Poetry and song filled moments of silence at SPEAK Café on Thursday night in the Krannert Art Museum as a variety of performers stepped up to the microphone. Hosted by local artist Shaya Robinson, all participants were encouraged to share their art, whether it be spoken or visual.
SPEAK Café stands for Song, Poetry, Expression, Art and Knowledge. The opportunity to explore each of these components is available through multiple events throughout the academic year.
The night began at 6 p.m. with different spoken word pieces. Some voices boomed from the speakers; others were timid and quiet.
Crina Vlasceanu, a performer and audience member at SPEAK Café, shared how the personalities of the performers shine through their art.
“Even more than the poetry itself, I like how people carried themselves,” Vlasceanu said. “The way that they are really shows through their poetry. I think seeing emotions through everybody that just flowed differently, that was incredible for me.”
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The pieces performed ranged widely in theme, with some touching on sensitive topics like racial injustice and grief.
“I know a lot of people talk about topics that otherwise I don’t think they would bring up,” Vlasceanu said. “So, having an outlet like this, especially on a college campus, is very meaningful.”
Shaya Robinson, a local artist who has hosted the event for eight years, talked about the importance of cultivating a safe space.
“One of the most important theses of (SPEAK Café) is being able to have a space where people feel comfortable talking about social issues or what they’re dealing with in their lives,” Robinson said.
Halfway into the night, a performer led the audience in song. The phrase “I forgive myself and release” rang throughout the room as a makeshift choir was created out of participating audience members.
Rachel Storm, assistant director for community engagement and learning at KAM, helped organize the event with Robinson. She talked about the different kinds of art forms SPEAK Café included.
“What else is wonderful about SPEAK is it really does invite a wide variety of art forms to be showcased,” Storm said. “So, there are things like people coming up and talking about a painting that they made, or people sharing a dance or performance.”
Many performers also incorporated audience participation into their performances. One performer interviewed an audience member while sketching in their notepad and others used call-and-response techniques.
SPEAK Café, which has run for the last 18 years, is the brainchild of William Patterson, professor in FAA. Its creation was inspired by ideas of Black power and social movements. Since then, the event has continued to lift up the voices of people of color within the community, according to the organizers.
“I think that Shaya does a good job of really holding complexity in the space, while also making sure that the guest artists and the people that are brought in and featured are also BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) artists,” Storm said. “We have few spaces in Champaign-Urbana that are definitely spaces where BIPOC voices are taking center.”
For more information about events being held at KAM, visit their website.
