Prudence Bonds: Paintings of Life in Color

(In photo: "Sun is shining" by Prudence Bonds, currently in the Liberated Muse exhibit @ the Potter's House in DC)

Born in Florida and raised in Washington, DC since infancy, Prudence inherited the “creative
gene” and started to draw at age four. Throughout childhood and adolescence, Prudence
expressed several methods of creativity including sewing dolls’ clothes and writing poems and
short stories to relate to her drawings. As a teenager, she attended the Corcoran School of Art
for figure drawing and photography & film development. She began painting consistently in
2001 and in April 2003 participated in the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center’s 10th Annual
Scholarship Fund benefit auction. Prudence donated “Girl Tantalus”, an original work of acrylic
on canvas portraying the fabled origins of the word tantalize.

(In photo: "Femininity" by Prudence Bonds which is currently in the Potter's House exhibit curated by Sharon Burton and presented by Liberated Muse. The piece sold at the start of the exhibit yet is still displayed)

Artist Statement
I depict people living throughout the African Diaspora, and beyond, by using color, texture, and
introspection. Since acceptable images of human concepts such as love and beauty are
perpetuated through art, literature, music, and the media, my pieces echo the attempt made by
people of color to redefine and re-present those concepts in their terms.

Visit her work in the current Liberated Muse art exhibit at the Potter's House in Washington, DC @The Potter's House, 1658 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC.

The art exhibit is curated by Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Art. The artwork is from artists from the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul and the network http://www.liberatedmuse.com/.

The exhibit runs from Sept. 11-Dec. 1

Multifarious: An Authentic Contemporary Art Production

(In photo: Marquita "Storm" Siler and her partner at the 2008 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest in Washington, DC on July 26, 2008. Photo by Khadijah Ali-Coleman)

Liberated Muse Productions is a proud supporter of Authentic Contemporary Art and its founder Sharon Burton who is a member of our Liberated Muse network. Sharon is at it again, planning another amazing event, featuring the artwork of a local artist and poetry and prose from two local poets who are doing big things.

As part of the Multifarious exhibition, featuring artist Heather Schmaedeke, Authentic Contemporary Art is hosting an evening of poetry and prose. A portion of the sales going to CARE's I Am Powerful Campaign.

Date: Friday, May 15, 2009
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Space 7:10 at Kefa Cafe
Street: 963 Bonifant Street
City/Town: Silver Spring, MD

Amy Jackson is an established poet, artist, and author, having six poems published in the US and Europe, with three solo and six group poetry performances from 2001 to the present. She is currently wrting three novels and was a National Novel Writing Month Contest Winner in 2006.

Visit http://www.amyjackson.com/ for more information.

Marquita "Storm" Siler is a local entrepreneur, poet, and author of "Dreams in Motion: A Collection of Poetry and Short Stories". She was a featured author at the 2008 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest (http://www.capitalhiphopsoulfest.com/) and is a proud new mom-- which hasn't slowed her down a bit. With several irons in the fire, Marquita is a one woman tour de force.

For more information visit http://www.dreamsinmotion.biz/

RSVP to this great event by clicking on the Facebook page HERE

When Harlem Came to Paris-- Simply Divine!

When Harlem Came to Paris is the brainchild of Risikat "Kat" Okedeyi, the founder of Lil So So Productions. Okedeyi had the creative thought to imagine the Harlem Renaissance alive and kicking with some of its key players living and breathing among us as we party and socialize like its 1934. Set at the elegant Alliance Francaise De Washington , the evening was a remarkable flashback setting where everything was authentically reenacted as possible-- from the french menu to Josephine Baker's accent. Planned to perfection, the atmosphere created was stellar-- classy, fun, cordial and festive. Some DC luminaries were at the event, including Post writer Rhome Anderson, legendary vocalist Valerie "Kehembe" Eichelberger, Sherry Ways of Sankofa Doll Artistry Studio, DJ Jahsonic, and others.

The actress in me loved this event as it was a prime event to dress up, Charleston and Lindy hop while imagining being a part of the rebirth of Black arts and literature. Some of the guests at the party included the divine Josephine Baker, writers Marita Bonner and Wallace Thurman, blues great Bessie Smith and Cab Calloway, among others.

Liberated Muse member Sharon Burton was the curator of the wonderful art auction that took place during the event.

The event featured:

Dorothy Tene Redmond as Mamie Mason

Shawnea Posey as Bessie Smith

William Smith as Count Bassie

Bassey Ikpi as Marita Bonner

Fred Joiner as Wallace Thurman

John Murph as R. Bruce Nugent

and Holly Bass as Josephine Baker

Me with Wallace Thurman (played by Fred Joiner)

My partner Maceo Thomas, co-founder of Liberated Muse Productions with Marita Bonner (played by Bassey Ikpi)

Bessie Smith (played by Ne'a Posey) belts out a nice one with Count Bassie on the keys

Visit our social network at www.LiberatedMuse.com to view more pictures from this event.

The 2009 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest will Feature New Liberated Muse Anthology

(above artwork by Sharon Burton,

a featured artist in

Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul)

Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul, the first literary anthology by Liberated Muse Productions will be the featured book during the 2009 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest on Saturday, July 25, 2009 in Washington DC. The Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest is an annual music festival that features a marketplace where independent authors, musicians and small business vendors market their wares. The book is set to release in mid-March.

The anticipated anthology features poems, visual art, short stories and personal essays by writers and artists from the US and abroad. Contributors include novelist Ananda Kiamasha Leeke, poet & journalist Nabina Das, performer Venus Jones, artist Turtel Onli, and MC lyricist Omar Akbar aka Labtekwon.

To reserve your space in the 2009 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest marketplace, email the festival director at maceothomas@gmail.com