Philly Honors Larry Robin

Larry Robin and Writer/Scholar Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon 

Poets Molly Gross and Sojourner Ahebee

Pat McLean Smith, Deborah Wright and fellow poet.

Poets Sean Hanrahan & Octavia McBride-Ahebee

Philadelphia’s literary luminaries and cultural leaders came out this past Wednesday to celebrate the incomparable Larry Robin of Robin’s Bookstore and Moonstone Arts Center. Hosted at the Free Library of Philadelphia Skyline Room, poets

Poet Eleanor Wilner

paid tribute to Larry Robin’s longstanding generosity in curating spaces for them to grow , congregate and support each other.

Shoutout especially to Aaren Perry , Eileen D'Angelo Sean Hanrahan , Elijah B Pringle III, who did an absolutely awesome job as MC of this event, Karen Smith and Elliott Levin who brought their musical prowess to spread joy,Molly Gross, Rose Gaby, Sojourner Ahébée, Eleanor Wilner, Adriann JustthePen Bautista , Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon ,Deborah Wright ,Pat McLean-Smith , Sonia Sanchez, Major Jackson and Michelle Myers, Pheralyn Dove , Ray Garman , Lamont B. Steptoe , Charles Carr,Linda Goss, Courtney K. Bambrick ,Peter M. Baroth and Nathalie Anderson to name just a few of the many poets who came out to salute Larry Robin!

Musicians/poets Karen Smith and Elliot Levin.

Philadelphia poets gather to honor Larry Robin.

Poets Elijah Pringle, Aaren Perry, and Sean Hanrahan

Poets Eileen D'Angelo and Pat McLean

Philadelphia's Poets Gather to Celebrate Sonia Sanchez's 90th Birthday

We showed out at the Barnes, for the 90th birthday celebration of Sonia Sanchez and her work. A remarkable number of Philly poets turned out yesterday! It was a lively, literary reunion.

Philly is such a poetry-infused city. 

Poets Christopher KP Brown & LindoYes

The formidable Aziza Zenzile Kebbe and Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon 

Poets Kirwyn Sutherland & KP

Art in Bloom at Ultra Silk Gallery; A Celebration of Young Talent

Young Artists with Their Families And Friends

Yesterday’s exhibition, at Ultra Silk Gallery, in Philadelphia, showcasing the artwork of young people in our community, was absolutely extraordinary and moving. A huge shoutout to Rashida Watson and Ms. Kenya, of Ultra Silk Gallery and Renee Kirby of Westside Framing Studio, for the love they put into organizing this event. All students' artwork was professionally framed and presented.

Teacher McBride-Ahebee with her student
artists from Bluford Elementary, at the gallery event.

Artwork by Ksaani W.

                                    Renee Kirby, of Westside Framing Studios, one of the organizers of this event, explains its purpose.

Poet Lamont B. Steptoe signing one of his books.

Plus, all artwork was available for sale, with the proceeds going to the young artists. Shoutout to the families and friends who came out strong to support their young folk and a shoutout to folks like Phyllis Jones- Carter, owner of A Part of Me Boutique, who have generously supported my efforts in the classroom!!! Thank you to educator Camille Bounds for her continued support and thanks to the formidable poet Lamont B. Steptoe!

Love my Bluford and Powel students!

Just Because... Artist Harmonia Rosales

America's Civilized

The Birth of Eve

 

Portrait of Oshun

The Creation

   I absolutely love the themes of Harmonia Rosales' work. To learn more about her and her creative process check out this article in DAZED.  https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/41202/1/harmonia-rosales-repaints-classic-artworks-god-is-a-black-woman-rjd-gallery

The Black Bottom Book Club's July/Aug Selection- Always Enough; A Global Food Memoir by Annette Anthony

  West Philly's own London-based Annette Anthony-world-traveler, lawyer and entrepreneur- has a new book out; Always Enough; A Global Food Memoir. Listen to Annette share a little about her book, which is full of more than 160 recipes inspired by her extensive travels and living in various parts of the world.  Click link, to listen: Food, Farms and Chef podcast- Annette Anthony

Writer Annette Anthony

   Join The Black Bottom Book Club's  inaugural  shared reading of a bimonthly book selection. Though the club is Philly-based, those readers of the book, who are interested in participating in the book discussion, may join us, via Zoom.  

For July/August, the selection will be Anthony's Always Enough; A Global Food Memoir . This book is available on Amazon.

 Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, read this book and try out some of these yummy recipes. And take to heart and mouth what Andrew Zimmern stated:  Food is the passport to a thousand journeys, each bite an adventure." Let your culinary adventure begin.

Step Into The World with Palestinian -American Artist Samia Halaby

Palestinian -American Artist Samia Halaby

Step into World- Samia Halaby , age 87, is a Palestinian - American artist who was scheduled to have a retrospective exhibition of her work hosted by Indiana University at Bloomington.

I deliver my curriculum through the Arts! I have a team of 4th graders , who once a week visit online the pages of Hyperallergic; an online art journal. Because students had been studying the poetry of another Palestinian-American- Naomi Shihab Nye-, the Hyperallergic headline about a Palestinian artist caught their eye. We read the article together about how Halaby’s invitation to have her work showcased was cancelled. We know intimately how this works; living in a city dominated by universities which are clearly not devoted to the exchange of ideas and dominated by the will of wealthy donors.

      Her abstract work appeals to children and so my students decided to host a classroom exhibition of their work inspired by Samia Halaby . I don’t discuss explicitly what is happening in Gaza. But I do , with a grand intention, try to connect my students to the global community through the arts. I would love if any of our Philly- based Palestinian restaurants would want to exhibit my students’ work in honor of the great Samia Halaby. 

4th Grade Artists

By Ksaani W.

By Ksaani W.

By Tethelma M.

Ayden C.

By Nina S.