with visual artist An Nguyen & Lola's Kitchen

Origin Kitchen Concerts and CRANIUM present: Dwayne Morgan and BLAKDENIM, in association with GCTC, in-person at Brass Monkey and streaming live on YouTube on July 17 at 8:30pm ET.

Join us for an evening of poetry and music with local favourites and culinary artist Filipino catering company Lola's Kitchen and visual artist An Nguyen.

A member of the Writers’ Union of Canada, internationally acclaimed poet, author and photographer Dwayne Morgan is a tour de force. Morgan received both the African Canadian Achievement Award, and the Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in the Arts. He is the winner of 3 Canadian Urban Music Awards (2001, 2003, 2005). In 1998, Morgan introduced regular poetry slams to Toronto, and has watched them blossom across the GTA and beyond ever since. In 2005 he was recognized as Poet of Honour at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Vancouver, while recently has performed for former President Barack Obama and Michaelle Jean.

Formed in a basement in Ottawa, Ontario, in late 2012, BLAKDENIM blends genres like no Canadian act today. The group fuses hip-hop, funk, rock and soul with lyrical content that ranges from identity issues to daily issues, like picking yourself up after a bad day, perseverance, self esteem and hope.

An Nguyen uses vibrant colours and intricate composition to illustrate the rhythms and joys of modern life. Inspired by her travels and love of music, her geometric contemporary paintings capture musical concepts of cadence and rhythm in the movement of their fluid lines and shifting shapes. Simple moments of modern life are transformed in her paintings via the convergence of music and culture, while thematic elements of jazz and urban architecture intermingle throughout her work.  An hopes that her art serves as an escape and source of happiness. She is motivated by a desire to be a female voice in the world of jazz culture, and hopes that her whimsical landscapes can celebrate the explorer in all of us.

Lola's Kitchen is a traditional Filipino catering company that serves the national capital region. Launched in May 2020 by Head Chef and cultural curator Kim Epino, the menu offers savoury dishes in a wide variety of lavish spreads that ignite the food lover's pallette.

TICKETS FOR THE RECORDED VERSION COMING SOON

Pick-Your-Price

Tickets are available at $5, $15, $25 and $40. You decide the price that makes the most sense for you. The experience is the same regardless of which you choose.

Streaming

Buying a ticket gives you access to the Origin/CRANIUM live stream on July 17, 2021 at 8:30pm. On the day of the event, you will receive an email with your e-ticket(s) and instructions on how to access the stream. Missed the show? You’ll have access to the recorded stream until July 23 at 11:59pm ET.

You’ll be able to access the stream through your web browser.

Accessibility

The stream will be accompanied by a transcript, featuring poetry and lyrics from Dwayne Morgan and BLAKDENIM.

Closed captioning will be available for the recorded version of the performance.

The Brass Monkey's location makes it difficult to access physically. Its entrance features two flights of stairs with no elevator. There are no automatic push buttons at the doors. The venue is dark with low lighting.

The bathrooms are gender-neutral.

Please see our Venue Access Guide for the Brass Monkey for more information.

Capital Region Association for Nurturing the Industry of Urban Music (CRANIUM)

Cranium Arts Project is a not-for-profit music and arts corporation based in Ottawa Ontario. Known for our annual music festival, Cranium Arts Project presents local, national and international hip-hop, R&B and other related music. We have a history of showcasing the best in local talent and profiling the stars of tomorrow. Cranium Arts Project also engages in professional development and networking activities throughout the year. For more information visit us online at www.craniumfestival.com or connect on Instagram and twitter @craniumfestival.

Origin Arts and Community Centre

Our mission at Origin Arts is to provide an accessible mulitpurpose facility that fosters authentic creative expression. From Ottawa's urban edge in Hintonburg sparks a new venue serving artists and art-lovers, an alternative space for expression, co-creation and collaboration.

This venue is well-suited for courses, workshops, performing arts, rehearsals and gatherings of eclectic varieties.