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Midwest Arts Writers Conference (Chicago)

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Sixty Inches From Center is an organization and publication that documents and promotes the art, archives, and writing of BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and folks with disabilities in Chicago and the Midwest since 2010.

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Day 1: Collectivity & Common Threads - break out group notes

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Day 1: Collectivity & Common Threads - break out group notes

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A place for each break out group to take notes on shared challenges.

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SHARED CHALLENGES - break out group notes

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Live CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) will be provided during every discussion during the convening.

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In this inspiring self-help handbook, a trans activist dares us to be the change we want to see—both out in the world, and amongst our closest connections.…

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Launched in June of 2020 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, The Buckeye Flame stands as Ohio’s LGBTQ+ newsroom.

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Find & Seek is a way for Sixty's community of artists, cultural workers, and culture lovers to build new connections and spark new relationships throughout the Midwest.

takes inspiration from "missed connection" webpages and newspaper classifieds by inviting you to use Sixty's platforms to find (re)connections or seek new connections somewhat anonymously. You can post encounters where you thought you were vibing with someone but were thwarted by shyness, circumstances, or you can post invitations to meet new people and plan a new art date.

How we nurture and expand our communities is as important today as it has always been. With Find & Seek we at Sixty hope to bring an added layer of joy, curiosity, bravery, and possibility to the process.

Find & Seek listings are offered to those living in or traveling through the Midwest at $15 each. Why are we charging for listings?

Before making a listing, read our Guidelines and Community Disclaimer + Safety Tips.

Please note that submitting a listing or a response to a listing does not guarantee that it will be posted or delivered to the lister. If we determine that your listing or response violates our guidelines, community agreements, or the safety of our communities, we will issue you a refund immediately. When our team's capacity allows, we will send further explanation of our decision. Otherwise, all questions about listings and responses can be sent to riley[at]sixtyinchesfromcenter.org.

Listings are updated monthly. Submit your listing by the 23rd of each month to have it included in the following month's batch. New listings will be published during the second week of each month. All submissions will be posted anonymously and reviewed confidentially by Tempestt Hazel and Riley Yaxley, the co-leads of Sixty's fundraising team.

Finding: If you recognize yourself in a listing, submit your email, response, and the listing number at this link.

Seeking: When someone is seeking new connections, their email will be shared publicly. Anyone interested can respond directly.

Why are we charging for listings?

Find & Seek is part of Sixty's creative reimagining of how we fundraise for the work we do. Initiatives like this are Sixty's way of thinking intentionally about the traditional nonprofit model which relies on charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and institutions, and what is offered in exchange for those donations. Instead of having a donor model that asks people to tap into their altruism, we seek to create community-aligned and useful relationships with our donors that provide enriching tools and wider community investment opportunities in exchange for their financial support of Sixty's work.

Guidelines

Fostering a safe and loving community is our top priority. To encourage the best experiences possible, we ask that you read, consider, and agree to all of the points below before submitting to Find & Seek.

Assume the best of people and situations (until proven otherwise) by treating everyone you meet or engage with through Find & Seek with grace, kindness, and respect.

Listen to understand each other's perspectives, boundaries, needs, curiosities, and opinions.

Be open to unexpected and surprising new connections.

Be truthful about the information you share through Find & Seek.

Community Disclaimer + Safety Tips

We cannot predict the outcome of anything, including your potential connection, and we cannot be held responsible for the outcomes once we hand off a connection to you. But we are happy to provide whatever support we can along the way. We ask that you review the following safety tips before you meet up with potential connections.

Be sure to verify anyone who responds to your Find & Seek listing. We suggest checking their Instagram or other social media accounts, asking for them to send you a photo doing a specific pose, etc.

Meet all potential connections in a public place.

It is important to Sixty that you have a good experience with Find & Seek. Sixty does not tolerate racism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, fatphobia, sexism, religious discrimination, hate speech, etc.

Anyone who engages in such behavior will be restricted from submitting future Find & Seek. Please reach out to riley@sixtyinchesfromcenter.org with any questions, concerns, or if you have a problematic encounter or experience that you need to share.

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Find & Seek is a way for Sixty's community of artists, cultural workers, and culture lovers to build new connections and spark new relationships throughout the Midwest. Find & Seek takes inspiration from...

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Day 2: Collective Resourcing - break out group notes

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Day 2: Collective Resourcing - break out group notes

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A place for each break out group to take notes on funding strategies and concerns.

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Sixty Collective is a network of artists, writers, and arts workers based in the Midwest.

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Reading and panel with Indigenous poets at the Block Museum in Evanston, IL May 28

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Reading and panel with Indigenous poets at the Block Museum in Evanston, IL May 28

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Please join us in celebrating the power of the spoken word.  The evening will feature poetry reading and a panel discussion by local poets River Kerstetter (Oneida), Mark LaRoque (White Earth Ojibwe), Elise Paschen (Osage), and Mark Turcotte (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe).  Both Mark LaRoque’s and Mark Turcotte’s work is featured in the forthcoming exhibition catalog for Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak / Chicagoland.  The event will be moderated by Kelly Wisecup, Arthur E. Andersen Teaching and Research Professor; Professor of English.

