A View on the 5th Annual Vox Local Arts Mixer

Painters, photographers, poets, and dancers were just some of the incredible artists selected to be a part the fifth installment of the Vox Local Arts Mixer, better known as V+LAM. On August 23rd, Vox Culture and The Phoenix on Westheimer brought this eclectic experience to the Houston arts scene. Each year, V+LAM is an event that celebrates the contributions of local artists to Vox Culture’s advocacy projects.

The festivities began with a brief introduction of Vox Culture and the organization’s 2019 objectives. Next up, the honored guest presenter and First Daughter, Ashley P. Turner, spoke about her community initiatives as well as her dedication to supporting Vox Culture as a V+LAM Event Chair. Spoken word poet, The Outspoken Bean, was in attendance and wowed the audience with a vibrant, stellar performance.

The evening continued with several art showcases, salsa dancing, prize giveaways, and an assortment of chef-created dishes and pastries provided by featured food vendors. Art lovers from all over Houston came out for the celebration, and they were not disappointed. The full list of V+LAM 5 participants can be found on the Vox Culture Facebook page if you want to catch up with who you missed.

As a member of the Vox Culture team, I had the opportunity to help set up V+LAM 5 and participate in creating a diverse mixer with a group of new and established professional artists. Just as the event’s name describes, the “Local Arts” featured at this event consisted of original works crafted or curated by Houston-based contributors. I joined the other attendees during the evening to browse the exhibit booths and meet the talented artists.

This year’s ten thoughtfully selected artists have played a huge role in bringing awareness to Vox Culture’s advocacy campaigns. Each year the organization highlights a different theme, and this year’s theme is Mental Health. The art featured somehow incorporated or was inspired by the artists’ perceptions of mental health. It was spread across various types of media, including paintings, photographs, mixed media, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, and live performance.

One young painter named Robyn Blodgett left a lasting impression on me because of her openness to share her personal journey with mental health. She channeled her past struggles with depression and thoughts of suicide into her abstract art, creating what she calls “emotion based” pieces that are full of color, depth, and complexity. I enjoyed hearing how her art has been a tool for her to overcome these struggles, allowing her to achieve a sense of peace and self-acceptance.

For even more art immersion, Vox Culture will be hosting an array of programs and panels in the coming months. Check out the Events page for upcoming dates!

By Aisha Savage-Shirley, Vox Blogger