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Now that Pride Month is here, we must remind ourselves that our fight for equal rights is not over. Our nation’s stability depends on the well-being of it’s citizens. After all, true pride rests on how well “We, the People” are doing: Physically, Mentally, and Financially. Needless to say, more work needs to be done!
Pride is more than just a celebration of the beautiful LGBTQIA community. It is the acceptance of humanity, and recognition that every individual person has autonomy and the right to self-expression. Pride is the acknowledgement that every person is invested in the power of choice, that should be respected and protected. If anything, pride is a revolution, a reminder that we have the power of change, and the chance to become a more better society than today. How do we become an ally and safe space, where every person can thrive in the pursuit for happiness?
For starters, we can have conversations with young people, especially children, about safety, consent, and sexuality. By using age-appropriate language, we let them know they have autonomy of their own bodies! As safe adults, we have the chance to let the kids in our lives know that we are there to be a source of trust and safety, especially if they ever feel unsure or uneasy about something. Believe kids when they bring up problems or concerns about people in their lives. By affirming their experiences, you open the door for more healthy and open conversations -- ones that can keep them feeling empowered and safe from sexual abuse. Safeguarding their wellbeing is giving them the opportunity to grow into conscientious, compassionate leaders of tomorrow.
Let's extend these discussions to include how the normalization of "invisible privilege", and how it affects our overall culture-- race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, socio-economic status, health care, and education. By sharing our obstacles, we can discuss how we can work together to shift conversations from hate and violence to understanding and respect. These conversations are uncomfortable. However, engaging in constructive dialogue brings about positive change and unity within our communities, dismantling the power of “invisible privilege”, and the people whom willfully maintain the status quo.
Lastly, we can support organizations that provide services to underrepresented groups, which includes LGBTQIA communities. These organizations, such as Childhood Fractured, have volunteer opportunities, and will always be in need of donations. Also, we can petition our government to allow full access to resources, such as full access to medical care, that can adequately off-set emotional, mental, financial, and economic duress.
Most importantly, our vote counts! In the upcoming November election, vote for leaders that support these changes in legislation. Pride involves communities. We are part of these communities; we, are many people. Together, we are a nation. We are the American people.
-Seion Vandever, Executive Director, Childhood Fractured
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PHYGITAL GALLERY ART FASHION SHOW!!! June 14th 5 PM-11 PM 1432 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL |
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In the bustling heart of Chicago, at 1432 W Irving Park Rd, an ethereal event will take place—a confluence of art, fashion, and dreams. The Phygital Art Gallery, a sanctuary of the avant-garde of physical and digital art, buzzed with anticipation, a hive of creative souls yearning for expression. On June 14th, a night destined to shimmer in the annals of memory, A night when the mundane will give way to the extraordinary. The gallery, a temple of color and form, where the air hummed with the electric spirit of creation. Paintings whispered their secrets from the walls, while hand painted dresses stood as silent sentinels guarding the mysteries of their makers.
The crowd was a tapestry of humanity—artists, poets, dreamers, and lovers, all drawn to this magnetic celebration.The garments, oh, the garments! Each piece a testament to the artist's hand, the painter's brush, the visionary's eye. Hand-painted jackets that seem to pulse with life, each stroke a heartbeat. Hats that sat like crowns upon the heads of the daring. Booty shorts, imbued with a sensual energy, promising freedom and defiance. Hoodies that enveloped you in the warm embrace of creativity. T-shirt dresses that flowed like poetry, shoes that danced with the soul of the wearer.Attendees, like celestial beings, glided through the space, weaving in and out of the throng, transforming the gallery into a living, breathing work of art. Their movements, fluid and deliberate, told stories of love, rebellion, and transcendence. Each step echoed with the rhythm of the city's heart, each pose a snapshot of a dream unfurling. And there, amidst the thrumming crowd, I stood—a artist lost in the sea of inspiration, my mind a whirlpool of thoughts and visions. The night unfolded like a beat poets hallucination, where reality and fantasy intertwined, where the boundaries of the self dissolved in the collective exhalation of wonder.I watch as a lover tried on a hand-painted jacket, their eyes lighting up with a newfound spark. I see friends laughing, draped in the artist's creations, their joy a testament to the power of art to unite and uplift. I felt the pulse of the city in every brushstroke, every stitch, every whispered word.
The Phygital Art Gallery will become a beacon of possibility, a lighthouse guiding the lost and the longing towards the shores of expression. The air will thicken with the scent of paint and dreams, the walls vibrating with the energy of a thousand unspoken desires.And in that moment, I realized that this will be more than an art show—it will be a communion, a celebration of the human spirit's boundless capacity to create, to love, to dream. It was a reminder that in every jacket, every hat, every piece of wearable art, there lies a story waiting to be told, a soul waiting to be seen.The night will end, as all nights do, but the echoes of its magic will linger in the hearts of those who were there. The Phygital ArtGallery, now silent, still pulsed with the afterglow of a thousand dreams made manifest. And as I stepped out into the cool Chicago night, I will carry with me the warmth of a enchanted evening, a night where art and fashion wove together the tapestry of our shared humanity.
--Allen Vandever, Contemporary Artist, Founder
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MIDNIGHT DAWNING: THE SECOND |
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Midnight Dawning: The Second Through the neon night, The Phygital Gallery—a digital temple of rhythm and light—unveils a new spectacle of our time. An alchemical fusion, a cosmic dance of Hip Hop, Tech, and visual arts twine together, weaving through the airwaves of our modern minds.Join us JuSaturday 22nd, from 6 PM 'til the midnight hour, as the gallery throbs with kinetic pulse, an erotic undercurrent sparking the atmosphere. Kink whispers through the ether, offering a spice for the curious soul and a taste for the brave heart. Seekers of the sublime, artists of the invisible, dancers of the digital dawn—be there as we conjure the new beat, a phygital symphony in this cybernetic night. Featuring the visionary works of: Jason Davis Draws Don’t miss this ethereal convergence at The Phygital Gallery, where art and rhythm become one! Date: Saturday June22nd Time: 6 PM - Midnight Location: The Phygital Gallery, 1432 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago Tickets: $20 donation or whatever you can afford Food By: Yams $10 a plate.
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DAIYUZENJI OPEN HOUSE-SOUP AND RICE SOCIAL |
Join us at Daiyuzenji, home of Aikido Kenshin Dojo, for our Soup & Rice Social and Open House! Friends, partners, family, and neighbors are invited to an afternoon of camaraderie. Discover what makes our community special, explore our space, meet our members, and learn more about what we do.
Enjoy rice and soup lovingly prepared by our community members as you mingle and connect with others.
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"WHEN A STUDENT IS READY, A TEACHER WILL APPEAR." |
Have you ever wanted to transform yourself through the discipline of Traditional Japanese Martial Arts? You can start your journey with a free trial class with our friends at Aikido Kenshin Dojo!
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY: The first 10-people to sign-up will receive FREE AIKIDO CLASSES for 1-MONTH!
(note: terms and conditions will apply) |
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CHILDHOOD FRACTURED: A LIVE NARRATIVE BOOK |
The art project that started as a book, became a non-profit; raising awareness on child sexual abuse through contemporary art. Proceeds of your purchase will support Childhood Fractured.
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