believe are needed to maintain and achieve even higher levels of performance success.
Part of Vegas Theatre Company’s $2/10minute event which takes place every first friday and showcases new comedy, improv and theatre in 10 minute blocks.
The LABlv Presents
DANCE NATION By Clare Barron
march 5 march 6 march 7 march 8
7:30 pm 7:30 pm 2pm & 7:30 pm 5:00 pm
TICKETS $20/25
The Playhouse 528 S Decatur Blvd Las Vegas NV theLABlv.org
An army of competitive dancers is ready to take over the world, one routine at a time. With a preteen battle for power and perfection raging on and off stage, Dance Nation is a ferocious exploration of youth, ambition and self-discovery. Winner of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and The Relentless Award, Dance Nation is Clare Barron’s explosive new play.
YOGA WoCAF Presents
a pop up class with Kristina Blunt march 8
8:00am - 9:00am
FREE
Sunday, March 8th, is International Women’s Day and to celebrate we are making space in this festival for self care and a downward dog! Join us, 8am at the Fergusons Downtown as Kristina Blunt, one of the Valley’s favorite yogi’s, leads us through a yoga series focusing on body love, getting stronger and finding some ease. This class will be free and is open to any woman or person identifying beyond the binary. Kristina is a yoga teacher at TruFusion, the founder of Vegas Gone Yoga and was a performer in Lion King!
Fergusons 1028 Fremont St Las Vegas NV
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DISCUSS WoCAF Presents
women of color in the arts panel discussion
march 8
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
FREE
Women of Color Arts Festival welcomes you to be a part of a discussion between some of the women of color leaders in the Las Vegas Arts Community, Arts Administrators, writers, makers, producers and professors. The panel will discuss the ever-changing role of indentity and racial complexities in the arts.
Art Square Theatre 1025 S 1st St #110 Las Vegas, NV
Photogragh JANI AND JEWEL by Jeff Scheid
BLACK WOMEN SPEAK Obsidian and Neon Presents
march 7 FREE
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
a round table
Join us for our fourth event of the Obsidian & Neon Speaker Series in recognition of Women’s History Month and in celebration of the intersection of Black identity and gender. We will discuss issues of health, family, policy, business and empowerment. Moderated by UNLV’s Director of Oral History Claytee White. Sponsored by the Bank of America
includes - Ruby Duncan, esteemed activist - A.K. McMorris, activist0performer - Ms. China Hudson, Girls Rite of Passage founder, Nevada State Museum - Carmella Gadsen, Story Bank Organizer for 309 S Valley View Blvd the Institute for a Progressive Nevada and Battle Born Progress Las Vegas NV
Alicia Sanchez Revzin event coordinator
Anais Thomassian panelist
Ashanti McGee community liason
is an artist, community is a writer, clown, muadvocate, and mom who sician, actress, director has lived in the Las Vegas and artist. She was born area for 17 years. She has in Iran and grew up in worked for key players in Los Angeles. Creatively the developmental downshe tends to gravitate town LV and creative non- towards things that make profits. her uncomfortable. She loves chocolate, so if you She throws some killer par- have any please feel free ities and hits the personal to offer her some at any notes needed to capture point. She is best known her audience’s heart. She as her alter ego, Penny is also an alum of UNLV Pibbets. school of business and continues to donate her time to the community.
is an artist, arts advocate, and mom who has live in the Las Vegas area for 25 years. She has worked for and served on the boards of several creative nonprofits. She is also an alum of the WESTAF Emerging Leaders of Color established its Emerging Leaders of Color Professional Development Program and is on the board of Cultural Alliance of Nevada, and arts Cultural Alliance Nevada, a statewide nonpartisan arts advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of arts, culture and arts education through advocacy, education and partnership
Binnie Tate Wilkin storytelling
Crystal Ann Mitchell graphic designer
Elizabeth Colón Nelson executive producer
Crystal is a focused and is a nationally diverse Creative Visual/ recognized profesDesign Executive with sional storyteller, solid experience in areas writer, and consultant. of development and In October, 2019, she management of design was inducted into across multiple mediums the California Library and platforms. She has a association’s thorough understanding LIBRARIAN HALL of branding and marketOF FAME. Ms. Wilkin ing with a high-degree received a Masters in of knowledge on how to Library Science from reach, engage and target consumers through the the State University use of strategic design of New York, Albafor mobile, social and ny and during her interactive media techmultifaceted career, nologies. She displays lectured and taught strong team leadership, storytelling at Schools collaboration and vision of Library and Inforfor driving innovative mation Science in product development. various parts of the She has proven ability nation including Coin developing strategic lumbia University. Her plans, programs and curriculum, and integrating publications include African American artistic quality in support of business goals, misLibrarians in the Far sion and objectives. West, Pioneers and Trailblazers; African She is a creative leader and African American with multi-disciplinary exImages in Newbery perience in all aspects of Award Winning Ti- design. She moves fluidly tles…and A Life in between academia and Storytelling all pubindustry by combining lished by Roman and the research and thought Littlefield/Scarecrow leadership from a univerPress. Ms. Wilkin is sity setting, with strategic on the Nevada Arts design and business decisions. She can lead, inCouncil’s roster of spire, encourage, prepare performing artists. and give creative teams the support necessary to do exceptional work. She pushes creative boundaries, introduces new thinking and approaches.