Participation level – light, participants may share thoughts and questions at the close of the panel during the Q&A.

Programs are open to all, on a first-come first-served basis. RSVPs are not required, but are appreciated.

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“This Woven Being”: Reading & Panel with Chicago Indigenous Poets: Block Museum - Northwestern University

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Poetry evening with River Kerstetter, Mark LaRoque, Elise Paschen, and Mark Turcotte. The event will be moderated by English professor Kelly Wisecup.

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VIEW ONLY: LIVE Convening Program

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Check out this Real Estate Flyer designed by River Kerstetter.

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Accessibility Guide for ‘Midwest Arts Writers Convening’ - Sixty Inches From Center

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The following is accessibility information for the 2025 Midwest Arts Writers Convening at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60613), which takes place April 27th through April 29th,…

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Day 2: Collective Resourcing Break Out Group Prompts

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Day 2: Collective Resourcing Break Out Group Prompts

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Non-Traditional Funding Models - Slideshow

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A platform founded in 2020 by Kate Mothes exploring parallels and intersections between contemporary art and place. Currently on hiatus—it will probably be back.

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Dovetail Magazine is an independent contemporary arts publication that positions visual art in dialogue with design, architecture, photography, travel, and global visual culture.

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Chicago’s nonprofit newsroom, a weekly in print since 1971. News, Events, Theater, Food, Music. Online and print advertising opportunities

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Arts Midwest’s Creativity News Desk is a cultural reporting and storytelling initiative covering the creative Midwest.

Coverage area: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations that share this geography

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Skip to content

Stories from the Creativity News Desk

Pitch a Story Idea

We work with writers, photographers, videographers, illustrators, and podcasters to gather and share impactful stories of arts, culture, and creativity in the Midwest.

Collaborate With Us

Republish our Stories for Free.

In the spirit of amplifying stories of Midwestern creativity, we encourage and welcome storytelling outlets to republish our stories for free.

Learn More

Sign up for our newsletter

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Midwestern creativity shows up in wonderful and diverse ways that are worth documenting, sharing, and amplifying through stories.

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An artist-run, collaborative publishing project embracing slowness and exploration.

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Our interactions with art, especially process and concept, are often fleeting. In a world where what we see and experience is driven by want and immediacy, No Business Magazine encourages readers to slow down while exploring stories of artists and art-making. No Biz Mag is a limited-run, self-published collaborative arts and culture publication.

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The SHOUT is a Wichita-based arts and culture platform that covers visual art, theater, dance, film, books, music (and so much more) through criticism, feature stories, reporting, an event calendar + email newsletters. We launched in April 2024.

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Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel / BIYA BIYA Productions (Chicago)

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Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel / BIYA BIYA Productions (Chicago)

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Stateville Speaks is a newsletter written by and for incarcerated individuals, their families, those working in the correctional system and other interested citizens. It is available to any incarcerated individual that requests it (regardless of their ability to pay), as well as their family members, friends, advocates, activists, and anyone affected by prison conditions. Additionally, it is provided to every Illinois state senator and state representative, as well as every Illinois Department of Corrections’ warden. River (me) is the current designer for Stateville Speaks.

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Stateville Speaks is a newsletter written by and for incarcerated individuals, their families, those working in the correctional system and other interested citizens. It is available to any incarcerated individual that requests it (regardless of their ability to pay), as well as their family members, friends, advocates, activists, and anyone affected by prison conditions. Additionally, it is provided to every Illinois state senator and state representative, as well as every Illinois Department of Corrections’ warden.

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Nekita Thomas is an experiential designer, educator, and researcher dedicated to Critical Race Design and the civic role of graphic design in shaping cities. Her work explores the intersection of race, well-being, and spatializing justice in the built environment.

Currently…

Writing: Critics Table @ Arts and Public Life

Educating: Prof of Design @ University of Illinois Champaign

Making: Artist in Residence @ Chicago Artist Coalition

#Branding #BrandingTheBuiltEnvironment #Placemaking #PublicInstallation #PublicHousing #ThirdSpace

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Invited Speaker at the 2023 Black in Design Conference

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www.holaamericanews.com

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Hola America News | The Midwest’s Latino News Source

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We bring a much-needed local perspective that can’t be duplicated by large corporate news outlets.

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Xiao/ATELIER (Substack) + Artist Website

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Xiao/ATELIER (Substack) + Artist Website

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Substack - reviews, critical essays, regional artist resource newsletters.

https://open.substack.com/pub/missydowntime

Artist Website:

https://xiaochineseart.com

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A weekly digest by Kate Mothes (Dovetail Magazine, Colossal) of contemporary art exhibitions, featured artists, and visual arts opportunities.

