Juneteenth Celebrations Houston: Culture Fest at Miller Outdoor Theatre looks to connect art, music, and community

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – Houstonians have been celebrating Juneteenth for decades, and there are more and more events to celebrate the day.

That includes Juneteenth Culture Festival at Miller Outdoor Theater.

This year’s event will include a temporary exhibition featuring five local artists:

• Ramajay Artistic – Contemporary painter working in acrylic and oil
• Bex Wegner – A contemporary painter working with acrylic and fabric
• Brittany King (NVSME) – Mixed media
• Elizabeth Martinez – Visual art
• Sanatr George from Gmadixx Art – Contemporary and symbolic painting

the Anderson Center for the Arts and Fifth District of Cultural Arts Partner for this event.

Organizers told ABC13 the idea was to create a space that connects artists to the community and showcases their skill sets.

“It was Really important to Me and the co-coordinator, That’s it, Sharper. to Create this space where It is meaningful to them “The artists feel seen, they feel celebrated, and they’re connected to the community,” Alison Retina Stewart-Creeks, director of artistic programs at the Anderson Center for the Arts, said of the collaboration.

“It’s really important to bring the 5th Ward to the cultural arts area, and This in particular, to be able To share these stories And submit This platform is so that the community can not only experience their art, but it helps preserve those stories that each of them relates to Artists Stewart-Crix continued.

In fact, every artist offers something different.

Contemporary painter Ramajay of Ramajay Artistic Arts was born in Houston, but grew up in a Caribbean family. The vitality of that upbringing is shared in her work.

“Ramajay” He is a Caribbean “The word culture means ‘letting go and liberation,’ so a lot of my artwork is about that, embodying freedom,” she said. “And that’s the reason behind this Juneteenth Event and Juneteenth In general Embodies “That too.”

“It’s important for me to be part of this event because I feel as artists, this is the new way of being a historian, being able to tell the story of what happened in the past,” said Snater George of Gmadixxart. “This could be thrown around somewhere and have a few different meanings to a few different people.”

George has produced works from a realist perspective, but has recently moved towards a more modern or contemporary approach.

However, regardless of the medium, the message remained powerful.

“The pieces I’m going for To be presented a little feature in black slim with “Afro,” George said. “that it big, that it Beautiful, she’s bold.”

George explained that this concept was rooted in his attitude toward black women.

“It was during an era when there was a lot of unrest about poetry being a certain way professional Environments, so I Want to create a business for women with their hair in natural The state to embody the empowerment of that, so that people can notice it “Hair like this is still professional,” he told ABC13.

For all artists, what matters is telling stories.

“I started my business because I was shot in the hand by a police officer when I was 18 years old^y birthday, So it was always about said King, whose work was inspired by Art Smith.

Smith is recognized as a pioneering and influential modern jewelry designer.

According to National Museum of African American History and CultureSmith created a “wearable sculpture” to adorn the bodies of contemporary dancers and the likes of Duke and Ruth Ellington.

The work that King will display at the festival will be modeled on Smith’s pieces.

“He was able to sell and tell stories through metals, precious metals and a summary Cut, that’s why I “Honoring him and refining his piece,” King said.

But the biggest connection is the lasting impact Smith has had from past to present.

“It’s self-expression, of course, but it’s also digging into legacy,” King began. “Celebrating freedom, redesigning culture and showing the new generation.”

“that it never “Just about the jewelry,” she added.

Another major art form at the heart of the festival is music.

While the show opens on Friday at 5 p.m., just a few hours later, attendees can enjoy the sounds of the concert featuring MAZE’s “The Music Forever” and Grammy Award-nominated R.&B: Artist Shanti More.

Shows at Miller Outdoor Theater are free, but you can Book covered seats online Starting Thursday at 10 am

While everyone is participating in the festivities, the artists hope to inspire other creatives as well.

“I We also want people to come in and see other creatives or other people who don’t He knows If they are artists and want to benefit from creativity “It exists,” Ramajay said. “You have to hone it, you have to explore it. Don’t stop Exploration.”