holds a M.F.A. from Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater. She was most recently seen performing in Spiegelworld’s ABSINTHE at Ceasar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Additionally for Spiegelworld, Elizabeth was one of the original devising ensemble members for OPIUM at the Cosmopolitan. In Chicago, she performed with The House Theater of Chicago, The Bailiwick Theater, and Opera Cabal. In Los Angeles, Elizabeth worked with The Grand Guinolers, The Actor’s Gang and produced new work at The Hollywood Fringe. Elizabeth performed at the LACMA with Alicia Martinez Alvarez in Orion: Great Man of the Sky in conjunction with the exhibit In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women in Mexico and The United States. She also performed with The Dell’Arte Company’s touring productions of Tartuffe, A Commedia Christmas Carol as well as Blue Lake: The Opera. Along with performing, Elizabeth enjoys bringing artists and communities together for experiences. In 2016, she co-curated Small Space Fest, a multidisciplinary art event that took over 2 floors of a historic hospital in Downtown Las Vegas. Her newest project, Seat at the Table, unites poetry, performance art, and conversations of identity, colonization and globalization through Puerto Rican cuisine. In 2010, Elizabeth taught as a guest artist at Western Kentucky University. In addition to performing, Elizabeth wrote a one act play, Cambiar, that was performed at the Broadway Center for Performing Arts in Tacoma Washington. She is currently developing her newest piece, The Magnificent Execution of Mary the Elephant with collaborator Lauren Wilson.
Erika Gisela Abad panelist received her Ph.D. from Washington State University. Prior to joining IDP/ GSS, Dr. Abad was Chicago-based oral historian for the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College. Beyond Puerto Rican, Latinx, and Gender Studies, she is a well-published essayist, poet, and fiction writer, most recently writing a poem and creative reflection to the Pulse-Orlando tragedy. She is also a regular writer for Women in Higher Education. Dr. Erika Abad is currently an Assistant Professor-in-Residence in Gender and Sexuality Studies in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at UNLV.
Erica Vital-Lazare panelist
Fawn Douglas curator
is a Professor of creative is a member of the Las writing at the College of Vegas Paiute Tribe, where Southern Nevada and she previously served as has received grants and a Tribal Councilwoman. awards from the Zora She also has roots in Neale Hurston/Richard the Moapa Paiute, CheyWright Foundation, Virgin- enne, Pawnee, and Creek ia Commonwealth UniverNations. Fawn earned a sity’s Hilliard Endowment, degree in Global Studthe Virginia Council of ies from the College of the Arts and the Nevada Southern Nevada and a Arts Council. Her work BA in Art with a Painting has been featured in and Drawing emphasis Catalyst, Sojourner, Thrice from UNLV. At UNLV, she and Callaloo II. She is has been involved with currently editing Of the the Native American StuDiaspora, a forthcoming dent Association, Amerseries revisiting classic ican Indian Alliance, and Black works in literature serves as the President with McSweeney’s Press of the Native American and co-producer, along Alumni Club. Fawn is a with veteran RJ journalist community organizer Jeff Scheid, of the phofor many issues related to-narrative installation to the environment and Obsidian & Neon: Building conservation of Standing Black Life and Identity in Rock, Gold Butte National Las Vegas. Monument, and the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. As an artist, Fawn draws from her heritage, and her works include murals and performance. Her work aims to shine a light on race, class, and gender to ask what it means to be Native in the contemporary.