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www.jefasmagazine.com

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Personal portfolio

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River is an artist, designer, and writer based in Chicago. Let’s work together

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Co-founded in 2023 by Camille Bacon and Daria Harper

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INSTA: @foxinthecove

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Freelance journalist/editor

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A set of landing pages for your Instagram bio—each designed to house your important content and drive traffic. Just choose the one you like most and add to your account.

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Alternate Currents is home to an extensive archive of articles, interviews, critical writing, and creative research around liberatory ideas that move our community forward.

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The AC blog offers new perspectives around how justice in the arts is interpreted, documented, and enacted.

The Alternate Currents blog is home to an extensive archive of articles, interviews, critical writing, and creative research that bring issues around justice in the arts into clearer focus.

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The AC blog offers new perspectives around how justice in the arts is interpreted, documented, and enacted. The Alternate Currents blog is home to an extensive archive of articles, interviews, critical writing, and creative research that bring issues around justice in the arts into clearer focus.

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Something beautiful

https://www.instagram.com/magnificent.jen/

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My name is Jen, I’m an art critic, curator, and administrator living and working in Chicago.

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Christinafernandezmorrow.substack.com

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I explore widowhood, grief & healing, growing up first-born and first-gen, writing, and all things that come across my line of vision and make my fingers itch to write.

No thanks

This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts

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Christina's Substack | Christina Fernández-Morrow | Substack

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I explore widowhood, grief & healing, growing up first-born and first-gen, writing, and all things that come across my line of vision and make my fingers itch to write. Click to read Christina's Substack, by Christina Fernández-Morrow, a Substack publication. Launched 2 years ago.

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Freelance journalist, poet, yoga teacher, reiki and sound healer

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The projects, writings and curatorial practice of Tempestt Hazel.

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Riley Yaxley is most often a dinner party host, a fishkeeper, a beach rat, a flâneuse, a glutton, a dancer, a delinquent daughter who forgets to call her mom; and she is also a writer, editor, and arts administrator.

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Kate Hadley Toftness - Chicago Archives + Artists Project

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Kate Hadley Toftness - Chicago Archives + Artists Project

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Sixty's collaborative initiative connecting artists and archivists to transform the future of art history through radical archival practice.

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Latinx Art Collection at DePaul Art Museum + Natasha Mijares (2023)

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The Chicago Archives + Artists Project is an initiative launched with Sixty Inches from Center to highlight Chicago archives and special collections that give space to voices on the margins. Led by Chicago-based writers and artists, the project explores archives across the city via a monthly online feature, a series of public programs and new artist commissions.

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Curator, writer, professor extraordinaire (self-described like a guest judge on America's Next Top Model)

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The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation is committed to enriching the lives of all Chicagoans by improving the built environment, cultivating a robust and diverse arts and culture ecosystem, and supporting investigative journalism.

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Jared Brown Archives - Sixty Inches From Center

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Music critic @ Chicago Tribune, freelance journalist and editor covering arts, culture, race & health

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PRJ publishes reflections and responses to Chicago's dance/performance community in/outside the margins.

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(they/them) (Lower Brule Lakota) Queer, 2S Indigenous writer, curator and DJ.

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Contratiempo is a literary organization that highlights the cultural contributions of the Spanish-speaking diaspora.

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Identidad migrante | arte y literatura latinoamericana en Chicago

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Lumpen Radio, WLPN-LP Chicago 105.5FM is a project of Public Media Institute launched in 2016.

It broadcasts 24/7, producing community-generated and multilingual radio content.

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Lumpen Radio is a project of Public Media Institute a registered 501 (c) non-profit organization. We are committed to the spread of knowledge and positive vibrations on the public airwaves. None of this is possible without support from people like you.

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Colossal is an online art magazine that celebrates contemporary art and visual culture across a wide range of creative disciplines.

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"Our role as artists is always to search for the light," says French artist JR ( previously) about the second act of his Retour à la Caverne project. "We know this much: You don't chase away the darkness with more darkness. You chase it away with light, however tiny."

The work he's referring to, though, is far from tiny. Cloaking Paris's Palais Garnier while the building is under construction, Retour à la Caverne is an enormous trompe l'oeil facade, the first part of which depicts a cave carved into the grand structure that houses the opera. Illuminated at the center, the temporary piece highlights the physical and metaphorical interactions between light and dark. Broken into two acts like an opera libretto, the work references Plato's allegory that emerging from the depths of the cave, and from darkness, brings knowledge.

"Act I" debuted earlier this fall with four nights of projected works, while the second part was held on November 12. "Back in September, we invited you to step out of the cave to go and explore. This time, we're inviting you back inside the cave," JR said while introducing the work. Whereas "Act I" portrays the cavern gouged into the center of the building, "Act II" switches perspectives, placing the viewers entirely inside the space.

Titled " Chiroptera," the performance featured choreography by Damien Jalet and music by Thomas Bangalter. More than 150 dancers appeared through an elevated seven-story scaffolding after an eerie introduction by ballerina Amandine Albisson, who appeared to open the cave, causing a plummet into darkness. As with many of JR's works, the artist asked the crowd to participate by using headlamps and their phones to illuminate the remainder of the performance, revealing the ways light can emerge from collective action.

