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Honoring Juneteenth

June 19, 6 – 8 pm

Free

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Discover the history of Juneteenth through hands-on activities, art, African drumming, vendors, and poetry that marks the liberation of Black Americans on June 19, 1865.

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For this Celebration we are thrilled to present Hostess: KaNikki Jakarta and magnificent Artists' MIN ~ World Music Duo, Ayanna Gallant and 13 of Nazareth. Attendees will have the opportunity to talk with the artists and purchase their products after and in-between. The Athenaeum is offering Adinkra printmaking activities for all ages and marketplace artisan vendors include Khush Designs, Kecia’s Picture-Perfect Accessories, Great Publishing Company LLC, Aya Expressive Arts LLC and SugarPlug.

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KANIKKI JAKARTA ​

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KaNikki Jakarta has been featured on NBC, WUSA9 and Comcast. She is the Inaugural Poet In Residence for Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association. She is an Award-Winning Performance Poet who has toured the US and the UK. KaNikki is the First Black Poet Laureate of Alexandria, Virginia, the author of three novels, two poetry collections, a memoir, a short story, poetry collection entitled ALABAMA GIRL, VIRGINIA WOMAN.

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THE PERFORMING ARTISTS

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MIN ~ World Music Duo

Saïs Kamalidiin & Leonard Brown have performed together, in various contexts, for more than ten years. They have traveled to every continent (except Antarctica) studying and performing in many of the world's great music traditions. Dr. Saïs Kamalidiin performs on nine (9) different instruments and has taught music at the collegiate level for more than a quarter century. Maestro Leonard Brown helps lead one of the world's great music organizations and has also taught music for more than a quarter century.

 

Together, their presentations comprise one of this region's unique musical experiences. The music they make comes from everywhere. There is no way to predict which musical culture you will encounter during a concert by MIN. Travel thru sound and be renewed.

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Ayanna Gallant

Ayanna Gallant is a musician, poet, voiceover talent, sound therapist, and educator. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Ayanna has been a music and cultural arts educator for 21 years and performs as a freelance musician on low brass, voice, guitar, and African drums in venues all around the country.



In addition to music performance Ayanna is a professional voice actor and shares her passion for creativity with her students and patrons of her cultural arts school, Aya Cultural Arts Studio in Frederick, Maryland

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13 of nazareth™

13 of nazareth™ is a poet and spokenword recording artist from Virginia living with epilepsy, a dry sense of humor, and peace of mind over everything. His poetry is a hip-hop inspired infusion of spiritual awareness, amateur scientific study and lived experience.

13 of nazareth's™ appearances and performances include The Juilliard School, The National Press Club, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), The Chrysler Museum, The Carter Barron as well as colleges, universities, public/charter/private schools and a variety of venues throughout the United States and abroad.

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THE MARKETPLACE ARTISANS 

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Khush Designs

Sharmila Karamchandani is a multi-creative individual with a passion for design and arts education. She is a Graphic Design professor at the Corcoran School of Art and Design; facilitates Expressive Arts workshops at Heard and other local organizations; teaches

entrepreneurship at Empowered Women International; and teaches Calligraphy and several other art workshops at the Smithsonian Studio Arts. She is the founder of Khush Designs which offers customized graphic design, and marketing solutions.

 

Her insatiable, creative experimentation is evident in her work. She works in several mediums such as painting, jewelry design, photography, calligraphy, henna painting, mixed media collages,

and fiber arts.

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Great Publishing Company

Great Publishing Company (“GPC”) is a non-traditional publishing company that provides consulting, graphic design, and publication services for writers, by writers.

 

GPC specializes in small-run publications and works with independent authors. We have been privileged to guide writers’ step by step along the path to becoming authors. The genres represented in our great catalogue include, but are not limited to works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, self-help, memoirs and children’s books.

 

Aya Cultural Arts Studio 

Aya Cultural Arts Studio (Aya Expressive Arts LLC) is a cultural arts school and community arts space located at 6907 Baltimore National Pike units 15 & 16, Frederick, MD. We offer various cultural arts and wellness programs for all ages.

 

SugarPlug 

SugarPlug serves Washington DC and surrounding areas with delivery, catering and shipping of gourmet desserts.

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​Dominic Mirrors

Dominic Mirrors will be specializing in unique Juneteenth tee shirts. 

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