Painted Bride

Meet @rainaleon Raina León is a teacher, writer, artist, curator, scholar, digital archivist, and speaker. You might know her as a founding editor of The Acentos Review, the co-founder of Wild Indigo Poetry Reading Series, the author of black god mother this body, and co-founder of StoryJoy, Inc. with Dr. Norma Thomas. Raina Leon hits the Showcase Stage in partnership with @paintedbrideac on Saturday, June 13th. 📍 West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia 📅 Saturday, June 13 · 1PM – 6PM 🎟 Free — no tickets needed #westparkartsfest #poetlaureate #phillypoet #communityleader #fridayfeature

"The experiment is to make the audience understand how, in Latin American music and our folklore, songs are created." - ANDRÉS CISNEROS Part of our Proof of Life Residency showings, "Philly Cancionero" brings that process to life in real time. Audience members write and submit responses. Andrés selects one and, with his band, transforms it into a song on the spot, live. This happens three times over the course of the evening. Free RSVP open now at the link in our bio!

"This piece hopes to instill a sense of doubt in these icons, as well as a sense of self-worth in young men." - Taj Rauch "All Heathens Go to Heaven" is a gamified, audience-driven experience that puts a mirror to human behavior, confronting the influence of toxic masculinity in real time. Participants move through a constructed world where their choices shape what unfolds. Part of our Proof of Life Artists Residency showings, there are only two opportunities to experience the work in this capacity! May 15th and 16th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. RSVP at the link in our bio!

Proof of Life is not a concept, it’s a practice. This week in East Parkside, creative process meets collective presence at Painted Bride Project Space. Spotlight on our offerings from Proof of Life Resident Artist Yannick Lowery @severe.paper SATURDAY, MAY 9 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM YANNICK LOWERY’S Blues of Parkside: A Cyanotype Workshop A hands-on cyanotype workshop rooted in the stories and textures of West Philadelphia’s Parkside neighborhood. Using light-sensitive materials and found imagery, participants will create their own prints while reflecting on memory, place, and the everyday moments that shape community life. This session is both an introduction to cyanotype as a process and an invitation to consider how images can preserve personal and collective histories. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM YANNICK LOWERY’S Between Matriarchs: A Community Exhibition Building on the cyanotype workshop from May 9, this community exhibition shares work developed through conversations, images, and lived experiences connected to matriarchal lineage in West Philadelphia’s Parkside neighborhood. FREE RSVP HERE: events.ticketleap.com/events/paintedbrideartcenter(or link in our bio)

Our Proof of Life Residency Artists have been working hard and they are just about ready to share their works-in-progress! Registration is now open for Public Engagement Week! YANNICK LOWERY – Blues of Parkside: A Cyanotype Workshop Sat, May 9 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM @severe.paper YANNICK LOWERY – Between Matriarchs of Parkside Wed, May 13 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM TAJ RAUCH – All Heathens Go to Heaven Fri, May 15 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Sat, May 16 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM @tajrauch ANDRÉS CISNEROS – Philly Cancionero (Songbook) Sun, May 17 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM @andresdanielcisneros FREE with RSVP at events.ticketleap.com/events/paintedbrideartcenter or the link in our bio!

Part of the Proof of Life Artist Residency, TAJ RAUCH shares a work-in-progress presentation of "All Heathens Go to Heaven." A participatory theater maker, Taj Rauch creates an immersive, audience-driven world to explore human behavior, agency, and toxic masculinity through real-time decision-making. Only two chances to join the experience: Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 at Painted Bride Project Space Free RSVP at paintedbride.org/events/taj-rauch-proof-of-life-performance or the link in our bio!

You have one week left to see the @paintedbrideac “Textile for Remembering” exhibition featuring artists @dejeonge x @duende.textiles . Curated by @thegoodhoodwitch Qiaira Riley and @fototornado Lori Waselchuk, this exhibition tells the story of memory, reflection and care with a labor of love of hand crafted, fiber art pieces that carries the artist personal and collective histories. Swipe left to read my review and be sure to see the exhibition through April 25th. #exhibitreview #phillyartscene #artwritings #BIPOCart #galleryview

EMEKA, EAT EGUSI! brought Painted Bride Project Space to life ✨ Story, sound, food, and community came together for a joyful, multi-generational celebration of candice iloh’s debut picture book. Thank you to everyone who showed up and shared in the experience, more to come. video credit: @dominique_nichole_

Meet your ThinkPeace Panelists: @sethandersonoberman Seth Anderson-Oberman (he/him) is Executive Director of Reclaim Philadelphia, where he works to build community power in pursuit of economic, racial, and gender justice. A lifelong organizer, his work spans labor rights, political action, and coalition-building across Philadelphia. He has helped lead campaigns to unionize workers, elect progressive leaders, and strengthen connections between labor and racial justice movements. Grounded in a commitment to collective action, his leadership focuses on aligning grassroots organizing with long-term structural change. --- The ThinkPeace is an ideas incubator generated by our city’s residents, students, economic justice advocates, and artists. Inspired by the “think pieces” we encounter online, this program promotes real-life discourse through interactive panels and group activities. Saturday, April 11, 2pm to 5pm RSVP and more info at the link in our bio.

Meet your panelists for The ThinkPeace: @sintastorms Sinta Penyami Storms (she/her) is an Indonesian dance artist and community leader whose work brings together cultural practice and community engagement. Through dance, fashion, and cuisine, she creates spaces for dialogue and connection across Philadelphia’s Indonesian diaspora. As founder of Modero Dance Company and co-founder of Gapura, she develops platforms that support cultural expression, education, and community care. Her work engages issues of immigration, equity, and cross-cultural understanding, using tradition as a bridge between communities and generations. --- The ThinkPeace is an ideas incubator generated by our city’s residents, students, economic justice advocates, and artists. Inspired by the “think pieces” we encounter online, this program promotes real-life discourse through interactive panels and group activities. Saturday, April 11, 2pm to 5pm More info and RSVP at the link in our bio!

Meet your panelists for The ThinkPeace: Phoebe Bachman @pbachman (she/they) is a Philadelphia-based artist, facilitator, and curator whose interdisciplinary practice centers economic and criminal justice. Through mapping, installation, and popular education, they collaborate with artists and communities to make complex systems more visible, accessible, and participatory. Their work creates entry points for deeper understanding and collective engagement. Their projects have been presented with organizations including Mural Arts Philadelphia, Creative Time, and the Free Library of Philadelphia. --- The ThinkPeace is an ideas incubator generated by our city’s residents, students, economic justice advocates, and artists. Inspired by the “think pieces” we encounter online, this program promotes real-life discourse through interactive panels and group activities. Saturday, April 11, 2pm to 5pm More info and RSVP at the link in our bio!

I had the pleasure of documenting friend and author Candice Iloh while they cooked Egusi— a Nigerian dish that has connected them to their past, family and culture. This traditional dish is also featured in their new children’s book Emeka, Eat Egusi! The video is a clip of the beginning of the film. Like the book there’s so much more to see. I’ll keep you posted here on the films activity but you can check out the book asap! I’d suggest you grab a hardcover to see the work of illustrator @bea.gifted —-It’s so beautiful and vibrant! This film was funded and supported by @paintedbrideartcenter composed by jasmine lynea and features Candice Iloh.