Watch the full performance below, and find more from JR on Instagram.

Artist and architect Ulf Mejergren ( previously) continues his interest in cozy, outdoor constructions with a new series titled Farm Art. Collaborating with farmer Robert Pettersson, Mejergren built several site-specific structures from materials found around Pettersson's property in Grödinge, Sweden.

For "Pine Bark Hut," the pair layered thick, gnarly wood into a slender cabin camouflaged between two trees, a space first used for hunting and then storing tools. Similarly, "Root Hut" entwines gathered branches with the existing roots to create a small, sand pit enclosure nestled beneath the forest, while the circular "Moss Hut" stands 4.5 meters tall among the trees. The latter work "stems from the farmers' hunting interest," Mejergren writes. "For many years, he has put food at certain points in the forests so wild boars come to feed there. The problem is they are like bulldozers in the forests, looking for insects and roots in the soil, so they have dug up moss from the forest floor and left them scattered in big droves." Cloaked in the remaining lichen, the structure is a disguised refuge among the wild landscape.

Other works in Farm Art are more aesthetically driven, like the vivid "Sunset." Made of dandelion heads at full bloom, the spherical form appears to glow in a field of weeds and wildflowers. Find the full series on Mejergren's site and Instagram.

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Colossal is an international platform for contemporary art and visual expression. Our coverage explores visual culture through the latest in art, modern craft, design, sustainability, climate, street art, photography, illustration, science, and animation.

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Ireashia Bennett, filmmaker, critical essayist, photographer

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Ireashia Bennett, filmmaker, critical essayist, photographer

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www.ireashia.com

welcometothezaxis.substack.com

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Connection is the cure.

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Rocío Santos (Vocalo (Domingos en Vocalo) & Airgo Media)

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Rocío Santos (Vocalo (Domingos en Vocalo) & Airgo Media)

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For any podcast listeners out there or if you'd like to learn Spanish while listening to arts, culture and music. :-)

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​Entrevista a Vivir Quintana: ‘Cosas que sorprenden a la audiencia’, un álbum de corridos que hace justicia a las mujeres privadas de su libertad

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Rachel Hausmann Schall is a visual artist, writer, educator and arts organizer living and working near Milwaukee, WI. She received her BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) in 2015 and has exhibited work nationally at many galleries, alternative, and artist-run spaces.

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Sixty’s team has produced projects involving archives, editorial work, curation, exhibitions, panels, residencies, writers meet-ups, critique groups, festivals, and more. View a selection of our projects below and visit our…

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Poet.Novelist.Oral History Collector at The Community Archive.East Side Arts Collective member.PROF.

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The FEMININE PRONOUN blog is your destination for creative social justice solutions.

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Newberry Library, West Walton Street, Chicago, IL

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Indigenous people are central to the story of popular culture in the Western Hemisphere, and popular culture is important to many Indigenous people and experiences. This exhibition, drawn from the Newberry’s growing collections for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, shares four centuries of Indigenous creators, athletes, activists, and fans engaged with pop—from pamphlets to comic books, and from daguerreotypes to video games. Curated by Will Hansen and River Kerstetter

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Curators

Will Hansen, Roger and Julie Baskes Vice President for Collection and Library Services, and Curator of Americana.​
River Ian Kerstetter (Onʌyota'a:ka / Wisconsin Oneida), Independent artist, designer, writer, and educator.

Exhibition-Related Programming
Public Programs at the Newberry are free and open to all. Registration required in advance. Imagining Indigenous Futures, March 27, 6pm
Star Wars: A New Hope-Navajo Language Version, May 3, 1pm
In this edition of "Conversations at the Newberry," authors Darcie Little Badger and Joshua Whitehead discuss Indigenous approaches to Sci-Fi and Futurism.
Planting Seeds: An Indigenous Zine Fest, June 7, 11am
The Newberry presents the Navajo Language version of Star Wars: A New Hope. The Newberry's Will Hansen will introduce the screening by sharing how this version was conceptualized and created.
The Return of Navajo Boy Screening and Discussion, July 12, 1:30 pm
Indigenous zine makers and artists will display and sell their zines and artwork. The event will include hands-on activities led by artists.

Join us for the 25th Anniversary screening of The Return of Navajo Boy, followed by a panel discussion with family members from the film.
Drawing from the Margins: Studying Indigenous Representation in Comics, April 26-May 10, 1pm
Adult Education Class at the Newberry

Read luminary and emerging comic artists to better understand the history of Indigenous representation, creators, and communities.

More About the Space

The Trienens galleries include an introductory gallery and a larger primary gallery. Exhibitions mounted there typically include 40-70 items from the Newberry's vast collections. Exhibitions in the Trienens galleries allow visitors to explore compelling themes and historical content in depth. Examples of past exhibitions include: Pop-Ups Through the Ages and Viva La Libertad. Click here to view a photo of the galleries.

