Visionary Dialogues: Creativity in Crisis

The Visionary Dialogues was created to support women artists in St. Louis by bringing them together virtually to share their challenges, strategies, and successes during this time of historical uncertainty. There will be a total of three virtual conversations over the next several months, leading up to the Saint Louis Visionary Awards event in April, 2021, which will honor six outstanding women from our arts community. Our virtual series will feature past and current Visionary honorees from all areas of the arts.

I moderated this panel to discuss with three St. Louis Visionary Award recipients how their work and lives have evolved
in response to a time of social and medical crises.

CHEERAZ GORMON

Cheeraz Gormon is a writer, storyteller and public speaker creating poetry, essays, photography, film, and music as well as a community-centered social entrepreneur devoted to the visibility, care and healing of underserved people. Cheeraz is a recipient of the 2018 St. Louis Visionary Award for Outstanding Working Artist.

JOAN LIPKIN

As the Artistic Director of That Uppity Theatre Company and an award-winning playwright, director, educator, producer, social activist and facilitator, Joan Lipkin engages in both rigorous studio and civic practices in St Louis, nationally and abroad. Joan is a recipient of the 2003 St. Louis Visionary Award for Outstanding Working Artist.

YVONNE OSEI

Yvonne Osei is a Ghanaian visual and performance artist, curator, and art educator exploring beauty, colorism, the politics of clothing and the residual implications of colonialism in postcolonial West Africa and Western cultures. Yvonne is a 2019 TEDx Speaker and the recipient of the 2018 St. Louis Visionary Award for Emerging Artist.