Dark & Divine Union: an inspired poetry workshop and artist talk

Dasia Hood invites guests to McColl Center for a poetry workshop, pairing portraits from the Dark & Divine exhibition with poetic prompts while engaging featured artists in dialogue on their process and work in nude portraiture. Guests can also complete their own "Declaration of My Body", the exhibition's featured fill-in-the-blank poem by Tammaka Staley. 

Music playlist by Wild Recluse

Special performance by Jason Dawkins and Dasia Hood

Cash bar and snacks provided.

Open Road, Open Soul is a poetry workshop inspired by Black Behind Bars: Black Biker Culture, exploring freedom and resilience. Participants will engage in guided reflection and meditative writing with the open road as a path to healing and self-discovery. Through poetry, we embrace second chances and craft narratives of personal liberation. This immersive experience fosters community, creativity, and introspection, leaving participants with a renewed sense of empowerment and direction.

"Fragments of Self: An Abstract Collage Exploration of Identity", inspired by YoYo Lander's Between the Quiet exhibition, is a hands-on workshop designed for college students to explore the layers of their identity through abstract collage and poetry. Using magazines, textures, and colors, participants will create visual representations of their personal narratives, cultural influences, and evolving sense of self. Through guided reflection and creative expression, this session encourages poetic dialogue on identity beyond labels, embracing complexity and transformation. Participants will leave with a collage and poem.

"Dark & Divine: Tasting Her Words" pairs poetry and pleasure through a chocolate-tasting session that takes participants on a sensory experience of Black women creatives, including Solange Knowles, Ntzoke Shange, and more. 

The workshop, led by Dasia Hood, opens with a welcome and intention-setting, sharing the inspiration to honor Black women poets and lyricists by indulging in chocolate—the muses of the mind and tongue. Taste and poetry merge to explore themes of resilience, creativity, and sensuality while bringing mindfulness to indulgence through an ethical chocolate tasting.

Dasia Hood is performing spoken word at The Melanin Affair for a night of Black Excellence, Fashion, and Entertainment.

Join me for the ultimate indulgence - the limited edition chocolate sour cherry donut at Beyond Amazing Donuts, glazed with Divine Chocolate! Meet me at Beyond Amazing Donuts at noon to try the featured flavor and purchase a signed copy of my poetry book, Lovings You.

Join us for the closing reception of RED: Rated R, an immersive exhibition by Lorem Ipsum, curated by Dasia Hood’s Dark & Divine, where sensuality meets artistry. Dive deeper into the art with an artist panel discussion moderated by Dasia Hood.

Exhibition Credits:

[participating artist]
@willakeemhicks
@drudsy
@chdwckart
@wildrecluse
@ida.mae
@whatisrelax
@rodneyraines
@crane.seven
@makaylabinter_
@artofjane
@livelongsoho
@leaving.my.marq
@robby_taught_me
@nome_three0five
@art_of_fresco
•
[models & dancers]
@theeonetheeonly
@_oliviabrielle
@drudsy
•
[sounds by]
@blackasthecosmos
•
[final touches by]
@to.liveincolor
@_eros_creation
•
[curated by]
@dasiahood
•
[sponsored by]
@bacardi
@angelsenvy
@blomluxuryflorals