Supporters

Native Pop! is generously supported by the Henry Luce Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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How Indigenous people have shaped popular culture.

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Freelance writer: English and Spanish,writing for Hola America Media, JEFAS Magazine, Substack

I live in Houston, TX but often write for Midwestern publications.

www.christinafernandezmorrow.com

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Multidisciplinary writer, facilitator, and community builder based on Potawatami land on the South Side of Chicago.

Substack

LinkedIn

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Building a SWANA ecosystem on dance floors and beyond - Chicago Reader

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Laylit, New York’s celebration of dance music from diasporic SWANA communities, comes to Sleeping Village for one night.

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Re: covering work outside of traditional art spaces (part 1)

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Re: covering work outside of traditional art spaces (part 1)

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I referenced this piece in the "audience" breakout on Sunday afternoon when we were talking about serious coverage of craft and other "nontraditional" creative practices. I'm not sure about the headline, tbh ... maybe too click-baity. But this was a surprisingly popular piece, and we received feedback from a lot of readers who went to the exhibition.

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News flash: One of Wichita’s most interesting art exhibitions is at a senior living community

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A wide-ranging fiber show at Larksfield Place is a genuine delight and an easy place to visit. It’s on view every day through January 30.

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Astrologer 🌟 Artist, Creative Facilitator

@kpfkpf kpfkpf.com katiaperezfuentes.com

Sixty’s Community Caretaker

co-lead Sixty Collective 🏁

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In Detroit Public Theatre’s ‘The Confederates,’ history repeats itself

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Dominique Morisseau’s brilliant play tackles post traumatic slave syndrome and the sister wound

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My Final "Soham Sunset" Studio Session (9.26.2024)

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Sydney G. James beams with Detroit pride in MOCAD solo show, but her greatest masterpiece isn’t a painting

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Angela Zonunpari is an editor-artist-writer based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with roots in North and Northeast India.

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https://thebuckeyeflame.com/2022/06/14/karen-hewitt-on-black-star-network/

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Pride Month Would Not Exist as We Know it if Juneteenth Did Not Happen [COMMENTARY]

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“It all comes together as we recognize that the most marginalized of any group is generally the BIPOC members of this group.”

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https://open.substack.com/pub/missydowntime/p/pao-houa-her-the-imaginative-landscape-review

Reviewing Pap Houa Her's Imaginative Landscape at JMKAC.

The HMong people’s history is one of migration, traveling, and reconstruction. Historically, their traces spread across Mongolia, southeastern China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar. In modern days, large HMong communities are seen in China, Laos, and the United States.

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The HMong people's history is one of migration, traveling, and reconstruction. Historically, their traces spread across Mongolia, southeastern China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar. In modern days, large HMong communities are seen in China, Laos, and the United States.

The HMong definition home, therefore, is fluid and collective, like a cabinet of oddity filled with symbols of personal and cultural significance. It spins off images, stories, lores, and core beliefs passed through generation within the clan or household and becomes something uniquely personal, private, and powerful. Listening to a HMong person describe what they perceives as home is peeping into their spirit and core.

Pao Houa Her's first survey at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) opened on March 15. Tilted The Imaginative Landscape, the exhibition covers nearly 20 years of Her's work with selections from six major series. The work on display spans across various media and formats, including framed photos, light boxes, videos, and prints, offering glimpses into the HMong complicated, multifaceted construction of a spiritual and emotional homeland throughout relocations and displacements.

The banners hanging from the ceilings, chosen from Her's Attention series was the first thing that drew my attention. The portraits honors HMong Vietnam War veterans in military military portrait style. The banners hang off the glass dome over JMKAC's entryway, turning the short walk into a worshipping path.

Born in Laos in 1982, the artist fled with her family after the Laotian Civil War, spending a year in a refugee camp in Thailand before settling in Saint Paul, Minnesota. For Her, the visualization of a homeland is first built upon family stories. The impression is then developed with the artist's personal experience of resettlement.

For someone my age, having your homeland defined by its military history is an unfamiliar concept. In my generation, veteran appreciation often comes off similar as idol worshipping, whereas for those who experienced a war first-hand, stories and histories of veterans are those of personal significance. But the banners then reminded me of my grandmother, who would talk about the atrocity of Sino-Japanese war throughout my childhood. Hence the alien-ness is re-written with solemn grief and compassion. Her's genius lifts the images above time-limited personal experience into transcendental sentiments passed through the bloodline. The distance homeland viewed through our grandparents' eyes now becomes personal, embedded with their voices and figures. One may have not lived through those days, but they'd have experienced that history through their bloodline.

Holding these emotions close to the heart, the viewer then enters a dimly-lit gallery with recently commissioned lenticular prints of the jungles of northern Laos and a video of kwv txhiaj (HMong song poetry). HMong song poetry holds the same cultural importance as Homer's Illiad or Dante's Divine Comedy. It is a melody that echoes with the soul and carries on the HMong people's history and spirit while speaking of an unyielding longing of what was lost and what has yet to become.

