Cover feature, María Magdalena Campos-Pons speaks with us about her career and the bold pursuit of creative vision.

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Actor and comedian Isaac Kirk takes on us a multi-generational journey.

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How Brenda Morrow keeps winning the struggle with gentrification at William Edmondson Park.

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Trenton Wheeler discusses his film, making music in a colonized world, and the work of clearing the way for Indigenous culture.

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Continuing the lineage of liberation with Jamel Campbell-Gooch.

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Dr. Veronica Womack & Tonya Lewis on working the land in the black belt.

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A collection of playlists from people that make Nashville the Music City. Playlists coming soon.

16 For the City.

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The Legacy of Southern Culinary Arts.

The Smashburger at Makeshift
Have an ice cream date at Rolled 4 ever Ice Cream
Try the Old Fashioned at Plane Jane Cocktail Bar
OH—the Sweet Potato cupcake at Cupcake Collection
The Catfish, fried hard at Helen’s Hot Chicken
The Jamaican Bowl at Riddim n Spice
Brunch, Honey Hot Wings + the Dirty Rice at Roasted
Cheesesteak at Itz a Phllly Thing
Chicken + Dressing at Cal’s Country Kitchen

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This is Museum of Presence. Hosted by Shabazz Larkin.

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If you are interested in being a part of the True Voice community: Join True Voice Here

View the Exhibition and all art mentioned here at Museumofpresence.com You are now entering the Museum of Presence. 00:00 Museum of Presence x Exhibition Walkthrough 00:00 Introduction 01:02 Welcome to The Museum of Presence 02:10 Meet Tonya Lewis 03:01 Meet Kamilah Sander 03:49 Meet Evan Brown 05:01 missing Black galleries in Nashville 06:09 a Different Kind of Museum Experience 08:26 Meet Shabazz Larkin 09:28 Karen taught me to trust the process 12:20 Exhibition: May I be Brave Enough to Speak My Truth 12:58 The Cover 14:32 Enter the exhibition: Two Pillars 18:02 Little Richard & Malcom X - Two Sides of the same coin 21:45 Exhibition: Screaming, Singing or using Loud Voices? 23:53 Exhibition: Fear Has no home here 25:59 Exhibition: Masking Neurodivergence 29:26 Exhibition: Redifining Sanctuary 31:15 Exhibition: Fragile Black Man Series 33:26 Exhibition: Black Liberation & A Black Buddha 35:31 Exhibition: Heavens to Marcy 36:31 Acknowledgments

From the confines of a prison cell to a thriving career in Nashville’s art scene, Omari narrates his inspiring journey that spans 15 years. He shares, “... all the pieces are about that 15 years. And in large part, they're about the people that helped get me through that 15 years.”

Guiding us through his exhibition at the Elephant Gallery, Omari depicts the profound impact of his experiences, personified through abstract images of his time in prison. “People would have the experience, of sitting in my cell with me...” he shares. His signature piece - a life-sized self-portrait - is a captivating reflection of his strength and vulnerability during his incarceration.

The narrative takes a profound turn as we explore the heart of North Nashville. Known for its rich cultural heritage and dynamic Black music scene, the district’s struggles with over-policing and high incarceration rates shed light on the resilience and spirit of the community. It’s within these challenges that Omari finds the honesty and authenticity to create his art.

Toward the end, Omari’s heartfelt recitation of his poem "This Black Bird" signifies the power of hope and the quest for freedom, even within the walls of a prison. The bird is not just a motif in his paintings; it's a symbol of his dreams taking flight. As he shares, “This bird, showing up in my room every day...It brings me hope. It feeds my dreams. They're only bars, they're only screens. It's only tears, it's only screams...”

