All Workshops are 100% FREE and open to the public.
Feb. 22th, 2025
HIP HOP WORKSHOP
@oakcliffculturalcenter
1-4pm
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Taught by T. Soup @tsoupfull
Music by DJ Leo J @_leoj_
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Timeline:
1-2:30pm — Hip Hop Workshop w. @tsoupful
2:30-3pm — Q+A
3-4pm — Hip Hop Community Session w. DJ @_leoj_
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Cypher Dallas Freestyle Education Program is powered by @battlegroundsdtx + @dallasculture
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follow us @cypher.dallas to stay updated!
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SEE U SOON DALLAS 
Join us on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center for the Zora Neale Hurston Festival Dallas with books and merch, art, workshops, storytelling, live music performance, and more in celebration of American writer, anthropologist, folklorist, and documentary filmmaker, Zora Neale Hurston, born on January 7, 1981.
Exhibition selected works from Bitter Waters Sweet by Letitia Huckaby, up through February 8, 2025-Letitia Huckaby has a degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, a BFA from the Art Institute of Boston in photography and her Master’s degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Photography from the University of North Texas in Denton. Huckaby has exhibited as an emerging artist in State of the Art at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Phillips New York, the Tyler Museum of Art, The Studio School of Harlem, Renaissance Fine Art in Harlem curated by Deborah Willis, PhD, The McNay Museum of Art in San Antonio, the Camden Palace Hotel in Cork City, Ireland, and the Musée National Du Mali. Her work is included in several prestigious collections; the Library of Congress, the McNay Art Museum, the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Maison Africaine de la Photographie in Bamako, Mali, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the Samella Lewis Contemporary Art Collection at Scripps College in Claremont, California. Huckaby was a featured artist in the travelling exhibition Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation which premiered at the Amon Carter Museum and has since travelled to the Newcomb Museum of Art in New Orleans. Ms. Huckaby was a Fall 2020 Art Pace Artist in Residence and is represented by the Talley Dunn Gallery in Dallas. Ms. Huckaby is the Co-Founder of Kinfolk House, a collaborative project space that inhabits a 100-year-old historic home, where community and art converge in the predominantly Black and Latina/e/o neighborhood of Polytechnic in Fort Worth, Texas, she was named the Texas Artist of the Year for 2022 and is currently part of a major traveling exhibition entitled “Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation.”
12:00 PM – Donya Craddock of the Dock Book Shop and Trelani Michelle of Krak Teet in conversation via Instagram Live – Donya Craddock alongside her sister Donna Craddock, is the co-owner of The Dock Bookshop, which opened in 2008 and is one the largest African American owned full-service bookstore in Texas. She is leader of various reading and community groups. Donya is a member of the American Booksellers Association Advisory Board and is a committee member for Reading of the West. She is a Certified Professional Bookseller in Event Management through Professional Booksellers School. Donya is also in Mortgage Banking and Real Estate. She received her BA in Economics and History from Iowa State University and Master of Business Administration. Donya is a member of Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She is from Omaha, NE and lives in Fort Worth, TX for over 27 years. Donya is the proud mother of Donovan Craddock.
Trelani Michelle is a Louisiana and Savannah native with over 12 years of experience as a Multidisciplinary Southern Storyteller, Afrofuturist Anthropologist, and community organizer. She is the founder of Krak Teet, an organization that explores how #WeAllCousins by curating spaces for folk to tell their personal and community stories via interviews, panels, immersive workshops, and social media. Her research interests include womanism, traditional plant medicine, Black migrations, and African-rooted cultural expressions in the Americas, including language, foodways, music, art, and spiritual practices. She is the author of Krak Teet, a catalog of Black Savannah’s biographies, and co-author of the New York Times bestselling Gullah Geechee Homecooking. You can learn more about her work at TrelaniMichelle.com
This is a virtual event.
12:30 PM – Akwete Tyehimba, Pan-African Connection Zora Neale Hurston presentation – Akwete Tyehimba, is CEO of one of the largest retail African Art galleries in the world specializing in books on the history, health and forward movement of Black people. Her vision is to connect African people scattered globally with our great history, culture and collective strength, uniting African Peoples, and the upliftment of humanity worldwide. “Let your history guide you, if you let someone else history guide you, it may guide you down a path of exploitation.” says owner Tyehimba.
