Carolyn DiPaolo“Black Art Matters’ program will be every Thursday in February.
It’s Black History Month and West Palm Beach will celebrate with free live performances downtown.
Why it matters: These outdoor events amplify voices of young Black artists in our community. Residents who identify as Black or African American account for 31.5% of the city’s population, according to the Census Bureau.
The series, called “Black Art Matters,” will be at 6:30 pm every Thursday this month in the CityZen Garden, 400 Datura St.
- It is presented by the Downtown Development Authority.
Here’s the schedule:
Thursday: Vocalist Mikayla Smith
Smith is pursuing a vocal performance degree at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She earned the Young Artist Award from The Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook and was featured in Downbeat Magazine.
Feb 13: BSTEW Jazz Trio
The trio features pianist Bashaum Stewart, bassist Kirk Green and drummer Hosny Franck. They are known for their blend of traditional and contemporary jazz and their focus on original compositions and creative arrangements.
Feb 20: Interactive artist Jess Kirby
Kirby combines acrylic painting, digital design and animation to explore the themes of vision and connection. With a foundation in fine art and a background in animation from Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts, Kirby invites viewers to step into her imaginative realms.
Feb. 27: Afrique Ngozi Dance & Drum
Khinuu Nefer is a professional West African/Caribbean dancer, choreographer and founder of Afrique Ngozi Dance and Drum Inc. Based in Palm Beach County, Khinuu has over a decade of dance experience and teaches weekly West African Dance classes in Lake Worth.
The CityZen Garden opened in 2018 on the corner of Datura and South Dixie Highway as part of West Palm Beach’s Art in Public Places program.
- There is a small amphitheater, a zen garden and striking humanoid statues made of copper.
I am a co-founder, writer and editor for Stet News. I am also a former senior editor at The Palm Beach Post. For 20 years, I oversaw some of the most consequential stories published by the paper, including the “Corruption County” reporting project that led to multiple arrests of elected officials. I am a member of the Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2013. I live in West Palm Beach with my husband, Bill DiPaolo.