JAM spoken word A champion for feminism and challenging the status-quo, JAM is a show-stopping spoken word artist, performer and community organizer. Author of the book “To Get Ahead”(JANCO, 2017), JAM has been published by Linger Post Journal, Belladonna Series, Penn Sound, and Plot Twist Publishing. She has featured at Soul Sessions LV, The Truth Spot, Saturday Snaps, Flow Your Awesome, Mike Xavier’s Hip Hop & Poetry Night among many others. JAM has also emceed and performed for Brave New Voices (2019), co-hosted the Black and Afro Latina Open Mic at the Individual World Poetry Slam (2019), and volunteered for Chance The Rapper’s Open Mike (2019). She is a two-time finalist at The Truth Collective Slam (2017, 2018). As a member of the FreeVerb poetry collective, JAM recently performed for MGM Resorts International’s Distinguished Speaker Series for Black History Month (2020). In 2018, JAM founded The JAM LV Open Mic and Show – a new culture for underground artists and entertainers in Las Vegas.
Jennifer Kleven panelist
Jennifer Caballero and Las Vegas Kaminari Taiko
is a first generation, Asian American woman living Las Vegas Kaminari Taiko and working in her home was formed in 1993 by city of Las Vegas, NevaGeorge Goto and Doug da. She received a Bache- Muraokaunder the name lors of Arts in Art History “Las Vegas Taiko”. George and Bachelors of Fine served as the drum makArts in Studio Art in 2009 er and Doug was the from the University of director. After practicing Nevada Las Vegas. She on tires and building their operated Kleven Contemown drums, LV Taiko beporary, a gallery exhibiting came LV Kaminari Taiko emerging artists in downbecause of the imprestown Las Vegas from sive thunderous sounds 2010- 2013, and her own the drums made. As part work has been exhibited of theLas Vegas chapter in galleries at UNLV, the of the Japanese AmeriContemporary Arts Cen- can Citizens League, it is ter, Winchester Cultural LVKT’s mission to spread Center and Sahara West the art form of taiko tothe Library. She is currently Southern Nevada comexploring ceramics as munityand celebrateits a new vehicle of artistic cultural diversity. Over expression. As the Grants the past 20+ years, LVKT and Gifts Manager at the has performed all over Neon Museum, she is Las Vegas, Henderson, able to seek funding to and North Las Vegas at help further the museschools, conventions, um’s mission to collect, casinos, and community preserve, study and exhibfestivals. LVKT mainit iconic Las Vegas signs tains the traditional roots for educational, historic, oftaiko instruction, while arts and cultural enrichbringing some modern ment. Her nearly nine flavor and influenceinto years of experience worktheir music. LVKT coning in museums has givsists of students and en her a holistic approach performers of all ages to museum engagement who are tau with the local community. She is eager to reach new underserved audiences and mentor emerging professionals in museum and non-profit work.
Jean Marie Munson visual artistis
Jung Min, aka MJ visual artist
Lo Dino
from South Korea, a feminist Filipina activearned an MFA in Visual ist and cartoonist from Studies from the Pacific Guam. She loves using comics as a means to Northwest College of Art. educate and empower Currently, teaching at the those that are underrepre- University of Nevada Las Vegas. MJ’s work navisented and misrepresentgates between Eastern ed in comics. She teachand Western cultures, es comic workshops all over town and is one of individual desires and social expectations. It also the founders of Plot Twist addresses the internal Publishing. Featured a preview of her newest personal conflict faced as a being in this life and a young adult graphic novel project, “Stretch Marks” female Korean living in a that deals with body dys- foreign country. MJ is inphoria throughout differ- terested in the impact of ent ages in life. a country’s society, which includes culture and history. Never feeling like she belonged in society, MJ often questioned the want to feel “belonging.” Through my art practice, I intend to elaborate on my uncomfortable feelings towards navigating these societies, which have had an impact on the development of my identity. MJ’s purpose in work is to locate herself to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Viewing herself as just an individual who is trying to understand what’s surrounding her and make sense out of it.
is a Las Vegas Producer/ DJ that serves Neo Nostalgia vibes under The Rabbit Hole Collective.
