Charlotte artists stage annual showcase on coping with loss and isolation

Approximately 20 artists will perform at Booth Playhouse in uptown Charlotte this Sunday to address the themes of hope, healing, and triumph. The event marks the fifth consecutive year for the annual showcase titled 'A Night of Artistic Renewal,' which aims to explore how creativity aids individuals in processing loss, isolation, and uncertainty.

Dionne Hunter, a founder of the organization producing the show, also serves as a curator and performer. Hunter, who moved from Birmingham, Alabama, to Charlotte nine years ago, described the event as a way to remind audiences that they can overcome adversity. Her personal history informs her work, as she was seven years old when her mother died, leaving her 28-year-old father to raise her and their two younger siblings.

Hunter noted that financial resources were limited during her childhood, but her father emphasized education and adventure. She recalled that mental health and counseling were not commonly discussed in her hometown during her youth. Writing served as her primary outlet for processing those early experiences, a habit she has maintained since childhood.

Spoken-word artist Jay Ward, 51, will also perform at the event. Ward’s piece centers on the death of his father, who was diagnosed with aggressive cancer when Ward was 19. Ward described their relationship as strained during his teenage years, citing his father's military background and desire for him to follow a similar path. The diagnosis prompted them to repair their bond, though Ward expressed regret that they did not reconcile sooner, stating that the final three or four years of his father's life could have been different.

Ward sat among colorful paintings in a north Charlotte home while rehearsing lines from his poem. The work details the physical toll of his father's treatment, including a moment where the elder man was too exhausted to speak but squeezed Ward's hand in response to a whispered declaration of love. Ward credited therapy with helping him process the loss, a perspective that aligns with the show's focus on mental health and recovery.

Anaiah Crawford, 24, known professionally as Enacense, will perform a song titled 'I Struggle' while playing a purple ukulele she calls 'Lavender.' Crawford described the pandemic period as a time of intense self-discovery, noting that she was fresh out of high school and isolated in her room. Learning to play the ukulele marked a new phase in her life shortly after she turned 18.

Crawford views the instrument as a companion that helped her navigate a period of uncertainty. She stated that music has served as a backbone for her, providing a voice when speaking directly felt uncomfortable. Her performance aims to help other audience members find moments and pieces that aid in overcoming their own challenges.

The event begins at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The lineup includes a mix of spoken-word poetry, music, and other artistic forms, all curated to reflect the annual theme of resilience. The show continues a tradition of bringing together local talent to discuss the intersection of personal struggle and creative expression.