Seating is first come first served for this presentation.
2:00 PM – Adinkra Printmaking Workshop with Ashley Jordan – Delve into the vibrant tradition of Adinkra symbols by handcrafting your very own custom stamp. Then, let your creativity flourish as you use it to adorn a unique canvas tote bag, the perfect accessory for carrying your market essentials. You can also utilize your custom stamp to design a canvas tote bag, adding a touch of individuality to your look. This immersive activity not only honors a rich cultural heritage but also empowers you to create meaningful and practical items.
Registration required. Sign up here: ZNH – DALLAS
5:00 PM – Host B. Randall and Friends: Lyrique Jaye, Mz Jolie, Brenden Lewis, and Mz Viki Poetry Event–B. Randall is the dynamic host of Poetry Smash and Poets N Jazz at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, renowned for her role as host/producer of the acclaimed “In The Words Of A Sistah,” the longest-running all-female cast poetry show. With a passion for inspiring others, she launched her first touring show, “Poetry Is My Praise,” in 2012, captivating audiences with her inspirational and spiritual poetry. Committed to social impact, Randall was commissioned to pen a poignant poem commemorating the 50th Anniversary of desegregation by the Multicultural Alumni Association of Texas A&M –Commerce. Her recorded works have graced prestigious platforms like the 500X Gallery. As co-writer, producer, and director of A Poets Tribute to Nina, she continues to push artistic boundaries. Invited to speak at the National Day of Prayer Luncheon and the Texas State Capitol. Randall is a respected voice of empowerment and community engagement. Randall latest projects is Poet’s Prom a celebration of Poets in the DFW. Her dedication extends beyond the stage as she serves as a mentor to emerging artists, and consulting artist leaving a lasting legacy of inspiration and creativity.
Lyrique Jaye is a passionate spoken word artist who has been captivating audiences since 2018. With a focus on themes of empowerment and freedom, she brings to life the stories of those who often go unheard. Lyrique Jaye has graced both national and local stages, sharing powerful performances that resonate deeply with listeners. As an advocate for social change, she collaborates with fellow activists in the community, using the art of spoken word to inspire and uplift others. Through her writing, she continues to amplify voices and spark conversations that matter.
Mz Jolie is a National poet and the She. E. O. of Jolieizm LLC. She puts on workshops for free teaching poetry to our youth once a month. She is the curator of Express Yaself Open Mic! You can find her in the upcoming play The Fifty Cent Jewelry Line! You can catch her on an open mic near you. Just check out her website at http://www.JolieizmLLC.com for jewelry, apparel, and updates to shows. Mz Jolie is an author. You can find her published periodical on Amazon. You will enjoy her talent whether she recites poetry or sings. She is here today to wow us again.
Brenden Lewis, aka “Unspoken Being”, from Lancaster, Texas, is an artist known for his blend of jazz, storytelling, and thought-provoking lyrics. His theatrical performances invite audiences on a shared journey of sincerity and vulnerability. As a writer, his work appears in the anthology ‘Lifted Voices.’ He has performed for organizations like the National Domestic Violence Association and Dallas College.
In 2024, Brenden served as a Mental Health Panelist for youth and was a Writers Garret Contestant. He is a member of ‘Alternate Roots’ and a recognized painter. Active in the Arlington Downtown Arts District, he collaborates with F6 Art Lounge and local talent, curating community events. Currently, he’s working on a book and short film expected to become bestsellers.
Mz Viki, a proud native Texan residing in Dallas, has made her mark in the poetry and arts scene. She has co-hosted The Black Academy of Arts and Letters’ Poets & Jazz series for seasons 42, 43, and 47. Her powerful voice was featured at Dallas City Hall’s “Bring Back Our Girls” event. Mz Viki was a regular poet at The Balcony Club, participating in Liz Mikel’s Artist Showcase and Verb Kulture’s Beat Street at the Free Man in Deep Ellum. She has also graced the stage of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), performing alongside songwriter CoCo Brown and actress Irma P. Hall in “In the Words Of A Sistah on Stage.” In addition to her stage performances, she has been featured in multiple events produced by Mike Guinn Entertainment, including a poet’s segment at T.D. Jakes’ Mega-Fest and the Creative Tyme Ministry at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church. Mz Viki is also an accomplished author, with a novel titled “At the Well,” two poetry CDs, and two poetry books: “Black Poems Matter” and the newly released “Thus Said.”
