Evolution

“John Wayne Gacey” I wrote this piece over a year ago, out of frustration, anger, confusion, and pride. Pride that the questions I may ask for many years, or for many hours or minutes, are almost always answered by our Afro ancestors. The frustration and anger my body is met with from the dehumanizing history of colonialism is almost always met with reassurance and loving embrace from our Afro ancestors. I am continuously reminded that through pain or liberation, I must express - I must be vulnerable to ancient answers. Abundantly grateful for @shakindaworld for helping the vision come to fruition. For @e.8az6 for capturing the moment and being a beautiful individual🪐 For @mictasticnyc for always curating historical experiences for us creatives.

#FreshmanFriday What does it cost to win a slam? 🎤 When the scorecards go up… what are we really measuring? Skill? Story? Or how much of ourselves we’re willing to bleed on stage? In this clip from our Freshman Class Studio Session, Evolution challenges the unspoken truth of slam culture, the pressure to package pain, to perform trauma, to make your wounds digestible for applause. This isn’t just a poem. It’s a question. A confrontation. A reclamation. 👀 FULL Interview & performance on our YouTube channel! Featuring: @anevolution_ Visuals by @nicos.creative See Evolution perform LIVE at the Freshman Class Showcase 📍 @bowerypoetry 📅 May 19 🎟 Tickets available now! Link In Bio! #FreshmanClass2026 #RoseGardenEvents #SpokenWord #NYCPoetry

💁🏽‍♀️ In honor of International Working Women’s Day, (March 8th) this show highlights women in front of and behind the cameras! 🙅🏽‍♀️ 🎥 Also, our new cohort of interns for media and in-studio development is made up entirely of womyn! 💪🏾🙆🏽‍♀️ 💻 📱You can watch this entire episode on any device: https://youtu.be/JENtvvpgpXM?si=KnA65h-aTwI5G1Bo 🥗First up, RA, founder of The Bronx Vegan Bazaar, shares all about its return. 🎬 Next, Talent Manager, actress and educator Susan Rybin dives into business insights for young creatives. 📸 Then, photographers Emily Sujay Sanchez and Lex Kim discuss their participation in the new pop-up exhibition ‘State Of Presence’ at the Bronx Documentary Center. 🎤 Finally, our Open Artist Spotlight shines on storyteller, visual artist & social worker Evolution, who closes out the show with a poem titled: ‘IATROPHOBIA’ 📺Tune into: OPEN Fridays with Rhina Valentin 🗓️Fridays at 10am, 5pm and 8pm ⏰Saturdays + Sundays at 10am. 📍In the Bronx BX Omni: CH67 Optimum CH2133 FiOS 📸 & 🎥 : @joesephsan24 💻Livestream: www.bronxnet.tv YT: /@BronxNet #Open #bronxnettv #rhinavalentin #artsandculture #bronxpublicmedia

When our initial April poet was unable to make it in for our showcase, we opened the stage up for a raffle poet brave enough to take the impromptu stage 🥹 RE-introducing one of our previous features, taking the stage with her radical voice this time, here’s a snippet from our raffle poet, Evolution @anevolution_ ! (As a side note, Evolution has been a beloved part of our family since last year 🫂💕 and as a part of our community, we want to make sure she receives the care she needs as well. Evolution is currently facing housing instability, so if you have the means to do so, head over to the link in her bio and donate what you can so we can help get her to a feeling of safety again ✨) Keep your eyes open for the next amazing poet we’ll be featuring on June 6th for our brunch showcase at Sanger Hall 🤩🥂✨ Early bird tix available in our bio! 📅: June 6th | 1-4 pm 📍: Sanger Hall | 48-20 Skillman Avenue

LADIES & GENTLEMEN, May I present your featured Poets & Live Artist for The Last Lilies Of The Valley Open Mic 🔊🔥🩷‼️ Demii Divinee; A Brooklyn based Poet, Mother, & performer @demiidivinee @divineejoyentertainment Rachel McArthur;A Brooklyn based Poet, Mother, & owner of Flow Space Gallery @rachael_elizabeth_mcarthur @flowspacegallery Jackie The Poetic Therapist; A Bronx based Poet, Mother & Educator @jackie.the.poetic.therapist Juliana; A Bronx based Poet & Singer @julianalazrajj Tw Rixo; A Yonkers based Artist & Lyricist @manmanrilla & lastly but not least our Live Artist, Evolution; A Bronx based Poet & Recognized Artist @anevolution_ 👀 Line up bout to go crazy! 🎙️🔥 6 Features 🔊❤️‍🔥💪🏼 CMONNNN ‼️‼️ 3 Poets 📝🎙️ 1 Singers 🎤🎶 1 Rappers 🎵💪🏼 & 1 Live Artist That Mic is gonna be on fire 🎙️🔥 & We just got started babes! Date 📆: Saturday, May 16th, 2026 Time 🕚: 1pm-4pm Location📍: The Conversation Room, 653 Malcolm x blvd Be there or be square! LINK IN BIO $10 hot meal meal will be served by @blondienlovey Free Snacks & Refreshments provided! Stay tuned & make sure you make it out to HARLEM! on Saturday, May 16th! It’s gonna be The Mother’s Day Open Mic your not gonna wanna miss‼️🎙️🔥 #nycopenmic #poetrycommunity #mothers #openmicnight

