By mattc

Mirror Stage Associate Artistic Director Marquicia Dominguez participates in a self-healing art experience during Contexpo in the Blue Building. Photo: Amanda Kristine Burks

By Kiley Riffell, Mirror Stage Marketing and PR Manager

Community members gathered at the Phinney Center Blue Building to take part in the Mirror Stage Contexpo events on Aug. 12 and 13. The interactive arts experiences included a yoga and mindfulness workshop led by Satya Wellness Collective, a writing workshop taught by University of Washington lecturer Warren Etheredge, and a hands-on visual arts event curated by our Media Arts Manager Tycarius Cummings.

During the open-mic event, artists shared stories of post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma, and self-healing. In a portion of her poem, spoken word artist Miz Floes told a heartbreaking story of suicidal thoughts. “My mental has been altered. I am wearing depression like an accessory to my wardrobe. Like a scarf fit for every occasion. It wraps tightly around my neck, squeezing tighter daily. Choking the will to live right out of me.” There were also stories of racial tensions, confrontations with police, and the broken mental health care system.

Satya Wellness Collective leads a yoga and mindfulness workshop during Contexpo on Aug. 13, 2022. Photo: Amanda Kristine Burks

The open-mic is available to watch on our Mirror Stage YouTube Channel. You can also watch last month’s inaugural Contexpo open-mic, which included works on incarceration and redemption.

The events are all part of our new Contexpo series being held in partnership with the Phinney Neighborhood Association. This series allows participants to take a deeper dive into themes relevant to the community.

The next weekend of events tackles the themes of Income Inequality and the Wage Gap on Sept. 9 and 10. It will feature an interactive art experience, conversations with experts, and an activism brunch. All Contexpo events are free and open to the public.