Wednesday Night Live: Visual Vanguard Celebration

551 South Tryon Street,Charlotte NC 28202

12 January, 2022

Description

Enjoy a free evening of contemporary Black art and spoken word poetry, all from local artists. Wednesdays from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm are the perfect time to enjoy creative experiences the whole family can enjoy at no cost. This evening of free admission will celebrate Visual Vanguard: An Exhibition of Contemporary Black Carolina Artists in its final week at the Gantt. Join us for a performance with Visual Vanguard featured artist de’Angelo Dia and critically acclaimed poets Angelo Geter and Cedric Tillman. After taking in the great artistic range that the Visual Vanguard exhibition provides, from 7:00 - 8:30 pm, enjoy original works from these three poets that embody their connection to the exhibition, as well as their poetic reflections on the year 2021. Following the performance, our guests are welcome to a Q&A for a deeper dive in the themes of Visual Vanguard. Masks are required for all guests, regardless of vaccination status. This is a free experience open to all ages and backgrounds. For parking and directions, visit us here. About the poets: de’Angelo Dia is a poet, theologian, and doctoral candidate at Union Presbyterian Seminary. Dia investigates public opinion and contemporary beliefs on cultural, social-political, and theological issues through poetry, visual art, and performance. He has studied art in Athens, Greece, Guadalajara, Mexico, and Nairobi, Kenya. He received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Communication and Sociology from Appalachian State University, a Master of Arts in Literature from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary. His artistic influences include photographer Martha Cooper, ethno-gothic literature, comic books and graphic novels, and neo-Appalachian art. Dia is an alumni artist-in-residence of the McColl Center for Art + Innovation, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture (Artist Roundtable), and a Cave Canem Fellow. He is also a member of the Goodyear Arts collective based in Charlotte, NC. Angelo ‘Eyeambic’ Geter is a dynamic poet, spoken word artist and motivational speaker who merges his passions for poetry and speaking into a unique performance that educates, entertains and inspires. Angelo’s work touches on a variety of issues including social justice, race, grief, character and manhood. He blends his pieces with commentary, stories and personal narratives that transcend a traditional lecture or performance. Over the course of his career, Angelo has amassed several accolades. He currently serves as the Poet Laureate of Rock Hill, SC, and a 2020 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow. Geter is also a 2019 All-America city winner, 2018 National Poetry Slam champion, Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam finalist, Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam finalist and has performed and competed in several venues across the country. His work has appeared on All Def Poetry, Charleston Currents, and the Academy of American Poets “Poem a Day” series. Cedric Tillman hails from Anson County, NC and was raised in Charlotte. He is a graduate of UNCC and The American University’s Creative Writing MFA program. In 2011, his manuscript, entitled Human Events, was a finalist for Flying Trout Press’ annual chapbook contest; a book-length collection, entitled A Lily in the Valley, was a semifinalist for the 42 Miles Press/University of Indiana-South Bend Poetry Award. A Cave Canem fellow, Cedric’s poems appear in several publications including Crosscut, Folio, Kakalak 2009, The Chemistry of Color, Cave Canem Anthology XII: Poems 2008‐2009 and Home Is Where: An Anthology of African American Poets From the Carolinas, edited by Kwame Dawes. In 2013 his debut collection, entitled Lilies In The Valley, was published by Willow Books. He lives in Charlotte with his family. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture is a multi-disciplinary arts institution in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1974 and named for Charlotte civic leader and former mayor Harvey Bernard Gantt, the Gantt Center’s mission is to present, preserve and celebrate excellence in the art, history and culture of African-Americans and those of African descent. Designed by Philip Freelon, co-designer of the new Smithsonian National Museum for African American Art and Culture, the Gantt Center features fine art exhibits from around the world. Visit ganttcenter.org for more information. Harvey B. Gantt Center (Gantt Center) reserves the right to cancel an event due to low enrollment, inclement weather or other circumstances which would interrupt or diminish the overall program experience. If the Gantt Center cancels an event, registrants will be offered a full refund.