PRIDE & POETRY EVERYWHERE
Saturday July 17th 7-10pm | Wade’s Bayou, Douglas, MI
Featuring: Kyd Kane, Gemini DaPoet, Gleason, Bri Ross, Fav Fat Poet, KFG, Wayne Bowerman.
Special Musical Guest: Lady Ace Boogie
Special guests: DJ set by SuperDre, and experimental design studio, Not Design will be spinning Performative Typography through live responsive Letterpress.
The Critical Infrastructure stage was designed by artist Paul Amenta and architect Ted Lott of Lott3Metz Architecture, in collaboration with DisArt.
Beer on tap: Saugatuck Brewing Co
This project was realized in partnership with the SAUGATUCK DOUGLAS FENNVILLE ARTS INITIATIVE and OX-BOW. Tech support provided by KBOgroup.
Ericka “Kyd Kane” Thompson is the first Black Woman and openly Queer person to be appointed Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, Mi, a self-taught visual artist, curator, arts educator and most importantly, a beacon of peace and love; born and raised in West Michigan.
For Kyd, creativity has always been a source of joy, an origin for clarity and a means for survival. Through childhood trauma, adulthood pain and everything in between, each creation allows her to fill holes, to feel whole, to feel real and to connect with others. Kyd uses self expression to generate social dialogue about the good and bad of the human experience, by exploring themes such as; poverty, privilege, gentrification, resilience and identity through community conversation, poem, installation, video, and photography.
Kyd’s work has taken her to stages, institutes, galleries and theatres including, Detroit Masonic Temple, the Michigan State Capitol building, Kalamazoo Institute of Art, Unity Center of Peace in Chapel Hill, NC, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts and SiTE:LAB in Grand Rapids, MI, among others. Her voice has been featured on NPR, WYCE Electric Poetry, TEDx, and on the intros, interludes and outros of various musical artists from all over the country.
You can find her intentionally connecting with community as the co-host of Creston Vibes: a themed open mic series, sparking conversation with the “Challenge Privilege” movement and engaging young people as a teaching artist with The Diatribe Inc.
Kyd believes that her art has the power to generate vibrations that inspire, heal, challenge, affirm and provoke. She’s grateful for the opportunity to live a life filled with passion and purpose.
Ebony Davis/Gemini Dapoet is a poet, published author, business owner, motivational speaker, community activist, mentor, and local philanthropist affectionately known as “the voice for the voiceless”. She discovered her poetic ability after losing her daughter and became a known public figure after the surge of violence that occurred in the city in 2010. It was then local radio station 103.7 The Beat began playing her infamous poem “What’s Going On” shortly after the death of TJ Thomas. Her passion lies in utilizing her gift and fearlessness to implement a change that will make our community better for the next generation. She is a recipient of the 2013 and 2015 Beat Awards Best Local Entertainer & Best Spoken Word Artist, Great Poets across America Award Winning Poet, four time Tedx Speaker, and published author. She is also known as speaking up, on the behalf of the community, against racism and discrimination. She strives to show the youth that your past does not determine your future and if you put God first there is nothing you cannot accomplish. She feels she is utilizing her gift as God has directed her to and goes by the motto, “If I can touch at least one than I’m doing my part”.
Gleason is a Michigan poet and performer, whose sharp tongue and soulful heart educate, encourage, and inspire. They are the Director of Education of The Diatribe, a nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting, inspiring, and empowering the youth through poetry. Gleason’s work has been commissioned by local and national organizations, including The Hope Network and The National Fair Housing Alliance. They have represented Grand Rapids in poetry slams on national stages and co-coached The Retort United Slam team from 2017-2019, which took home the third-place trophy for Group Piece Finals at the 2018 National Poetry Slam. Raised in a fundamental, evangelical church where their faith was often at odds with their soul, Gleason’s art is rooted in the idea and that poetry is a way of seeing the world, a way of seeing god in unexpected places. They believe in pipe dreams and that words have the power to change the world. They have spoken at TEDX events, education conferences, and universities across the country and their work has been featured by NPR, Pride.com, Curve Magazine, and DivaMag UK. They love kayaking and biking and spending time with their partner and two pups.
