Arts & Legacy Night

Thursday, April 16, 2026

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Knox Pride Community and Resource Center (4028 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920)

What to Expect

The Arts & Legacy Night will uplift the cultural dimensions of birthwork, parenthood, motherhood through visual art, spoken word, and live performance. Participants will include Omari Maynard of the ARIAH Foundation and Lauren Turner of Birth Nerds (paint), Jazzmine (clay throwing) and a community Paint-n-Vibe space for families to create together. This night will highlight how art, rhythm, and storytelling act as tools of both remembrance and resistance.

Goal: Celebrate creative expression and connection through art, storytelling, and performance.

Activities: Live performances, poetry, visual art exhibits, and storytelling from birth workers and families.

Focus: Cultural Legacy, Creative Healing, Joy & Expression

Venue:Knox Pride Community and Resource Center (4028 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920)

Meet Our Facilitators

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Lauren J. Turner

LAUREN J. TURNER | ARTIST & DOULA

Lauren J. Turner is a professional artist who promotes positive images of parenthood through her art. As a former doula, she uses her passion for birth work to create vibrant and intimate images celebrating the moments of parenthood. Her art often features Parenthood and babies in moments of bonding and joy, and she uses bold lines and vibrant colors to capture the beauty of these experiences. Lauren’s work aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by Black mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond, and she is a vocal advocate for maternal health. Her art has been exhibited in galleries across the United States and featured in numerous publications. Lauren is also the owner of Birth Nerds. Birth Nerds was created to help start healthy conversations around birth, lactation, and reproductive health.

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Omari Maynard

Omari Maynard, Artivist | Ariah Foundation

Omari Maynard is an educator by trade and an artist by craft. He has received his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Hampton University, an MBA and a Masters in Sport Business Management from the University of Central Florida, and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Long Island University.

In 2016, Omari and his life partner, Shamony Gibson, started their own business. Art-fulliving is a lifestyle and event planning business with an emphasis on artistic expression. Unfortunately, Shamony transitioned in October 2019, due to complications after giving birth to their second child. Her untimely passing has provided Omari with a drive to live his life as creatively and purposefully as possible.

Today he draws his creative inspiration from his family, life experiences, cultural influences, and his environment. His use of color, dimension, and texture exhibits true, raw, and natural talent. The evolution of artistry is evident in his work. His pieces tell stories that are thought-provoking,
intellectually inspiring, and technically sound.

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Jazzmine Johnson

Jazzmine Johnson, Multimedia Artist | Jazzmine Ocha Ceramics

Jazzmine Curtis is a self-taught ceramic artist based in Knoxville, Tennessee. While clay is a relatively new medium for her, she has had the honor of being an NCECA Multicultural Fellow and Exhibitor, an Art Cohorts Arts Equity Scholar, and a founding member of The Ceramic Soul Collective at The Bottom Knoxville. Her work centers wheel-thrown vessels and sculptural forms that explore memory, ancestral connection, and the quiet stories carried within the body.

Through communal and interactive works, Curtis creates spaces for reflection, storytelling, and community building.

About Our Venue

Opened in fall 2021, the Knox Pride Center serves as the central hub for Knox Pride. The space hosts board and committee meetings while also providing a welcoming environment for connection, community events, and meaningful conversation. Designed as a safe and inclusive gathering place, the center offers resources such as a food pantry, clothing boutique, computer and WiFi lounge, and a developing community garden. Volunteers are available during daytime hours to assist visitors and connect them with additional support services as needed.

Reserve Your Seat!

This event is completely free to attend. We simply ask for you to RSVP!

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