| Afrika A.M. | Abney |
A 26 year old native Washingtonian who graduated from the Corcoran School of the Arts and possesses many talents such as visual arts, poetry/writing, dancing, and organizing community productions. She also is an author of the 1st echapbook entitled: Dancers in the Wind.
As a visual artist, her works have been exhibited in various galleries including the New Harlem Gallery in NYC, Wisteria ArtSpace in Brooklyn, NY, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Atrium Gallery, DC, Market 5 Gallery in DC, and The Phillips Collection in DC. She also has been a recipient of Small Programs Grant 2001 from the DC Commissions and the Arts in Education Grant 1997 from the DC Commissions. She also was nominated for Outstanding Emerging Artist from the 17th Mayors Arts Awards in 2001 from the DC Commissions. She also has had the chance to conduct art workshops at A-T Seban Mesut. Ms. Abney is also an accomplished dancer who has studied with various companies specializing in African, South American and Carribean.
As a dancer, she has performed at such places as Dynafit Exercise Studio, Mt.Ararat Outreach Center,National Education Association, Fairmount Heights Municipal Center, Metropolitan AME Church, Cultural Cafe, Josephine Butler Community Center, Ideal Public Charter School, Lincoln Theatre, Ballou Senior High School, MLK Library, St. Marks Church,Riverside Baptist Church, Plymouth Congregational Church, Market 5 Gallery and Joe's Movement.She also has performed in Senegal, West Africa and performs with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers. She is not only an accomplished visual artist and dancer, but also an accomplished poet.
As a poet, she has published by Poetry.com, Timbooktu.com, JMW Publishing Co.. She is a member of several yahoo groups, founder of ExpressionsofLife and DynamicEnsemble Yahoo Groups. She has received awards from PoeticJava Publishing (Author of the Month, November 2002), Poets of the Year (2000), and Editor's Choice Award from the International Library of Poetry (1999-1997). She has written over 50 poems since 1997 and has performed her original poetry in Washington, DC and Maryland. She has performed them at such places as Cultural Cafe, Josephine Butler Community Center, Islander Carribean Restaurant and Lounge,, SisterSpace and Books, WPFW, MLK Library, Starbucks - Georgetown,Yogi Records, Kaffa House, Bintumani, Franklyn's CoffeHouse, Bohemian Caverns, Mangos, Teaism, Riverside Baptist Church, Plymouth Congregational Church, Market 5 Gallery, Mt.Pleasant Library, and Washington Art O Matic 2002. She currently performs her original poetry at such places as Starbucks C.
Presently working on the promotion of her 1st chapbook, events she hosts at Starbucks and Joe's Movement, and her 2nd chapbook entitled: Voices of Tomorrow.
To learn more about her and her works please visit www.authorsden.com/afrikamaabney. You may also email her at: ashacreations@hotmail.com