After Lumpkin finished her poetry, community members came to the front for the open-mic part of the event, performing their own works.
Most of the poems from this night touched on identity, from stories of femicide to Southern connections to mental health struggles to substance abuse. Stories were told through song lyrics turned into poetry, data and statistics and haiku. One poem focused on the speaker’s relationship with nature, comparing dense, dark forestry to feeling lost.
Dowdle said that Weave & Spin typically attracts more poets than musicians, which has been nice for the local poetry community to have a safe space where they can share their work.
“What I’ve noticed is that, because we set a tone of welcoming and inclusivity, people often feel able to share very intimate stories through their poetry that often doesn’t happen at other public events,” Dowdle said.
The program also emphasizes an invitation for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and those who have waited to be heard to perform, they said.
“There’s a certain reverence that comes in an art gallery space, especially because the Mill also has a real focus on diversity and inclusivity in the kind of art exhibits they show,” Dowdle said. “And I think it just really enables that sense of being held in a really creative environment.”
Katie Murray, the director of the Orange County Arts Commission, said that Weave & Spin is a collaborative effort between herself and Dowdle, since the gallery is used as the primary Weave & Spin event space.
She said that it helps that the space is not a bar, which is common for open-mic events, to ensure everyone feels comfortable to participate. Plus, every Weave & Spin event is surrounded by a rotating exhibit that is showcased at the Arts Mill on the first Friday of every month, she said.
“I think whenever you can combine multiple types of art in the same space, they kind of contribute to each other, you know?” Murray said. “And I am a vibe person, and I feel like, if you’re a creative person in a creative space, then you know the vibe is right.”
The next Weave & Spin event will be on Aug. 14 and will feature Gabrielle Calvocoressi, an award and fellowship-winning author, editor and UNC English professor.
“They’re such a dedicated teacher and they have an activist bend to the work they do,” Dowdle said. “And they also share so openly about their experience as a queer and nonbinary person. So that’s really inspiring to me.”
@dthlifestyle | lifestyle@dailytarheel.com
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