Written by Nella Rohan, In The Imagination of Nikki Giovanni explores the boundless vision of one of the most influential poets of our time. Through her words and work, Giovanni redefined Black liberation, creativity, and the power of a unique voice. This piece honors her legacy by weaving her playful, radical, and deeply personal imagination with the themes in Ruha Benjamin’s Imagination: A Manifesto. What did Giovanni envision for Black, queer, female artists and activists? How did her imagination shape her poetic voice—one that dared to dream of Mars, of love, of revolution? This blog dives into her legacy, offering a reflection on the power of imagination as a tool for freedom, joy, and change.

In this blog, Nella Rohan explores the transformative power of journaling enhanced by color therapy. She reflects on guiding journaling sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic and how combining written expression with chromotherapy helps manage emotions, reduce stress, and foster creativity. By introducing this practice to students through ArtWell's workshops, journaling becomes a vibrant tool for healing, self-expression, and resilience.

In the spirit of one of ArtWell’s six strategic imperatives–Learning Together, our Executive Director, Malia Gilbert Neal, pioneered ArtWell’s first-ever book club: ReadingWell. We recently had our inaugural ReadingWell discussion to unpack the first chapter of “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us” by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross.

Thank you to all our partners and supporters for helping ArtWell reach over 700 youth!

The second-annual Awaken Your Dreams Poetry and Art Show kicked off with an opening reception on June 2nd followed by a week-long exhibition at 1040 Creative! The show aimed to uplift the voices and visions of our incredible students.

What a magical night! If you missed the 2022 ArtWell Awards or if you just want to reflect on the evening, check out this full recap and photo gallery.

The Awaken Your Dreams Poetry & Art Show was our first in-person event in three years! Featuring poetry and art from students from Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy, C.C.A. Baldi Middle School, Emlen Elementary School, George W Nebinger School, John H. Taggart School, Parkway Northwest High School, and Saint Francis de Sales School, this exhibition aimed to uplift the voices and visions of our incredible students.