Kristina Michelle Blunt yoga instructor affectionately called Kris has been a mover “literally and figuratively” upon entrance into this world. Dance was the beginning of finding form without words, expressing soul through movement, in addition to exploring the curious and bewildering nature of Self. The love of dance led Kris to spectacular parts of the globe, allowed her to perform with renowned dance companies and eventually to the healing practice of yoga. In 2007, Kris received her 200 Hour Teacher Training Certification through YogaWorks in New York City. Following her training, she immediately began leading a yoga warm up to the cast and crew of Broadway’s The Lion King. In 2008, she returned to YogaWorks and completed her 300 Hour training and following her training she happily taught at YogaWorks for two years. In 2011, Kris relocated to Las Vegas, joined the teaching faculty of Sherry Goldstein’s Yoga Sanctuary for four years. In 2016 Trufusion invited Kris to teach and she currently teaches numerous classes at the Trufusion Summerlin and Blue Diamond locations. Kris is registered with Yoga Alliance, holds additional certifications in Pre-Natal, Yin and Restorative Yoga and has more than 108 hours in Yoga Anatomy.
Krystal Ramirez visual artist
Lance Smith panelist
is a Las Vegas-based is a fine artist and illustraartist working across tor based in Las Vegas, media, utilizing photogNV. Since completing raphy, found materials their BFA at UNLV, Smith and found text to engage has been active both in in motifs of race, gender, and physical/emotional and out of the studio. labor within the frameMultiple local and nawork of her Latinidad. tional group exhibitions Employing labor-intensive have featured their work, craft and repetition, she including, The Majorie constructs unfinished thoughts as text works Barrick Museum of Art, for her audience to read Priscilla Fowler Gallery, and consider. To considBrett Wesley Gallery, The er language as a tool of Studio, and VAST Space oppression. A subjective Projects. code indoctrinated unto us from birth all dependent on our geographical location and social class. She’s interested in the female gaze, the construction of identity and the subjective experience of language. Much of the work is participatory and political. She wishes to create a discernible relationship between language and our ever-evolving identities. As of late her experimentations lay within typography and color. With a special interest in handmade poster board signs, a performative medium of expression for protesters at political rallies and a practical means of communication for vendors at swap meets. Given the ubiquity of such signs in social media posts she wishes to examine the overzealous individualism of sign making within the world of Feminism, Art and Politics in the digital age.
Marissa Gibson visual artist
Ms. AyeVee (Ashley Vargas) poet
Pendu afro sexy workshop
is a mixed media artist, is an international dancprimarily working in ceer/choroegrapher who Ashley Vargas—Ms. ramics. Gibson’s work is has performed for Cirque AyeVee—is a perfordefined by her perspecDu Soleil, NIKE, Stevie mance fireball of metative of the world as a phor and feeling, flashing Wonder, GAP, Dance Thequeer mixed woman. Her light on the struggles of atre of Harlem and many art expresses her divine average souls. She others. She has also choidentity, and reflects her brings that moment of reographed for Cirque Du attitude towards various instant recognition that Soleil, Marvel DC Comics social controversies. She Fashion Show, Leona binds artist to audience, has mended and weaved Lewis (PR event), Ane that makes us root for her own culture from her Marshall of the Shirelles, her. Beyond the trashgiven heritage, and the Nevada Ballet and others. traps of subjugation way Gibson has learned commercialism that domPendu has traveled to to express this through inates public messaging, over 30 countries sharing her art. The focus of her love of dance and her poems reveal there Gibson’s work aims to continues to share that can be a better way. explore identity, love around Las Vegas incite confrontation, and at places such as AcadHer work has been pubamplify emotions. Her lished by Helen: a literary emy at Nevada Ballet, sculptures are meant to The Base Dance Studio, magazine, Other Magarouse viewers’ senses Dance Connection and azine, Zeitgeist Press, with their raw and disrupothers. Her classes are Petite Hound Press, tive nature. She strives to always versatile, energetThe Red Rock Review & create large-scale pieces Double Down by Nevada ic and fun no matter the that entice viewers and Humanities. style. Pendue is currently explore a narrative on in Molodi’s production of taboo topics that are PAATI deemed too inappropriate for public conversations. Gibson pushes herself to make pieces without limitations regardless of style or subject matter. Gibson’s acknowledgement of the challenges that people of color, women, and LGBTQ persons’ face allows her art to become a vessel that provokes awareness to people.
