Voetry Screening

I am proposing an immersive exhibition, featuring Black spoken word artists, that explores the mind through the art of spoken word poetry. In my own experiences with mental health and recovery, I have found that there are two distinct fractions of my mental health that hold importance: the part of me that craves interaction with the world around me, and the part of me that must take the time to turn inward and make sense of that very world and my place in it.

To represent these two fractions of a healthy mind, I propose building the exhibition out into two rooms. The first room, which I will call the "within" room, will be focused on grounding techniques that I have found helpful in my own recovery periods. This room will offer guided meditation through pre-recorded spoken word poetry, and will be a quiet space designed to evoke ease and comfort for guests. To further enhance the calming atmosphere, the room will be consistently heated, and shag mats will be provided for visitors to find a comfortable spot to rest. The decor in this room will be eclectic, with the goal of creating a warm and welcoming environment.

The second room, which I will call the "beyond" room, will incorporate an active mind with a number of visual stimulants. This room will be designed as a social space, and will feature three spoken word films displayed on three of the walls. A central console will allow visitors to choose which of the three films' audio they would like to hear, although all three films will play simultaneously to immerse attendees in the visual arts. These films will be provided by the organization voetry, and will explore themes of identity, trauma, resilience, and love. Like a classic open mic poetry night, this room will offer a diverse range of perspectives and experiences for visitors to engage with, and I believe that the exchange of story-telling and listening will be a therapeutic and meaningful experience for all involved.

Overall, this immersive exhibition will offer communities, especially Black communities, a chance to delve into the depths of their own minds and connect with others through the power of spoken word poetry. I believe that it will be a unique and memorable experience for all who attend.