RSS
Home
Sweet Epiphany creates arts and culture revolution on Seven Mile Road
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Where beautiful minds meet...
Have you ever had collard greens, cornbread and a side of black-eyed peas? Or better yet, has your mama ever greased your scalp while watching Soul Train on a Saturday afternoon? Do you understand snuggly socks, backyard barbeques, game nights and warm hugs? If you understand these or any other metaphors for home, then you know what’s it’s like to visit Detroit’s newest home for arts and culture, Sweet Epiphany.
Memphis-born Karma “Sweet” Williams and Detroit-born Jennifer “Epiphany” Williams, have created more than just a cultural center or poetry spot. They have truly created a home away from home for artists. For the last three months, this dynamic husband and wife team have taken the scene by storm with their loving atmosphere, beautiful surroundings and good food. But more than that, these keepers of the flame are creating a revolution on the corner of West Seven Mile and Outer Drive.
“We opened the Sweet Epiphany with the belief that we wanted artists to have a place where they could be free,” says Karma “Sweet” Williams. “We felt that our atmosphere as poets, every day people, and a couple would provide others with a platform for their work, and their art to be appreciated. Not a place in danger of closing every three seconds, because they are really owned by someone else, or a place that has lost touch with the pulse of the people and has become censored, focusing on everything but the art.”
While Sweet Epiphany is gaining a fast reputation as a place for poetry, the vision is much bigger. It was created for artists from all genres to display their work. In addition to poetry night, they will resume their weekly Kidz Cultural Korner in September and will soon add a Hustle night on Fridays. Epiphany has also added fine arts to the mix by displaying her hand-made jewelry and there are also oils available for sale. Their biggest hurdle, so far, has been overcoming the toxicity of limited, stereotypical thinking.
“We hear statements like, ‘It’s in the Hood’ or ‘It’s $10.00?’ and we believe that this type of thinking causes many to miss out on a truly creative night in this city. We are trying to bring real art and culture to this city and in our minds that includes the priority of ‘The Hood.’ We truly believe that it is a place where beautiful minds meet and we hoped to achieve the goal of successfully assembling the greatest minds in the city, every Wednesday.”
Hosted by Shah Blacq and Valencia “Numi” Vanner (also host of Pontiac’s Blue Note poetry night), their Wednesday night poetry set has already developed a devoted following. And for those who can’t be in attendance, Karma Sweet gives live commentary during the set on Sweet Epiphany’s Facebook page. They host many regulars on the Detroit arts and culture scene and they have even had their mic blessed by Dahveed Nelson of The Last Poets. Educators at heart, Karma Sweet and Epiphany take their role in the arts and culture movement very seriously.
“We want young people who are just getting into hip-hop and poetry, as well as these older veterans in the game, to realize, that on May 19, 1968, The Last Poets founded a way for the words we use to have its own platform and genre. The words can speak for themselves, we, as artists just need to do right by them.”
The Sweet Epiphany is located on 13305 W. Seven Mile Road (near Outer Drive) in Detroit. Every Wednesday they host a poetry night from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Admission is $10 and food is included. Visit their website at http://sweetepiphanydetroit.com/default.html for more information.
IF YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE, YOU MIGHT LIKE THESE ALSO:
jessica Care moore shares about inspiration, film and the way men walk
Local artists break age barriers at Hannan House 6th Annual Intergenerational Community Exhibition
Top ten things to do in Detroit
Related Articles:
Comments