If you’re looking for a unique live music + poetry experience in the heart of Uptown — filled with standout performances, powerful open mic moments, and an unforgettable crowd — RAP is the place to be. Join us in less than 2 weeks on Saturday, 05.23.26 for a star-studded night of music, poetry, and creative energy. ✨🎤 8PM–11PM | Secret BX Location 📍 #RAPLiving #OpenMicNight #PoetryVibes #SupportLocalArtists #CreativeCommunity

Our Arts & Books Talk series takes place the fourth Friday of each month! The series kicks off on May 29, 2026 in our gallery at 325 Lafayette Ave corner of Grand Ave. RSVP: 212-865-2982. 🎨Enjoy a solo exhibition and evening of visual art and poetry by @anevolution_ , exploring community, identity, and creative expression. @queencalypso_ is our host! Looking for the perfect after-work event? Join us for an evening highlighting the work of Evolution, a dynamic and multifaceted visual artist and poet. In her first solo exhibition, entitled “When the Truth Is: Black, Radical ’n Feminist,” she invites audiences into an immersive exploration of identity, community, truth-telling, and creative resistance. 🗓️ Fri., May 29 - Event Schedule
6:00 PM – Doors Open to Gallery
7:00 PM – Spoken Word Performance
8:00 PM – Artist Talk We look forward to sharing this experience with you. #art #books #poetry

A symptom of a culturally prejudice, dangerously patriarchal, oppressive capitalism’n systemically homophobic atmosphere that happens often by those oppressed by these infrastructures is being shamed for asking for HELP. What is help? What is community? What would it be if not for these systems? I’m used to struggling financially, physically’n mentally without externalizing it. Gratefully, the universe brought in the spaces of loving people that encourage me to say when I need assistance, when I’m struggling and express how I can use help…🖤🪻 Last week my landlord gave me two months to move out. I’ve lived in my apartment for 5 years now, and as we ALL should know, the housing crisis in NY is CATASTROPHIC‼️ it brings great sadness and anxiety but liberation to let go of a place me and Amira have had so many wonderful memories in… yesterday I agreed to work with a broker whose fee is one months rent (depending on the amount). To move into an apartment you need a security deposit + first month’s rent in an addition to the brokers fee (total between $3,800-$5,100 due AT signing). Unfortunately, people in social work don’t make six figures lol, and I’m still working to get my BA currently!🌞🌷 If you’d like to support in ANY way, I am grateful. Either way, I send you love, abundance’n prosperity along your journey! Check out the link to read more and donate if you’re able🐋🩵 ➡️https://gofund.me/f18aacd2a ⬅️ ++ ALSO IN MY BIO!

Last Saturday at @kojomagazine art exhibition, “Extinguish The Hate”🐞 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Keep an 👁️ out for my next upcoming SOLO show on May 29th for “African Voices”!🌼 May the you continue supporting you, loving on you’n showing up for yo’self…

We have the sensational Evolution gracing us for the next installment of RAP! 🎤✨ This queen is not just a poet she’s an artist of other mediums and we’re very excited to have her bless Volume 13! 🫶🏽 Join us on 05.23.26 at 8pm 📍BX, NY 🔗 in bio #RhymesAndPoems #RAPLiving #OpenMicNight #PoetryVibes #CreativeCommunity

Join Harlem Peace Walk on 125th THIS FRIDAY 4-6P and catch some poets and the people on the mic spitting all things Revolutionary and Pan African! We are engaging community the old school way and asking how we can build a more formidable movement in the spirit of Malcolm X and Mother Moore! There will be an art table, zines, and flyers for upcoming events, community conversations as well as some dope selections from the hottest poets in the city bringing their words of REVOLUTION to the block! Come thru!

Where spirit meets externalism🪻 Yesterday’s workshop with @plumbumapp / @decibao was impactful n liberating!🪐✨ Always enjoy critically thinking and analyzing poetry with collective minds… so we may learn’n develop. Come through every 3rd Saturday to @boogiedowngrind 🪴AND stay after 4pm for @cafetatonyc COFFEE RAVE🪩🚨- live DJ, coffee, drinks’n community… (See that sticker on my notebook… you can have on too👀) If you haven’t already, get the PlumBum app!