OACChicago's Poetic Platforms. Play. Create. Connect. Amplify
Poetic Platforms - A Three-part PopUp Series
Poetic Platforms foster cross-cultural connection and collective healing through pop-ups in underutilized spaces and parks. These popup activations are for families, friends, and parkgoers to enjoy and celebrate Chicago's rich arts and cultural diversity together. OACChicago also encourages participants to become “everyday designers”, and co-creators of more inclusive- and equitable public spaces by exploring community-led culture-making through the arts, culture performance, interactive installations, and wellness activities.
Our Next Poetic Platform Locations
Ping Tom Park
Sat., 7. 22.23, 11 AM - 6 PM
239 West 18th Street Chicago, IL 60616
(north of the Padgoda, under the 18th Street Bridge)
Buttercup Park
Sat., 9. 22.23, 11 AM - 6 PM
4901 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640
Ping Tom Park: Run-of Show
NOTE: Arrive at 10:45 am registration. Stepping Workshop starts promptly at 11:00 am.
•Yoga & Movement offered by Yogiposa. To participate, please bring your own mat with you.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Steppin’ With Janey Chatman
Janey Chatman has years of experience teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced Stepping classes. She is currently teaching at the Kelly Hall YMCA. Come and learn an urban dance made nationally famous by dancers from Chicago, St. Louis, and Detroit.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Son Monarcas
Son Monarcas will facilitate "Yogiposa", a play on the words yoga and mariposa (butterfly). Son Monarcas' multi-instrumentalists Irekani Ferreyra and Mercedes Inez create a magical soundscape of ambient beats, healing frequencies and rich harmonies. Combining compositions for voice, guitar, violin, requinto jarocho, kalimba, looping, and drums. Park-goers and participants are encouraged to bring the mats, move and participate in revitalizing yoga poses within this musical experience.
Yoga will be facilitated by Marissa Chavez. Marissa is a yoga practitioner for over 10 years and a teacher for six years. A reiki practitioner and medicine woman she's a world traveler who collects knowledge in holistic healing through herbs and cooking.
Please arrive by 11:45 to be set to start promptly at noon. Individuals will be allowed to join in the experience at any time.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Tsukasa Taiko
Tsukasa Taiko is one of the largest community taiko drumming programs in the Midwest whose mission is, through training and performing, to preserve, develop, and pass on the traditional concepts of genuine Japanese art as a cultural legacy, to instill appreciation for artistic excellence, and to utilize these concepts in expanding and evolving the taiko (Japanese drum) art form.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Natya Dance
Natya Dance Theatre presents “The Strength Within” - four stories extolling the interconnections of nature and human life. This 50-minute presentation includes an audience welcome, a vocal description of each of the four dance stories, and a dance experience for children. Audiences are encouraged to ask questions!
3:00 - 3:30
Ea the Wholistic Artist and Drum Circle
E'a has coined the title “Wholistic Artist” to express how she has turned her passions & hobbies into her career...providing everyday wellness/ mindfulness for everyday people. Using her natural & carefully curated gifts in various arts & healing modalities to Unleash Your Own Guru™
Ea's original background in dance is infused in everything she delivers from producing a mind-body connecting soul-pleasing flowing yoga, to the most engaging full experience community drum circle you could ever participate in.
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Kombi and the People’s Karaoke
KOMBI connects communities together and to our history through music and the arts. Kombi provides quality culturally relevant entertainment and experiences around the city. After Poetic Platforms, stay and Jam with the People’s Karaoke. Kombi will be providing audio and technical support all day, and they are providing materials for community-building experiences.
All Day
Art Workshop by H.E.Y. and
4ne1Girl
Installation by OAC Chicago
Spread the word about Poetic Platforms. Share our acts with your friends on social media!
Here are glimpses from previous years of Poetic Platforms and more on our program partners.
Arts, Healing, and Cultural Partners:
Kombi and The People’s Stage Karaoke
Join Pablo Serrano and The People’s Stage Karaoke for a musical experience that brings Chicago together through karaoke and dancing. Along with karaoke, there will be community artmaking, and so much more!
@kombichicago @peoplestagekaraoke
Healing Every Youth (HEY)
Latino Policy Forum and Healing Every Youth (HEY) are back to promote peace, healing, and unity in the community. The Latino Policy Forum's Multicultural Leadership Academy (MLA) provides a series of leadership workshops to community, policy, arts, and culture leaders sponsored by organizations committed to social change, policy impact, and community improvement that serve communities of color throughout Illinois. Healing Every Youth (HEY) promotes peace, healing, and unity between Black and Brown communities by creating programming and events that destigmatizes mental health in communities of color.
@latinopolicyforum
OACChicago encourages inclusion and equity through access to public space. This year's installation Freedom invites us to investigate what liberates us within ourselves, our everyday practices, rhythms, and choreographies within our neighborhoods to create social imagination and memory to enliven cities through the use of community-constructed spatial elements.
Masks are required & social distance protocols are in place.
Night Out In the Parks
Poetic Platform is once again a partner of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Park. To get a glimpse of our series, take a look at our event with Tsukasa Taiko, Raíces to Roots, Son Monarcas, Kombi and the Peoples Stage, and Healing Every Youth (HEY).