Join us for this intimate conversation, shedding light on the transformative power of art, the shared narratives of our communities, and the promise of presence in every moment. This episode of "The Museum of Presence" is an invitation to contemplate the silence between the words, delve into the beauty of the struggle, and celebrate the enduring spirit of the Black community in Nashville. You are now Entering the Museum of Presence

00:00 Omari Booker: You can't sleep your time away - the transformational power of an art practice against a 15 year prison sentence

00:00 Intro 02:20 Exhibition Walk Through 03:45 North Nashville Highway Dilemma 06:20 Responsibility of The Artist 09:20 Glimpses of a life 12:18 This Black Bird Poem 18:39 The Prison inside. The Freedom inside 25:31 The Process of Painting is the joy 30:04 Community 31:48 Brotherhood & Joy live everywhere 33:45 Cultivating joy 42:18 Blackbird Poem Reprise

In this episode Marquez offers a freestyle. A mesmerizing showcase of his lyrical prowess. As one of the city's finest wordsmiths, Marquez weaves his experiences into a tapestry of artistry, delving into the complexities of balancing fatherhood and a musical career while offering insight into the transformative power of spirituality.

Support the 'Museum of Presence' by sharing this episode and spreading the word about our mission. Follow us on Instagram @museumofpresence and subscribe to our podcast to stay connected with our vibrant artistic community. Together, let's honor the brilliance of Reaux Marquez and celebrate the undeniable influence of music and meaningful connections on our collective journey. Join us as we embark on an enchanting exploration, where the beats of life converge with artistic expression, inspiring deeper understanding and shared inspiration.

You are now entering the Museum of Presence.

00:00 Museum of Presence x Reaux Marquez

00:00 How Did you Start Rapping?

00:22 16 For The City Freestyle

03:18 Reaux Marquez

03:33 Introduction

05:36 The Creative Process

06:59 Start With Drums

08:51 Dancing On Jefferson

09:27 Making Music For Me First

12:06 disruption

14:30 Telling Our Stories 

16:24 Black Art in Public Spaces

16:57 Music City History

23:34 Top Five: Reaux Marquez

26:46 Fatherhood

28:34 Childhood Memories in Nashville - TSU Parade

A defining moment in his journey came when his first event was canceled simply because it was a Black event. This challenge, however, opened a new path for Eric - a path that he discovered often opens up for Black individuals. Listen as he shares his life journey, from his early years in the church to his influential work today, emphasizing the importance of honoring our ancestors.

Delving into the concept of space-making, Eric expounds on the power of creating spaces or 'containers' and why it's essential for Black individuals to create these containers for themselves. The discussion flows to his role as a collector of Nashville-produced playlists, which he curates in this edition of the newspaper.

Be sure not to miss "The Selector" section where you can access all the playlists that Eric Holt has meticulously created from Nashville people, producers, and space-makers. Listen, enjoy, and share this episode with your community. Follow us on Instagram @museumofpresence for more insightful updates, and don't forget to subscribe to the Museum of Presence podcast. Your support fuels our mission of honoring and exploring the BIPOC community's experiences in Nashville through art and mindfulness.

You are now entering the Museum of Presence.

www.museumofpresence.com

www.truevoiceapp.com/museumofpresence

www.lovenoise.net

00:00 Museum of Presence x Eric Holt

00:00 The First Lovenoise Event

00:26 Intro

02:19 Surviving the test of time

04:06 Origins of Eric Holt

05:28 Community

07:21 Holding Space in Nashville

13:12 Overcoming adversity

19:20 The Need for black art in public spaces

22:07 the Power of Music

25:03 Favorite Nashville Artists

27:51 The future of music for Nashville

29:02 The Selector: Playlists from the people of music city

31:43 What keeps you going?

38:21 Acknowledgements

As a mother and artist, she embraces a "slow process" in her art, a deliberate choice to slow down, inviting gentleness into her work, and ultimately sharing that softness with those around her. Brittney's ethos revolves around listening to and honoring our elders and ancestors, a theme that shines through our conversation.

She brings up the iconic Nina Simone, offering a rich layer of understanding to her artistic philosophy. This episode is a breath of fresh air, a testament to a different picture of what an artist can be.

Enjoy, share, and subscribe to the Museum of Presence podcast, and follow us on Instagram @museumofpresence for more meaningful explorations of the BIPOC community in Nashville through art and mindfulness. 