Sapira Cheuk’s visual artist
Sara Ortiz panel
Skye Dee Miles singer
work revolves around issues of the body and embodiment. Her practice incorporates traditional Sumi painting techniques and geometric elements to depict the complexity of the Subject, agency, and corporeality, while building an alternative narrative of not only bodily desires, but also intersubjective relations. Her works have been showcased at numerous exhibitions, including Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Orange County Contemporary Art Center, Riverside Art Museum, Rochester Contemporary Art Museum, Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Robert & Frances Fullerton Museum of Art. She received her BA from University of California, Riverside and MFA from California State University, San Bernardino. Cheuk also works as an instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
is the festival director for The Believer Festival and program director for the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute.
Missouri native and has been dazzling audiences for over 15 years. Skye first made her mark in Las Vegas when she was hired to star in the hit show Menopause the Musical at the the legendary Las Vegas Hilton Hotel & Casino, and has since made the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ her home. Skye hosted her own show, Tropicana Nights, in the “Boom Boom Room” at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino, created Midnight Skye, a late-night show inside of Planet Hollywood’s Sin City Theater, was hired as lead vocalist in Holly Madison’s 1923 Bourbon and Burlesque at Mandalay Bay, and then as the Emcee in the sexy, hit show 53x at the Paris Casino in 2016. Over the years, Skye has also performed at the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place, Piero’s, BB King’s, The Bootlegger Bistro, Roxy’s Lounge, as well as many charitable and private events throughout Las Vegas. Skye can also be seen in the hit videos “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne and “Every Girl in the World” by Drake and Lil Wayne. You can currently catch Skye headlining the entertainment several nights a week at Rose. Rabbit. Lie. at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
Tiffany Lin visual artist
Tree Hill Zarinah T. Washington music liason panelist
“I ‘do’ many things.” My MSW, first fell in love with is a visual artist, wordthought when one asks smith, and dreamer. Her the arts in her 8th grade “Tree, what do you do?” projects investigate nebudrama class in South Each time I take a molous distinctions between Central LA. Since then ment, breathe, or impul- she’s studied arts adminwant, need, and desire in sively proceed to give context of political and istration at Howard Unicapitalist spectacles. By my resume undesirably. I versity, worked in commanipulating vernacular care about what I do BUT pany management on language and signifiers not about what most peo- touring Broadway producof chance, she reveals ple mean/intend they ask tions as well as in regionthis question. What I do how manifestations of al theatre. In 2016, Zariis only an Effect of who want are informed by the nah returned to pursue I am naturally. Though her graduate social work nation state, free markets, most important to me and imperialist legacies. studies at the University is connection to Source. Previous collaborative of Nevada, Las Vegas to partners include the Chil- Which I understand to be, examine the intersections is connection to all - we dren’s Discovery Museum of social work and the are One. Giver/Receiver of San José, Executives’ arts. She completed her of Love, now that - I am. Alliance for Boys and capstone project on the And as a result, I just so Men of Color, Museum of therapeutic social work happen to be “good” at a Impact, Litografiska Akainterventions of arts few things in this 3rd Didemin Tidaholm, and the therapy with a focus on Uni Project. mensional plane in order macro level societal applito be of service to You cations. Zarinah’s current This fall, she joins the (i.e. Event Curator, Poet, Department of Art at the work includes following and Light Therapist). in the footsteps of Shirley University of Nevada, Las Gratitude. Vegas as a Visiting AssisChisholm by community tant Professor of Design organizing for the State and Illustration. of Nevada’s Census Complete Count Committee and hopes to highlight the importance of the 2020 Census within the Nevada arts community. Zarinah is also a proud financial member of Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority, Inc., alum of the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts and a double alum of UNLV. .
Zully Mejia’s Visual Art practice derives from her identity as a Peruvian woman and her desire to shift the cultural stereotypes associated with being a female person of color. The prejudice, discrimination, and objectification that women in her community experience as a result of the hypersexualized portrayal of womanhood lead Mejia to seek change for how women are represented and treated. Working primarily in painting, Mejia’s artwork is informed by historical research and supported by socially current underpinning. She borrows conventions from figure painting traditions, employing composition, posture, facial gesture, color theory, and symbolic objects to create empowered depictions of identity where the concept of femininity is deconstructed and redefined. In her paintings, the figure acts as the focal point, with each individual proudly expressing their narrative. By creating imagery that showcases strength and diversity, Mejia strives to remove the negative stigma associated with womanhood.
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