In this special episode of ARTdusty, today’s guest is a New York City-based poet, Anacaona Rocio Milagro. Anacaona has been writing poetry before most kids know how to write their own name. She obtained her MFA in Poetry from NYU’s Poetry program in Paris and holds a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University, and a BA with a double major in Social Anthropology and Journalism/Creative Writing. Her poetry has been published in The BreakBeat Poets Latinext Anthology, Narrative Magazine, LitHub, Oh Dear Magazine, and Raising Mothers. Her “Nine Eleven Poem” is among the Smithsonian Museum’s 9/11 archives. In 2021 she released “Stillmatic,” a spoken word/Hip-Hop/Jazz single, and in August 2024 she released her first full-length spoken word album, “To Make an Island of A Street Corner." Available on all streaming platforms.

Check out her album and book here: https://bit.ly/to-make-an-island

Follow Anacaona Rocio Milagro @poet.anacaona
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Today's guest is Hadiya Williams, a decorative artist and surface designer based in Washington, DC. She is the founder and creative director of Black Pepper Paperie Co. What started as a hobby-based clay business in 2017 evolved into a full-time decorative art and design studio, specializing in hand-made ceramics, surface pattern design, and wall art. Hadiya has collaborated with a variety of companies all over the world, including F. Schumacher Co., Lulu, and Georgia, Brewster Home, Best Buy, WALPA (Japan), AARP, Meta, and Target. Her design work is also a part of the National Museum of African American History and Culture's permanent collection. Hadiya's work brings art, traditions, and stories together through patterns and handmade techniques that represent her cultural influences across the African diaspora, from past, present to future.

Follow Hadiya Williams at https://www.blackpepperpaperie.com/ | @hadiyawilliams

Follow Substantial Art & Music: https://bio.site/subartandmusic

Today's guest is Opie Snow, a visual artist from Ashland, Oregon. She studied fine arts at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and the University of Oregon in Eugene. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a painting emphasis from the University of Oregon, she traveled to Europe to research master painter techniques. In 2000, she co-founded Nuwandart Gallery in Ashland, Oregon. Opie has created costume designs, installation work, and performance art/dance with El Circo, an Art/Performance Collective based in San Francisco from 2001-2007. In 2007 Opie Snow joined forces with Micah Blacklight and moved to Brooklyn, New York to further her art career. In 2009 she and Micah created the collaboration called BlackSnow, a fine art, couture fashion, and multi-media company. BlackSnow had their debut show at IcoSa-hedron Gallery in New York City in 2010. Her work has involved mythical figures, and explored the experience of the feminine through the evolution of sexuality, power, demonization, oppression, liberation, and redefinition. Currently, Opie Snow lives between New York and Oregon with her family. She is immersed in two very different series, Steadfast – her figurative work which explores the complexities of being a woman in today’s times, and Black Ochre – which is a new and passionate realm of expression for her where she is experimenting with emotive and design oriented abstracts.

Follow Opie Snow at https://opiesnow.com/ | IG @opie.snow.art
Follow Substantial Art & Music: https://bio.site/subartandmusic

Today's guest is Quynn L. Johnson Ed.M. An International Arts Based Educator, social entrepreneur, Co-Founder of SOLE Defined, and performing artist. Quynn is a graduate of Harvard University and Howard University. She designs arts-based programs that integrate elements of tap dance with literacy and math thereby creating a deeper learning experience for learners. As a social entrepreneur, Quynn co-founded the Washington, DC-based percussive dance company SOLE Defined (co-created with Ryan Johnson), whose mission is to use dance as a tool to address social issues directly affecting the Black community while creating interactive arts-integrated programs in schools.

Quynn was recently awarded the 2020 John F. Kennedy Center Local Dance Commissioning Project, her performance highlights include soloist in the tour of After Midnight (NCL), Chasing Magic by Ayodele Casel, America(na) to Me by Dormeshia, Lincoln Center Education Series, Dance Encore Festival, and Great Gatsby by the Washington Ballet.

Follow Quynn Johnson at https://quynnjohnson.com/ | @justquynn
Follow Substantial Art & Music: https://bio.site/subartandmusic

Today’s guest is a radical, ratchet, and revolutionary Puerto Rican rapper, decolonizing minds one rhyme at a time. Pinqy Ring was born and bred in Chicago, she manifests her vision for a more just world as an MC, speaker, Hip Hop Educator, and proud U.S. Hip Hop Cultural Ambassador - traveling overseas to manage and facilitate Hip Hop diplomacy programming. Hip Hop has taken her from the 'hood to Harvard, and she raps her legacy loudly into place while creating pathways for others to do the same.

Follow Pinqy Ring https://pinqyring.com/ | @pinqyring
Follow Substantial Art & Music: https://bio.site/subartandmusic

The hosts of ARTdustry provide a recap of past episodes and share updates on their individual projects.

Follow Substantial Art & Music: https://bio.site/subartandmusic
Follow Rachelle Etienne-Robinson: https://bio.site/retiennerobinson
Follow Stan 'Substantial' Robinson: https://bio.site/substantial

Today's guest is a R&B vocalist, instrumentalist, producer, and published recording artist, MLLN. Originally from Maryland, MLLN was born into a family where everyone played and performed music on stage. His musical strengths are harmony, backing vocals, and scatting. In developing his style, he strives to find a balance between singable pop songs and forward-thinking R&B grooves. He makes music that is honestly meaningful and infectiously fun. He has a number of original songs and albums to his credit and has toured with Lawrence the Band and enjoyed working with artists such as ROMderful, Moo Latte, Jeremy Passion, Couch, and more. He has performed at premier east coast venues like 930 Club (DC), Stone Pony (NJ), Higher Ground (VT), 3S, and Artspace (NH). MLLN drops his debut album “In A Day” this Friday, June 30, 2023, on all streaming platforms, so be sure to check it out.

Follow MLLN https://linktr.ee/MLLN

Today’s guest is an emcee, producer, singer-songwriter, designer, filmmaker, and record executive, Tonedeff. He first gained national recognition on the underground hip-hop scene after winning a string of distinguished rap battles. He’s opened for Common, Rahzel, The Beatnuts, Royce da 5'9", and Brand Nubian. Tonedeff has appeared as a guest artist on several releases, including, Masta Ace, Pumkinhead, Cunninlynguists, Immortal Technique, and KRS-One. In 1997, he founded the QN5 Music label and continues to release music independently.

Follow Tonedeff http://tonedeff.com | @tonedeff
Follow Substantial Art & Music: https://bio.site/subartandmusic