Many stories "Woven" into one

Written By: Slangston Hughes
Photography By: Tya Anthony for eyeni photography


















So what do you get when you mix intelligent and extremely talented female artists with a microphone and an audience down in the basement of a church transformed into an artistic sanctuary. With visual art, a live DJ (Dj Simba) and a night of thrilling storytelling in the form of an edutaining creative tapestry, "woven" together with positive vibes and live energy. Well you get WOVEN. The inaugural launch of a now monthly event brought to you by "Smart Chicks Inc." "An arts based non profit focused on developing leadership opportunities for women in the arts." Founded by Baltimore based Vocalist, song writer and HipHop artist Carolyn Malachi who’s "Revenge of the Smart Chicks" blog (named from her album of the same name) has been rapidly spreading the gospel of intelligent female artist from the DMV and beyond in 2009.

"Sometimes organized religion is like trying to capture the sun on a candle stick"-E The Poet Emcee


Poet, Shelby Jade shares a laugh with Hadaiyah Bey and Naijah Barnes at WOVEN: the Smart Chicks Inc. Launch.

As each poet approached the stage you heard more than just poems or simply songs, but a collection of soul stirring and awe inspiring stories in the form of lyrical expression that tended to be nearly as visual as the photography and paintings on display inside the nights performance space. These vivid pictures both on and off stage reflected one another from many various perspectives.

"I too love stories and story telling, I see things that way. So when I write I try to break things down in that way, like a story. And tonight everyone definitely had a story to tell."
-Shelby Jade


Guests at WOVEN converse and enjoy works by painter, Liz (Artbyliz) Wilson, pictured here.



From Ya-Ya’s personification poem that painted the borough of Brooklyn through the voice of a young black women on the grind, to DC poet Jade Foster opening her set with a vivid selection from the late great June Jordan. Up to her amazing childhood reflection on her days, I mean her "poems" days playing with a Kenya doll, who happen to have hair like wool and all. Or Bluegrass and Folklore singer Chelsea Mcbee descriptive tales of red clay, betrayal and even the instrumental piece "widows walk" that was anything but silent. Telling its own incredible story without the need for any words at all. Followed by Shelby Jade, as she cordially invited us into the space of her current state, heart, mind, body and soul. Eloquently illustrating love, apprehension, inspiration and complex emotion, taking us to a point where poetic verbal explanation meets lyrical narration, and life and art no longer simply imitate one another but become one in the same. With E Poet Emcee (effectively "reping for all smart dudes who love smart chicks") closing the event in a very fitting manor with his poem "The Test". A poem that questions the purpose of organized religion performed in the basement of a church, I love it!!!


"Tonight was amazing, I really felt a great sense of community, I’m very grateful that everyone came out to support"- Carolyn Malachi