"kwv txhiaj capture emotion in a unique way, acting as a catharsis not just for an author or singer, but for a people. They are songs of mourning, yes, but they are also monuments to the resilience of Hmong around the globe, exquisitely beautiful even as they are impossibly sad."

- Wisconsin University of Wisconsin-Madison

The interlacing sound and imageries turn the gallery into a meditative space. The viewers then see beyond what the jungles look in the present and gaze into a forgotten past under the guidance of the HMong song poets. The remote landscape draws near through the veils in one's dreams. Any unlived gaps are filled with imagination and reminiscence. The homeland surfaces from ancestral and ambiguous memories.

Paralleling the survey with Her's diasporic experience and the HMong history, the exhibition exceeds JMKAC's institution with site-specific installations throughout Sheboygan. Installation sites include the Sheboygan County Courthouse, Paradigm Coffee & Music, HMong Mutual Assistance Association (HMAA), the Taylor Drive Sign installed atop a roadside hill, 3 Sheeps Brewing, Thai Café, Union Asian Market, and yard signs all around town. To piece together the full view of Her's imaginative landscape, one must walk through the town like how the HMong diaspora has travelled through continents.

If the gallery exhibition is about the home inherited from the past, the site-specific installations investigates the nuanced experience of the HMong diaspora. For example, the installation at the Sheboygan County Courthouse shows images from After the Fall of HMong Tebchaw (2017) series. These balck-and-white photographs feature HMong elders posed in front of a floral background. Upon first glance, the series highlight the senior generation's resilience and silent grief over the loss of "tebchaw" (homeland). In 2017, a Minnesota HMong man swindled nearly $4 million from elders by claiming he was negotiating government-backed land purchases in Laos to create a HMong country. Despite his conviction in 2017, many HMong elders continue to believe in his promises, adding more context to why this specific installation is placed at the county courthouse.

Would you call them gullible, or the man despicable? And piercing beneath the surface, do you see the deep-rooted longing from a population who is on the constant, endless pursuit of a home?

Pao Houa Her: The Imaginative Landscape is on view through August 31st. Admission to JMKAC is free, but reservations are recommended to secure your visit and ensure that you enjoy a sufficient, undisrupted experience. Reservations can be made via the institution's website here.

The exhibition is co-organized with the San José Museum of Art (SJMA) in California, where it will open in July 2025-the two overlapping presentations, each tailored to their host city, reflecting the diverse U.S. contexts in which HMong communities have adapted and built new homelands.

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Pao Houa Her's survey at John Michael Kohler Arts Center is a fragmented portrait of the HMong diasporic Homeland

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Here I write about my family's favorite ghost

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Here I write about my family's favorite ghost

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hauntology, hoodoo, and writerly legacy

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Treasure Shields Redmond: “The Ghost of Henry Dumas”

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Henry Dumas’s tragic death haunts my family, but we are happy to be his steward.

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Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond founded The Community Archive to collect the stories of African-American communities and provide an educational platform for teaching how to preserve disappearing oral histories. The Community Archive uses free-to-all podcast technology in order to provide open source access to everyone. The Class of 1917 is the latest oral history archive TCA has curated. Also available on Spotify, The Class of 1917 contains interviews with descendants of survivors of the 1917 East St. Louis Massacre.

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The Community Archive – The Community Archive serves as a platform for arts education and a repository for collected creative wisdom.

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Community newspaper by and for Chicago’s South Side. Arts, Culture, Politics. Est. 2013.

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East St. Louis Ekphrasis: A Meditation on the Meaning of “City,” “Abandonment,” and “Pollution”

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East St. Louis Ekphrasis: A Meditation on the Meaning of “City,” “Abandonment,” and “Pollution”

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"In her final essay for the Midwest Arts Writers Fellowship, Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond penned an eloquent and poetic ode to her community of East Saint Louis, Illinois."

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East St. Louis Ekphrasis: A Meditation on the Meaning of “City,” “Abandonment,” and “Pollution” - Sixty Inches From Center

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In her final essay for the Midwest Arts Writers Fellowship, Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond penned an eloquent and poetic ode to her community of East Saint Louis, Illinois.

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Re: covering work outside traditional art spaces (part 2)

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Re: covering work outside traditional art spaces (part 2)

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Another piece I mentioned in our audience breakout session on Sunday. I'm so proud of this story by Masara Al-Sharieh, which came out of an audience development interview conducted in early 2024. It's one of the first things we published, and it has become one of the most-read posts on our site — due in large part to strong search traffic.

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‘Any time there’s a celebration, I’m doing henna’

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Women in Wichita’s Muslim community observe Eid al-Fitr with the ancient practice of temporary henna tattoos.

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If you never read another piece of art criticism . . . 

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If you never read another piece of art criticism . . . 

