FEATURED PERFORMERS:
Deidre D.S. SENSE Smith
Deidre D.S.SENSE Smith is a Detroit native who has always shown great pride in her city. Raised on the eastside, she was surrounded by culture and art. Although Smith has seen the struggles, despair, and chaos that has afflicted the city’s once flourishing neighborhoods, she reflects the hope and beauty she sees in her hometown through her artistry. Smith has performed on various stages in support of equal rights, education, art, and in protest of the many socio-economic woes plaguing our world.
Jess Julian
Jess Julian (b. 1994) is currently pursuing their Doctorate in Musical Arts in Guitar Performance at the University of Memphis in Tennessee, studying with Dr. Patrick Sutton. Jess’s other guitar mentors include Dr. Lily Afshar, Bret Hoag, Denis Azabagic, and Chuck Newsome. In addition, Jess is a published composer. Their composition mentor is pianist and composer Stephen Prutsman. Jess also has research regarding Libby Larsen’s guitar music published in Soundboard. They have received accolades through the Beethoven Club Young Artist Competition in Memphis, Tennessee in 2022. They also won the 2017 Outstanding Student in Instrumental Performance MaTilDa Award at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, where they received their Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance and Music Education degrees. Jess continues to be recognized as an exceptional performer in a variety of genres including classical, jazz, and popular music. They perform as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist. In addition, Jess also performs in small and large ensembles such as jazz combos, wind ensembles, and orchestras. Jess is also a dedicated and accomplished educator and guest lecturer. Jess is on faculty at Mississippi State University as Lecturer of Guitar where they teach Guitar Lessons, Guitar Pedagogy, Guitar Literature, and Guitar Ensemble. In addition to their musical ventures, Jess enjoys listening to podcasts, hiking, and coffee.
Stephanie Glazier
Stephanie Glazier’s poems have appeared in the The Southern Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, and others among others. Her manuscript Of Fish & Country was a finalist in the Perugia Press Prize and the Milkweed Ballard Spahr Prize and a semi-finalist in the Persea Book Prize. She has been or will be in residence at Lambda’s Writing Retreat, Sewanee, and Hilholm. She lives and works in Detroit.
Cherry Wood
Cherry Wood is a naturalized Canadian-American artist, born in Honduras with mixed Palestinian-Native ancestry. Currently, he lives and works in Metro Detroit. His artwork speaks to issues of family, sexuality, and the workplace. Cherry uses visual means to represent these themes whether through bodily actions, sculpture, and photography. Cherry has a master’s and bachelor’s degree in fine arts and has received financial support from institutions such as: The Andy Warhol Foundation, The Canadian Art Council, The Contemporary Arts Foundation.
Please note, this event is 18+ due to nudity and mature themes.