"Vibes & Verbs" showcased poerty, music, fashion and visual art in a fantastic evening at the monOrchid!
Last week the monOrchid welcomed back the collaborative group Square1Phx with their highly anticipated second event “Vibes & Verbs”. This second event in a three part series was spearheaded and hosted by Jay Tatum with a bold and colorful Afropunk theme that centered on poetry. The evening also included fashion, music, and visual art provided by the other Square1Phx members Tatiana Young, Felicia Gaines, and Brandon Greer.
The event kicked off with special musical guests Awele and Genrepublic, who set the mood while patrons enjoyed henna tattoos, modern dance from Niamey Thomas, live painting, light refreshments, and did we mention the delicious food from Nicole and Mario Ramirez! “Vibes & Verbs” focused on poetry showcasing eight talented poets on the main stage, including Dom Root, PK Tha Poet, Andrew Washington, Jay Tatum, Qosmic Qadence, Tomas, Mark Reed, and My Boy B. These gifted literary artists offered reality, insight, and emotion as they graced the stage, presenting powerful spoken word poetry on a variety of topics that truly excited and delighted the crowds!
Brandon Greer handled the visual arts, selecting and spotlighting talented local artist Robert Gentile. Gentile painted live throughout the event creating a captivating rendition of “Basquiat”, available for purchase through Square1Phx. A wonderful fashion installation courtesy of Tatiana Young and Felicia Gaines showcased local designer and artist Jasilyn Anderson and her fabulous line Untold Arts. Offering us a fresh presentation that uniquely display of her fashionable creations that included original paintings and vibrant hand-painted denim jackets. Patrons enjoyed interacting with Anderson, who has an infectious personality as she painted directly on garments while lovely models showcased her wares throughout the evening.
This event was proudly sponsored by Couture in the Suburbs, a team of inspiring young women who highlight the best “Fashion, Beauty, Culture, while seeking to expose talented individuals excelling within these industries to an investigative audience” through their engaging website and events. The venue sponsor was once again the fantastic monOrchid, located in the heart of Roosevelt Row, who was honored to be apart of the second event. Shade Projects Curator, Nicole Royse stated, “we were impressed by the passion and hard work of the Square1Phx team and we were happy to help their vision come to life." She went on to say, "We feel that the Shade Projects mission is an ideal pairing with this unique multifaceted event and collaborative crew.”
“Vibes & Verbs” was a wonderful success with the evening receiving an enthusiastic response from family, friends, and peer that all came together to celebrate artistry and creativity at ever level. Up next for Square1Phx is their third event focusing on Fashion slated for September 29th from Tatiana Young and Felicia Gaines at the monOrchid, more details to be released in the upcoming months! To find out more about Square1Phx visit MyBoyB.com and follow them on instagram at @Square1Phx. *All images courtesy of James Almanza Photography.
