by Donte Kirby
True to its’ name, Mary Jane’s Closet presented the Melting Pot Art Expo which was a melding of various avenues of artistry. Like chicken noodle soup, this was a performance that was good for the soul.
Starting off the expo was poet Kourtney Naomi performing her piece “Constellations”. It was a piece that reminded the audience how much potential and how great we all could be. “We are all constellations and together we make one hell of a night sky.” A fitting intro to a night that would showcase the talents of so many Philly artists.
There was an abundance of performers, eleven in all not including those from the audience who stepped up to showcase their talent. One of the highlights of the evening was Drew Mills, a member of group ASPCP (which stands for Astro Steez Pretty Cool Peasants). He spit a capella bars that could have just as easily been spoken word, showcasing a degree of crowd control and performance skills that separates the boys from the men. In the open mic portion Drew Mills would perform again showing his skills as a crooner segueing into spoken word then rapping.
Another stand out performer with great stage presence and experience on the mic was Suillecram. During his songs “Money” and “Kill”, featuring Suirad, an added bonus to the performance showcased models wearing the designs of Nagram. Also worth mentioning was Mike Parker’s cover of Beyoncè’s “Superpower” and Daze Feathers with Enda Story performing Kanye’s “Flashing Lights”. And let’s not forget Cloudy THC’s a capella performance of “Shake ‘Em”.
Poet All Day J performed his piece “Analysis of Another” and with his words he painted a vivid picture of a man finding love and kindred spirit in another. It was a skillful performance that garnered many snaps and applauds by the audience.
Artists LinShuttr and Jamir Linder displayed their art on the walls of the venue. Linder’s more realistic style contrasting the cartoon style of LinShuttr.
Stand out of the open mic portion of the evening was comedian Nick Bawls, “called Bawls because the shaft isn’t worth mentioning”. His humor caused a few to walk out (a badge of honor to most comedians) but those who stayed had a good laugh and gave him a round of applause when his set was through.
Mary Jane’s Closet put on a great event filled with tons of talent and I’m sure everyone in attendance of the Melting Pot Art Expo can’t wait to see what they cook up next.
More pics from the event can be found on our Facebook page!