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Re: Olympia by Édouard Manet

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NATIONAL BESTSELLER An unsparing investigation into Spotify’s origins and influence on music, weaving unprecedented reporting with incisive cultura…

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Black Arts Today Postdoctoral/Postgraduate Fellow @ UIUC | Option For Remote ✨

Please Consider Applying + Share w/ Your Network!

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University of Illinois - Black Arts Today Post-doc/Post-grad.docx

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(A resource/reading/zine that came to mind as Jen talked about soil, roots, and the trees in relation to the ecosystem we’re in + also intersect with a lot of other conversations we’ve had during the convening—the link is to a printable PDF!)

Lessons for organizing, from trickster artist and activist Ricardo Levins Morales.

Ricardo Levins Morales is an artist and organizer based in Minneapolis. He uses his art as a form of political medicine to support individual and collective healing from the injuries and ongoing reality of oppression.

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Chicago artists say ‘dysfunction’ in city cultural department is causing grant delays (article in the Chicago Sun-Times by Courtney Kueppers)

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Chicago artists say ‘dysfunction’ in city cultural department is causing grant delays (article in the Chicago Sun-Times by Courtney Kueppers)

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More than 140 Chicago artists and cultural leaders are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson to address "dysfunction" within the city's Cultural Affairs department, arguing that staffing turmoil is leading to delays in grant payments and other key functions.

It all comes, the "letter of concern" states, at a "unique and critical time" for the arts. The sector was not fully back on its feet following the blow of the COVID-19 pandemic and now faces existential funding threats from the Trump administration.

"The arts make Chicago a global destination and are one of the primary vehicles for countering the lies promoted by those with a national agenda intent on spreading false and harmful narratives about our City," the letter reads. "It is with this understanding that we write to share our deep concern about the dysfunction in the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events."

The letter, posted Wednesday on Instagram by a group called Artists for Chicago, comes about one year after Johnson picked his former staffer Clinée Hedspeth to lead the department. Since Hedspeth took over, the department has been roiled by turnover, with at least 19 staff members - including several high-ranking deputies - departing amid allegations of bullying by Hedspeth.

In an emailed statement, Hedspeth said she acknowledges the concerns raised in the letter and that she is "steadfast" in "supporting and empowering this community." She also said she is "committed to enhancing our processes for grant distribution."

"Since my appointment last year, I have been deeply focused on navigating the complexities of our evolving arts landscape in a post-pandemic world," Hedspeth said in the statement. "The arts are a cornerstone of Chicago's identity, and I am committed to ensuring that DCASE remains a robust partner for artists, cultural organizations and our communities."

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

The letter, which is still accepting signatures, calls on Johnson to intervene on staff turnover, address allegations of bullying and audit the department's essential operations, which the letter's authors say has been disrupted under current leadership.

The letter also asks the mayor to communicate a vision for DCASE and for the administration to be present at the next Cultural Advisory Council, after Hedspeth did not appear in person at the group's February meeting.

The department oversees large-scale events, such as Taste of Chicago and Blues Fest, and neighborhood programming, as well as directs grants to artists and organizations - a function that could become even more vital to the local sector after changes at the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities under President Donald Trump.

"During a time defined by increasing polarization and instability, we need a strong, cohesive vision for arts and culture in our city and a partner in DCASE leadership that can be depended on," the letter reads. "There is still time to do right by Chicago's artists and creative industry who have been a strongly engaged voting bloc that significantly contributed to your successful election campaign."

The letter has been signed by people across the arts sector, including curators, actors, arts administrators and more. The document is notable because it's the first time that collective criticism of the department has publicly extended past arts leaders and executives.

Amina Dickerson, a longtime arts activist and member of the advisory council, signed her name to the letter.

She said she has been "deeply disheartened" by the department recently, adding that: "We need the arts now more than ever."

One of the people organizing the effort told WBEZ there has been a "profound" level of fear of retaliation among people considering signing. The organizer said a group of about 35 people have been working on the effort for the last couple of months.

Hedspeth, a former art appraiser and director at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, previously served as legislative director under Johnson during his time as Cook County commissioner. In a public appearance last year, Hedspeth said she has known the mayor since college.

Johnson picked Hedspeth to lead DCASE after firing former Commissioner Erin Harkey, who was appointed by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot in February 2024. The change has resulted in a high level of staff departures. Last September, a former DCASE staff member told WBEZ the internal culture of the department had become "discouraging" and "disconnected" under Hedspeth.

In the letter, arts leaders said the "hollowing out of the department's expertise and institutional knowledge has had a meaningful impact on the efficient running of the department and its essential functions of providing timely grants and fulfilling permit requests."

In the emailed statement, Hedspeth said that turnover "is a natural part of any leadership transition."

"I understand the concerns regarding the impact of this turnover on the department's operations, and I want to assure the public that we are in the process of recruiting and retaining talented professionals to ensure DCASE functions at the highest level," Hedspeth said in the statement.

The letter calls for the inspector general, the mayor's office and Cultural Advisory Council to be "fully briefed" on the "alarming accusations of shouting and cursing at staff members in front of the public, demeaning requests of staff, and instances of retaliation for speaking up," which the letter states "have all been confirmed by trusted sources within the department."