You are now entering the Museum of Presence.

00:00 Museum of Presence x Brittney Boyd Bullock

00:00 Britney Boyd Bullock invites you to slow down

00:16 Introduction

02:04 Growing up Memphis

09:42 May I be Brave Enough To Speak My Truth

10:39 The Ancestor Speaks

13:59 Working With Yarn

18:37 Why do you spin Yarn?

21:23 Little Waste is a little Footprint

23:07 Creative Process

26:40 Soft Space

31:52 acknowledgment

Elisheba's story is one of resilience and advocacy, serving as a powerful reminder of the need to respect black artists and their community.

Support stories like Elisheba's by sharing this episode with your community, and make sure to subscribe to the Museum of Presence podcast. For more insights and updates, follow us on Instagram @museumofpresence. Your support helps us continue to illuminate the experiences of the BIPOC community in Nashville through art, mindfulness, and history.

You are now entering the Museum of Presence.

www.museumofpresence.com⁠

Get an invitation to True Voice, a virtual mindfulness and meditation studio serving the Bipoc community and all those in its orbit.

00:00 Elisheba Mrozik: Respect Black Art & Respect Black Artists

00:09 Intro

01:48 Elisheba's Journey

03:54 The Seeds of North Nashville Arts Coalition

07:38 Non-Profiting while Black

11:10 Bridging the gaps for black artist

12:27 the vision of NNAC

13:53 Colonizer Tactics: New Lipstick Same Pig

17:09 Success Stories

18:24 the currency of Black art

19:32 the empathy of art

24:40 Presence

32:59 telling our own stories

35:19 Gratitude 

The title of this episode, “The Currency of Nashville is Presence and Warm Relationships, Not Honky-tonks and Hot Chicken,” echoes Ashley's perspective on Nashville. She paints a picture of a city that is far more intimate and smaller than what appears on the surface, a Nashville existing outside of Broadway and beyond country music.

Before we part, Ashley shares her favorite local spots, offering a unique glimpse into the city she loves. Find her curated list in the newspaper accompanying this podcast episode. Listen, share, and join us in exploring the multifaceted experiences of the BIPOC community in Nashville.

Follow us on Instagram @museumofpresence and don't forget to subscribe to the Museum of Presence podcast. Your support helps continue our mission of celebrating and exploring the experiences of the BIPOC community in Nashville through art and mindfulness.

You are now entering the Museum of Presence.

00:00 Museum of Presence x Ashley Currie

00:00 Introduction

03:46 What do people do in Nashville?

05:42 Urbaanite Magazine

08:14 How you keep going?

11:30 The Entrepreneur’s Journey

16:01 Overcoming Challenges

17:50 Power of prayer

22:52 Turning of the phone

26:19 Community Column: What to do in Nashville

30:44 Acknowledgements

- If you enjoyed this, support us by liking and subscribing, this helps us tell more stories in the future.

Remember to share this episode with friends and family and subscribe to the Museum of Presence podcast. Follow us on Instagram @museumofpresence for more insights and updates.

Click here to receive an invitation to the True Voice App, a mindfulness and meditation community with Ashley & Shabazz Larkin.

www.truevoiceapp.com/museumofpresence

You can see the things Jennifer Wang is up to around Nashville at www.nashvillepocsangha.org, or on her instagram page.

- You are now entering the Museum of Presence. 00:00 Museum of Presence x Jennifer Wang 00:13 Introduction 01:01 About Jennifer Wang 02:16 Mindfulness & Art 04:44 Tich Naht Hanh 06:16 An Embodiment Practice 08:18 definitions of mindfulness 11:17 "Practice" the poem 15:22 Art & Suffering 18:23 Nashville POC Sangha 21:10 Responding to Good Trouble by Shabazz Larkin with John Lewis 24:05 Wild Buddha Story 25:18 responding to the school shooting 27:51 Concentration Meditation 42:55 Acknowledgements