IA&A at Hillyer
9 Hillyer Ct NW, Washington DC 20008
September 30, 2023
7 to 12 p.m
Art All Night, 2022
Create Mudcloth Designs
Led by Nicole Wandera
Time: 7 to 8 p.m,
As the first kick-off event for Art All Night, Hillyer’s featured solo artist in September, Nicole Wandera, will lead participants through an activity inspired by African mud cloth. Visitors will work with traditional symbols, using stencils, paint, and cloth to create their own art. Creators are welcome to take their designs with them.
+ About the Artist
Nicole Wandera is a Nairobi-born interdisciplinary artist currently based in Northern Virginia. She earned her BFA at Virginia Commonwealth University and had the privilege of completing a postgraduate residency at Torpedo Art Factory. During this residency, she had the opportunity to explore an innovative project, experimenting with electric paint, coding, and music, which sparked a newfound fascination with the fusion of mixed media and technology in her works.
Her interest in activism through creativity has led to her collaborating with organizations such as Black Lives Matter and Art with Impact. Her artworks serve as visual narratives, inviting viewers to engage with diverse perspectives and to explore a world of creativity, empathy, and thought-provoking insights. Nicole finds profound fulfillment in sharing her personal stories, experiences, and cultural heritage. Nicole is always searching for new ways to express creativity, and believes that creating is the practice of nurturing visual ideation.
Spoken Word and Music
Hosted by Kenneth Carroll
8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Hosted by legendary DC poet, Kenneth Carroll, poets Naomi Ayala, Brandon Johnson, Zohar Rom and bass player Emory Diggs will share their poetic reflections in response to Hillyer’s current exhibitions by Mark Tan, Adam Odomore, and Nicole Wandera. After the scheduled performances, a select number of visitors will be invited to share their thoughts as well.
+ About the Host
Kenny Carroll (Host)
Kenny Carroll, is a native Washingtonian and is a poet, music critic, playwright and fiction writer. He was past director of the African American Writers Guild and 8Rock Arts and Culture Center. He is an arts educator who helped to create the first city-wide poetry-performance program in DC public schools. President Bill Clinton recognized him with a National Endowment for the Arts Award for that creation.
+ About the Poets
Naomi Ayala
A native of Puerto Rico and long time Washingtonian, Naomi Ayala is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships. She is the author of two books of poetry: Wild Animals on the Moon and This Side of Early. Naomi is also a graphic artist and will soon have an exhibit of her watercolor and graphite paintings.
Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson is a poet, short-story writer and photographer. He is a founding member of the legendary It's Your Mug poetry and performance ensemble that helped to usher in a new era of DC poetry engagement. Brandon is a host and curator for the American Poetry Museum.
Gavri-El (aka Zohar Rom)
Gavri-El is a slam and performance poet and new to the DC poetry scene. He has received accolades for his writing and photography.
+ About the Musician
Emory Diggs, musician
Emory Diggs is a bass player and native Washingtonian whose musical expertise spans genres from Gospel to Go-Go. He has graced stages and opened for acts such as Dizzy Gillespie and Chuck Brown. He has been collaborating with poets for the past 40 years from performances at the Kennedy Center to the Folger-Shakespeare Library.
Curator Talk with Adam Odomore
10 to 10:30 pm
Adam Odomore will talk about the subject of his exhibition To Harvest a Dream Buried Dust—On Care and Blackness. Odomore will address the importance of creating a space for healing in the context of oppression.
Current Exhibitions at Hillyer
7 to 12 p.m.
During the visit to Hillyer’s art space, visitors will have an opportunity to view the latest solo exhibitions on view during the month of September featuring Mark Tan, Sight Unseen, Adam Odomore (curator), To Harvest a Dream Buried in Dust—On Care and Blackness, and Nicole Wandera, We Meet Again.