Seating in first come first served for this performance.
7:00 PM – Kamica King Live – U.S Dept. of State Cultural Ambassador and Texas Commission on the Arts State Touring Roster artist Kamica King is a gifted musical storyteller and a multitalented creative whose performances and appearances include The Kennedy Center’s Arts Across America series, Carnegie Hall, the US Open, abroad in South Africa, and TEDx with her talk entitled the “Power of Song”.
A university-level educator, Kamica holds a Masters in Music/Music Therapy (Texas Women’s University), Music Therapy Degree Equivalency (Southern Methodist University), and a BA in Music- Voice (Western Connecticut State University), where she minored in psych, and broadcast communication for radio, also serving as a radio show host and producer. She is author of “Building Rapport Across Cultures: Musical and Non-musical Techniques”, a chapter published in “Music Therapy in a Multicultural Context: A Handbook for Music Therapy Students and Professionals” co-edited by Melita Belgrave & Seung-A Kim (Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2020).
Seating is first come first served for this performance.
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Saturday, December 14th from 04:00-06:00 PM
Register here: Winter Classes
Workshop Highlights:
Explore Augusta Savage’s legacy through art, creating paper mache Christmas ornaments with friends. Celebrate creativity!
Refreshments provided
Hot Cocoa Station
Photo Booth
Music
Create Beautiful Ornaments
at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center
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Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 2:00-6:00PM the Oak Cliff Cultural Center will screen the Red Reminds Me… series with Spacy (microcinema), hold a discussion between Tamera Garrett* and Yolanda Bell, and host a collective grief process engagement with Ofelia Alvarenga. In addition, a mobile STD testing station by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation will be in front of the Oak Cliff Cultural Center.
The Oak Cliff Cultural Center is proud to partner with Visual AIDS for Day With(out) Art 2024 by presenting Red Reminds Me…, a program of seven videos reflecting the emotional spectrum of living with HIV today.
Red Reminds Me… will feature newly commissioned videos by Gian Cruz (Philippines), Milko Delgado (Panama), Imani Harrington (USA), David Oscar Harvey (USA), Mariana Iacono and Juan De La Mar (Argentina/Colombia), Nixie (Belgium), Vasilios Papapitsios (USA).
Through the red ribbon and other visuals, HIV and AIDS has been long associated with the color red and its connotations—blood, pain, tragedy, and anger. Red Reminds Me… invites viewers to consider a complex range of images and feelings surrounding HIV, from eroticism and intimacy, mothering and kinship, luck and chance, memory and haunting. The commissioned artists deploy parody, melodrama, theater, irony, and horror to build a new vocabulary for representing HIV today.
The title is drawn from the words of Stacy Jennings, an activist, poet, and long-term survivor with HIV, who writes: “Red reminds me, red reminds me, red reminds me…to be free.” * Linking “red” to freedom, Jennings flips the usual connotations of the color and offers a new way of thinking about the complexity of living with HIV. Just as a prism bends and refracts light, Red Reminds Me…, expands the emotional spectrum of living with HIV. It shows us that while grief, tragedy, and anger define parts of the epidemic, the full picture contains deeper, nuanced, and sometimes contradictory feelings.
Visual AIDS is a New York-based non-profit that utilizes art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy, because AIDS is not over.
*Jennings recites this poem in the video Here We Are: Voices of Black Women Who Live with HIV, created by Davina “Dee” Conner and Karin Hayes for Day With(out) Art 2022: Being and Belonging.*Garrett was featured in the video Here We Are: Voices of Black Women Who Live with HIV, created by Davina “Dee” Conner and Karin Hayes for Day With(out) Art 2022: Being and Belonging.
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LINDA STOGNER
Friday, November 15, 2024 at 8:00 PM at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center
Join us at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center for FTC Comedy presents a night of with Linda Stogner.
Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ftc-comedy-presents-linda-stogner-live-at-the-oak-cliff-cultural-center-tickets-1063639356949
“Her mind is cracked – very funny!” – Joan Rivers
Emmy-award winner, Linda Stogner, is a true original with a unique comedy style. Her zany imagination, storytelling skills and unusual point of view have earned her many comedy honors including her own Dry Bar Comedy Special, “Linda Stogner; Welcome to My Planet,” Funniest Comic in Texas, Funniest Female Comedian in the Heartland and Finalist in The Funniest Woman in America Contest. The comedian/filmmaker has appeared in the Emmy Award winning PBS/ABC television series, “Life 360.” She has also appeared in American Network’s LOL Comedy Special and The Joan Rivers Comedy Special.
She has performed at comedy festivals and competitions around the country including the prestigious HBO’s Women in Comedy Festivaland Laughing Skull Comedy Festival. She was a semi-finalist in both the Seattle International Comedy Competition and the Boston Comedy Festival and a finalist in the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. Linda has worked with Dave Chappelle, Arsenio Hall, Kathleen Madigan, Brian Regan, Ryan Hamilton, Elayne Boosler, Bruce Bruce, Bill Maher, Janeane Garofalo, Jon Reep and Joan Rivers.
Also featured on this show are Kenny Lee and Fonzo Crow!
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Join the Oak Cliff Cultural Center for a conversation with Brooke Chaney aka MOM. In our twenty-fourth episode, we talk with our guest about their work and journey as an artist while reflecting on their exhibition “I Don’t Dream About the Future”. OCCC is a division of the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture. The views and opinions expressed here are of the individuals only and do not necessarily reflect views or positions of the City of Dallas, the Office of Arts and Culture, or the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. Intro + Outro royalty free music prod. by Danya Vodovoz of VMP
Join the Oak Cliff Cultural Center for a conversation with Jin-Ya Huang. In our twenty-third episode, we talk with our guest about the journey of her work as an artist, entrepreneur, social justice and community building cultural worker and so much more. OCCC is a division of the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture. The views and opinions expressed here are of the individuals only and do not necessarily reflect views or positions of the City of Dallas, the Office of Arts and Culture, or the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. Intro + Outro royalty free music prod. by Danya Vodovoz of VMP
The Workshop
Join us for a workshop where we’ll be creating sculptures using found objects and recycled materials. It’s a great opportunity to unleash your creativity while also learning about the importance of recycling and reusing. This workshop invites you to discover the potential in things that are usually discarded, and encourages us all to reconsider our consumption habits to find beauty in the unexpected. This Recycle Art Workshop goes beyond just an art class – it’s a shift in mindset towards sustainable creativity, and it’s open to everyone.
The Artist
Sorany Gutierrez (She/Her/Hers) is a Colombian-born theater artist living in Dallas, TX. She considers collaborative work fundamental, using contemporary artistic techniques, merging different languages and cultural expressions. Her practice is inherently social, engaging with pressing issues and challenging norms through the transformative power of art. She holds a BFA in Performing Arts & Fine Arts, and has participated for 18 years in professional theatrical productions as actress, producer, designer, and director.
She has served as the Artistic Director for Teatro Dallas, where she directed educational and community programs as well as professional theater productions. Her recent collaborations include “Escobar ‘s Hippo” at University of North Texas, “Origenes” and “Diosa” with Caramia Theatre, and “Inasible: Siete Piedras” with Pasionaria Laboratorio Escénico. She is excited to be the assistant director for the 2024 version of “Burning Women” with Over the Bridge Arts.
Day 1 – Saturday 10/12 (1:00 – 3:00 pm)
Day 2 – Saturday 10/19 (1:00 – 3:00 pm)
The workshop is free and open to the public but is limited to 20 for each session. Sign up here: Recycled Art Workshop Registration
Sign up here: Lightcraft Tickets, Sat, Oct 26, 2024 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite
This guided hands-on session will discuss selecting materials, designing the structure, and assembling a personalized lighting showpiece. A diverse selection of fabrics, hoops, chains, and wires will be utilized to construct the lighting fixture. This workshop is an excellent opportunity to open yourself to creativity and interior design in your spaces, whether you have a defined aesthetic or are still playing the field.
Enjoy complimentary drinks (wine) and snacks while you work on your unique piece.
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