The Inaugural Staging of Art & Art
If you’ve ever spent a Sunday afternoon on Mama’s verandah playing dominoes with your uncles and cousins, climbed mango trees with the fearless neighbourhood boys and girls, or floated down the river with your eyes closed on a warm summer day, you’ve experienced reggae—you’ve experienced poetry.
If only you could bottle these moments, preserve them, and experience that same warmth and freedom again. The truth is, you can—through a record, a stream, or a subscription.
However, the best things in life are often enjoyed in company, especially in the company of like-minded and equally spirited people. Yet, the number of spaces that provide these opportunities remains limited, and they often exist exclusively in the form of large festivals and parties.
While those experiences are absolutely necessary, how do you enjoy them in bites rather than chunks? What spaces provide an opportunity for that spiritual symbiosis, where we all become one while experiencing art and culture in the same place?
Very few—and Push A Yute and Urban Vine Media are on a mission to change that.
On Thursday, July 9, Urban Vine Media, alongside its parent company, Push A Yute Inc., presented the inaugural staging of Art & Art at Café Rosa, located at 1 Grosvenor Terrace in Manor Park.
There, patrons experienced two hours of soulful poetry, reggae libations, and vibrant energy through the artistry of six featured artistes, as well as three others who later joined in the creative expression.
Kerece “Lilanie” Williams hosted the proceedings and also shared a few of her own poetic pieces, inspiring the audience to remain grounded and encouraging Black women to remain confident in who they are.
Chantelle “Chant” Lawes chanted, told stories, and laid down the law as it related to earthly prosperity and the protection of our youth and children. She also ably co-hosted several parts of the programme, keeping spirits high and patrons actively engaged.
Then there was the sweet baritone of Joe Speng, an incredibly talented young man whose energy continued to rise throughout his entire delivery.
A few members of the New Age Rockaz then lit up the stage—namely featured performers Dahvid and OJ Tha Great, who brought melody, romance, humour, and nostalgia to the event. Alongside special guest Anue Nahki from their crew, they also brought militancy and meaningful messages to solidify their performance.
Ahead of the official debut of her latest single, “Kweendom,” Simone “FruitTree” gave an exclusive first performance of the spoken-word piece to close out the show. It introduced a new, sultry sound that balanced the commanding nature of her earlier pieces.
Even after the show was done and all the musicians had packed up, everyone continued building a vibe, singing with Chant and beating the tables to create music. The remaining patrons were then treated to two voices coming all the way from Holland: the melodious Vanessa Marcia and the unrestrained Phoenixx Journey.
The evening was charmed by intimacy and good vibes. The space was not only fitting but soothing, and Art & Art is an event that promises even more.
The next staging will take place in August, at a venue and on a date to be determined. Stay tuned to Urban Vine Media for updates, and follow @urbanvinemedia on Instagram for snippets from this staging of Art & Art.
Written by K. L. Williams
Kerece Lilanie Williams is a Jamaican poet, writer, educator, and creative entrepreneur. Under the name Lilanie, she is the author of three poetry collections: Faith and Favour: Odes of Gratitude for Unmerited Grace, Above Water, and Kisses and Lies.
She writes for Urban Vine Media, with a special interest in telling the stories of artists, artistes, artisans, and other creatives across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Through features, interviews, and cultural storytelling, she highlights the people, ideas, and creative work helping to shape the region’s arts, culture, and entertainment landscape.
Kerece is also the founder of Write Ah Yaad, a Caribbean writing community for poets and storytellers, and the Creative Director behind MeowMedia Services, where she has a particular interest in helping creatives develop their brands, strengthen their businesses, and become sustainable creative entrepreneurs.
Have a story, project, release, product, exhibition, event, or creative journey you think Urban Vine Media should know about? Email urbanvinemedia@gmail.com or submit your details to be featured.
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