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Soul of the Butterfly: Chicory Magazine and Baltimore’s Black Arts Activism TALK
September 10, 2023 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Free
RSVP in Advance
Kind of Blue Meets The Souls of Black Folk (An Exploration Of What Was and Is Possible)
In the 1960s, Black writers in Baltimore utilized Chicory, a poetry magazine published by the Enoch Pratt Free Library from 1966-1983, as an artistic form for activism. It’s five editors published the work by everyone from children to seniors, from social workers to people in prison about everything from bad housing and schools to celebrations of Black joy.
Soul of the Butterfly is a traveling exhibit that uses Chicory to tell the story of how Black artist-activists in Baltimore have been making change since the 1960s. Featuring poetry, artwork, and photos, it reminds us why the Baltimore Afro-American called Chicory “the most authentic microphone of Black folks talking ever devised.” It connects past and present by featuring work by young writers, artists, and creators in Baltimore in conversation with this history.
In “Kind of Blue Meets The Souls of Black Folk”, DewMore Baltimore will be taking a look at the cultural and historical intersections between Black Music and Black Language and how they have shaped and were shaped by both social movements and the movements of daily Black life in America. Featured speakers will be Victor Rogers (a.k.a. Slangston Hughes) and Devlon Waddell.
Their discussion will further explore how black words, through the lens of Chicory Magazine, reflected the range of blackness as experienced in Baltimore and was chronicled during the time of the magazines publication. They will contemplate from an Afrofuturistic perspective what it might have looked like in the years beyond Chicory had the magazines publication never ended, as well as asking the bold question: What may the future hold?
DewMore Baltimore uses art as a tool to increase civic engagement in marginalized communities throughout Greater Baltimore through innovative art-focused programming and community organizing via purposeful partnerships with community organizations, schools, and governmental agencies. DewMore aims to leave individuals and communities in a more actualized, engaged, and connected condition.
Accessibility
Accessibility
ASL interpretation is available upon request for this event. ASL requests must be made three full business days prior to an event.
Wheelchair and Physical Building Access / The Peale has a brand new elevator! The new accessible entrance is on the left side of the building, down Watchouse alley about 100 ft. There is a keypad on the right side of the elevator door. Press the button to call the elevator. There is a door that will swing open automatically once the elevator is called so stand back. Once the door is open you can enter the elevator portico and then step/roll/dance into the elevator. When you come out of the elevator you will be in a short hallway by the bathrooms and the lobby and welcome desk is on the right. There are three floors in the Peale there is a handrail on all flights of stairs. Various and ample forms of seating is available in every room. The historic entrance has five steps and no functioning handrail.
Parking / There is a temporary drop off spot in the “no parking” zone directly in front of the Holliday St. entrance. There are multiple public paid parking lots within a two block radius of The Peale as well as street parking. There are 4 access parking spots on the 200 block of Holliday Street.
Visual Descriptions and more / For additional information about captioning, ASL, services, and more, please visit our Accessibility page.
Visual Descriptions and more / For additional information about captioning, ASL, services, and more, please visit our Accessibility page.