Jonah Zeiger, the former head of the Chicago Film Office, was ousted from DCASE in December. In February, he told WBEZ he did not know why he was edged out.

"It was never made clear to me," Zeiger said. "I know that I was given direction to limit, then ultimately refrain, my engagement with stakeholders and community partners, and I never quite understood why I was receiving that guidance."

Members of the city's Cultural Advisory Council, who are appointed, said in a February meeting they want to hear what direction the department is heading under Hedspeth's leadership.

"I think what people are asking [for] is sort of a very clear plan about how DCASE and the commissioner and leadership would like to use the [council]," the group's chair, Coya Paz, said at the time.
Courtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ.

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Chicago artists say 'dysfunction' in city cultural department is causing grant delays

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The concerns were raised in a letter sent to Mayor Brandon Johnson one year into Clinée Hedspeth's tenure as head of the department, where she faces high turnover and bullying accusations.

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find me on insta @livy_onalee_

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Selected curatorial projects, publications, and photography…

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FSM, a hyper-local arts journal for NE Wisconsin

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FSM, a hyper-local arts journal for NE Wisconsin

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fsm. is an arts review journal and publishing platform—poetry, photos, anything—covering contemporary arts in the Greater Fox River Valley of Wisconsin.

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fsm. An independent journal for the arts.

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fsm. is an arts review journal and publishing platform covering contemporary arts in the Greater Fox River Valley of Wisconsin.

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Slack: Journalism Girlies (btw I didn't name this lol)

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Slack: Journalism Girlies (btw I didn't name this lol)

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Just click on this invitation link:

https://join.slack.com/t/journalismgirlies/shared_invite/zt-34mh1nvcj-PDrOvW1tR8oVuFUFFmKi2A

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Slack is a new way to communicate with your team. It’s faster, better organized, and more secure than email.

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Resources, job listings, career advice, watercooler discussions, media tea, localized discussions, and more.

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About us

You've found us! We are a community of Journalists of Color aka JOCs, and this website is for you - the public - to peruse, find out what we're all about and maybe even join us.

We created a Slack team to start gathering people and ideas, and we quickly learned a few things:

The media diversity struggle is real real in newsrooms across the country.

The conversations we're having are ones that need to be had on a wider scale.

Members agree that a community like this is wanted and necessary.

We founded this group to put Journalists of Color in the same "room" ( you know, so you're not the only one.) And having a Slack team allows us to branch out and create infinite rooms to discuss a variety of topics, collaborate on projects or chat/scheme/vent privately via direct messages or private groups.

We are dedicated to growing and expanding this community, and its conversations and opportunities. We've already branched out from Slack to a couple of meetups on the East and West coasts. So stay tuned because we're just getting started.

You are welcome to join if...

You are or identify as a person of color and work in journalism.

"Work in journalism" = Do you identify as a journalist? Is your job something that helps to push journalism forward? Yeah? Sweet!

Allies: While we appreciate your support, this space is for us. Check out our resources section for more ways to encourage diversity.

The rules

What happens in the JOCs Slack stays in the JOCs Slack - everything said or gif'd or bot'd is OFF THE RECORD. This is a safe space to talk about whatever, network, commune and support one another. Now, we're all smart enough to know that nothing on the Interwebs is 100% safe or secure and we're supposed to trust no one, so that's where common sense comes in.

In earlier discussions we agreed that the same decorum and discretion we apply to social media or professional listservs should be used in the all-access, public channels. Be respectful, don't be a jerk, and help keep this space as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Request to join

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We are a community of Journalists of Color aka JOCs, and this website is for you – the public – to peruse, find out what we’re all about and maybe even join us.

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Let’s mark the ones that are $300 and up

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Freelance Solidarity Project! https://freelancesolidarity.org

Rate sharing database! https://freelancesolidarity.org/actions-campaigns/rate-sharing/

Freelance Isn't Free

https://freelancesolidarity.org/freelance-isnt-free/

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Magnifissance: Arts, Fashion, Design - Magnifissance

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Your go-to destination to discover objects and stories of exceptional beauty in Arts, Fashion and Design.

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Our friend and Sixty contributor Tesh Silver's chemo care!

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Our friend and Sixty contributor Tesh Silver's chemo care!

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Chemo care for Tesh: master doc ︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵ Hello! I (Kheiron) am loosely coordinating care for the next 4 months so that Tesh can focus on resting & rebuilding as much as possible. Please feel free to contact me directly if you want or need to at 773-951-9255. Tesh is having 6 infusions over…

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Thank you all for sharing your tanka. I kept to how each was composed as much as possible. If something needs to be changed, let me know at maggiequeeney@gmail.com.

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Call-for-Submissions: Visual Contributors - Sixty Inches From Center

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Sixty is seeking submissions from photographers and artists to expand our Visual Contributor pool beyond Chicago to other Midwestern areas!