TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — An annual community educational event is being held for a second time as several local organizations come together to organize it.
Arts Illiana, the Encore Dinner Theatre, and the Vigo County Public Library are teaming up to present “Intentionally Black—Immersion of the Arts” on Saturday, February 17. The event will get underway at 6 p.m. in The Deming building at 615 Cherry Street.
Building on the success of last year’s Immersion of the Arts production, Arts Illiana Board Member Kimberly McMurray creatively crafted an evening that will also include vocal music and dance performance. Johnetta Costanza joins the cast and will perform African Dance. Ms. McMurray, a creative entrepreneur with artistic merits both locally and regionally, will be sharing her vocal musical talents during the evening’s production as well as serving as the emcee.
Arts Illiana news release
Visitors to the event will be immersed in performance art as there will be live poetry readings, live painting, and music.
Five artists are planned to be a part of the program with painters and poets teaming up in duos to engage the audience and demonstrate their art.
An Arts Illiana news release provides the following descriptions for each;
Jerome Goff
A multi-talented artist who received his Bachelor of Studio Art from Kentucky State University and a Master of Science in Digital Marketing from Full Sail University. With a strong background in both traditional and digital art, he is able to blend his skills to create unique and impactful pieces. Jerome is known for his vibrant murals and has participated in the Harlem Fine Arts Show, the largest traveling Black art show. Goff was the design artist for the new cultural district banners that now line 7th Street.
Michele Shauntee-Reeder
Born and raised in Terre Haute, IN, where she is extremely active in her community. She displays her natural God-given talents through many different mediums. She has illustrated a children’s book called “What They Don’t Tell Children About Money.” Michele is also a co-author of a book titled, “A Single Mother’s Story.” Selling her art has opened many doors of opportunity.
Johnetta Costanza
An Afro dance enthusiast that uses movement as a muse to exercise. She believes that dance is an experience that all youth and adults should engage in to move the needed muscles groups that heal and recover blocked blood flow.
As a youth she spent much time in afterschool programs in Chicago that built character and centered on self-development. She is paying it forward by sharing her commitment to Afro dance which is fun and expressive.
Valerie A. Hart-Craig M.Ed.
A Community Activist, Poet, and Motivational Speaker, Valerie Hart-Craig is the Assistant Director of the Charles E. Brown African American Cultural Center, Board President of the Harrison Township Trustee’s office & Environmental Climate Justice Chair for the Greater Terre Haute NAACP.
Bryan Lipkins
A local poet and published author. His books are entitled Poetic Language and Organized Chaos. He’s been writing since the young age of 10, but as a teenager started his focus in the area of poetry. He’s been a resident of the Terre Haute area for 27 years where he resides with his wife and their two children.