Brianne Hubbard-Ross (Bri) began rooting herself in the poetry community since 2013, when she first arrived to GR. After several years performing at the renowned open mic that GR is known for, The Drunken Retort, Bri began featuring around the city, such as the UICA, Fountain Street Church and GR Pride. She's been a guest on WYCE's Electric Poetry several times and is the former co-host of Creston Vibes: A Dope Open Mic Series with PoetLaureate, Kyd Kane. She is currently rededicating herself to creating opportunities in 2021.
Jocelyn Barnes grew up in West Michigan. Her poetry focuses on a whole bunch of lived experiences, with topics ranging from coping with trauma and mental illness, dating/living/loving as a queer, fat, black woman, and finding love for herself and her community, despite colonizer standards of existence in her hometown, and country. Jocelyn is the newest host of the Drunken Retort, an open mic hosted in Grand Rapids, MI, she is a Teaching Artist with the Diatribe, and she was Retort United Grand Slam Champion of 2020. Her main goal in life is to empower those without the ability to do so themselves and to give as much love as she wants to be given. She says she’s proof that art saves lives, and wants you to say “thank you” to a black woman today!
A potpourri-of-queerness, Pisces poet, born in the mythical land of Kalamazoo;
An award-winning writer, published in a multitude of journals – including (but not limited to) Crabfat Review, 3288 Review, and Reality Beach -- and touring spoken word artist;
Mental health advocate, fierce friend, author of two chapbooks -- “The Year of the Bee” and “Somatic, As In, Sonar;”
Survivor of domestic violence, Grand Rapids slammaster, Third Place winner of Group Pieces at the National Poetry Slam 2018, and former theatre kid.
They are perhaps too passionate about ice cream and feel most alive when dancing like they’ve got no bones. KFG goes by “they/them” pronouns because gender is Mystique from X-Men: both a shape-shifter and an evil made up in a white guy’s head.
KFG has had the honor of mentoring & facilitating youth workshops & programs locally & across the country. In Michigan, KFG is a teaching artist for youth poetry non-profit The Diatribe and workshop developer, as of 2021 premiering their Environmental Justice poetry program, “We Are Water.”
When KFG grows up, they hope to be a fountain of radical compassion and/or a full-time cartoon character.
Wayne is a writer, spoken word artist, mentor, and teacher. He currently works for a nonprofit, serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. He has a background in pastoral ministry: earning a BA in Religious Studies from Calvin College in 2007 and a Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary (Holland, MI) in 2011. He is deeply passionate about the intersection of artistic expression and mental health.
Linda Tellis wants you to smile. And it’s hard not to when she takes the stage as “Lady Ace Boogie”.
Compelled to share both her story, and the stories of others; she conveys a message centered on personal growth, inspiration, and hopes to positively impact those who are listening. LAB’s acclaimed freshman album “Feel Good Music” landed her three WYCE Jammie Awards & the Feminist Leadership Award by the National Organization of Women for her work through music, and community advocacy. Her Sophomore album “Don’t Box Me In” also landed her best hip hop album of the year.
An in demand and electrifying performer, LAB has shared the stage with many national acts, Including: NAS, A$AP Rocky, TI, Tunde Olaniran, Lizzo, Slum Village, Killer Mike, Jean Grae, and Dead Prez.
With the upcoming release of the album “That’s All For Now”, LAB is poised to break out of the Midwest, and into the hearts of people all around the world.
Linda Tellis isn't only making waves in the music world; she is also making waves as an up and coming entrepreneur, as Founder of Real-Time Cleaning, Co- Founder and Vice President of grass roots non-profit Youth Outlet, and Co-Founder of LoveGR.