RITUAL. Prayer is ritual. Community care is ritual. Expression is rital. Bathing is ritual. Silence is ritual. Enter into this collective ritual with us this week as we explore our individual selves and each other through multi-disciplinary community art making and art witnessing. Join us in deconstructing and healing the harm caused by organized religion. Come as you are, and practice this ritual.
MISSION
DIVINE is a collective facilitating conversations of divinity, religion, spirituality, relationships with the church, and a lack thereof from a critical queer, trans, BIPOC lens. This project aims to have more nuanced dialogue about religion and other spiritual practices.
DIVINE’s mission is to deconstruct and heal the harm caused by organized religion, using curatorial practices, community building, and dialogue centered in ancestral traditions in addition to reclaiming spiritual practices from organized religion.
ABOUT US
Sebastian Olayo (also known as Cindy Nero) is a nonbinary, queer, Mexican-American writer and performer based in Chicago, IL. They received a B.A in General Theater from Columbia College Chicago and have recently graduated from the Black Box Acting Studio’s 2019 Academy. They aim to use theatre and their drag practice to explore themes of gender fluidity, sexuality, self love, divinity, and world building. Sebastian’s writing centers around divinity, queer rage and their healing practice, all stemming from trauma surrounding identity, the body, and religion.
Ry Douglas is a Chicago-based space maker from Detroit. They are a museum professional with a primary focus in community engagement and public programs. They obtained their BA in Arts Management with a minor in Black World Studies from Columbia College Chicago. They are currently working towards their MA in Museum & Exhibition Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago. Influenced by their upbringing in the Black church, they are interested in creating consistent gathering spaces with a balance of idea sharing, fellowship, and tangible action and resources. They use their knowledge and placement in the arts industry to create more spaces that are community-led and community-accountable.
For a full list of artists involved with DIVINE’s
Hot Wheelz Residency
Angel and cloud illustrations for DIVINE were created by Alexiss Villagomez.
