Join the Social Justice Initiative and Woman Made Gallery for a powerful evening of reflection, poetic intervention, and remembrance at the Echoes of Ferguson closing reception.

As we mark the now 11th anniversary of the Ferguson Uprising, this exhibition has invited us to witness the commemorative landscapes and moments that have shaped a movement. The evening will culminate in a series of readings by local women and nonbinary poets based in Chicago, including Le’Trice Buckingham, Nikki Patín, Tara Betts, and Chirskira Cailloeut, who will offer their interpretations of the ongoing echoes of Ferguson.

This program brings together voices of resistance to create a moment for respite and solidarity. In alignment with Woman Made Gallery’s mission to support historically marginalized artists, the event centers literary work that speaks to the intersections of art, justice, and collective memory.

Let the words of poets illuminate the photographs, offering new depth and insight as we commemorate this pivotal moment in history.

Space is limited, so kindly RSVP to attend.

Featured poets:

Le’Trice Buckingham – Le’Trice Buckingham is a Chicago-based poet and multidisciplinary artist whose work blends visual art, storytelling, and ancestral memory. Her practice explores the intersections of history, imagination, and Black identity. She is the founder of Art Conjure, a collective dedicated to Black storytelling and creative conjuration.

Nikki Patín – Featured in The Guardian and on HBO, multidisciplinary artist Nikki Patin has performed and taught at the University of Chicago, Rikers Island prison, EXPO Chicago, Brooklyn Museum, the National Black Theater in Harlem and throughout the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. Nikki Patin holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Southern Maine. She is the Founder of Surviving the Mic, a survivor-led organization that curates performances and workshops for survivors of sexual harm. Patin’s debut memoir, Working on Me is out on Vine Leaves Press and is nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

Tara Betts – Tara Betts is the author of Refuse to Disappear, Break the Habit, and Arc & Hue. Betts teaches at DePaul University’s Peace Studies Program and serves as poetry editor for The Langston Hughes Review. Her poems, essays, and short stories have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies.

Chirskira Cailloeut – Chirskira Caillouet is an award winning literary artist who curates, hosts and facilitates various word related events. She and her typewriters are bookable for performing and creating original typewritten poems for you and guests future activities at bookmstypewriter@gmail.com.

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Tags: CHICAGO JUSTICE GALLERY, Chirskira Cailloeut, Image Voice and Placemaking 11 Years after Ferguson, Le’Trice Buckingham, near west side, Nikki Patin, Tara Betts, UIC, Woman Made Gallery