Lisa Gray Photo
At Bloom-hosted Afrogalactic Tea Party.
The description online read: “In this ephemeral haven of sonic and poetic delights, the Afrogalactic Tea Party invites you to immerse yourself in a curated experience of taste and culture.”
The Sunday afternoon event at the flower and lifestyle shop Bloom on Central Avenue in Westville was part of the ongoing 6th Dimension Afrofuturism festival, a series of art exhibits, talks, screenings, and other gatherings running now through Oct. 25.
I love a tea party, and coupling one with Afrofuturism intrigued me, so I headed to the festival website to grab a ticket, which was pretty reasonable at $23. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Bloom is one of my favorite shops in New Haven because owner Alisha Crutchfield-McLean curates a homey, welcoming environment that honors Black culture and features a range of items from paintings to jewelry (many by Black makers and creatives) and perfectly arranged flowers for every occasion.
When I checked in, I was greeted by a young woman with a black fascinator tucked into her fiercely bold afro. She, like most of the guests, took to heart the suggestion to wear your best Afrofuturist fit for the party. She smiled and handed me a card from a deck in the box in front of her. The card had two questions on it that she said would help break the ice when meeting new people. This tea party was also a mixer, and she was right; I met a couple of people as I wandered inside the shop and sat at one of the tables outside. We used the card questions to spark conversation. It was fun.
Twenty or so people sat at an Alice in Wonderland – like table outside. Others took the comfy chairs and bistro tables that dot Bloom’s yard. Party guests donned outfits adorned with everything from jewels to feathers. Their outfits and face painting also showed their culture, personalities, and interpretation of Afrofuturistic fashion. They were stunning. We chatted, sipped hot, iced, and spiked teas, and nibbled on treats like empanadas and dumplings or perused the artwork on display along with the bounty of other items for sale inside the shop.
Juanita Sunday, event organizer and host, introduced the entertainment. I caught cellist Jonathan Moore and poet Ololade Siyonbola. Moore played a set of original songs that wowed us. His style was different, percussive. He used the bow and his fingers interchangeably on his instrument. He made me think of pianist Andre Sosa, with his rhythmic flurries of sound that jumped from sonorous and reflective to joyous and rhapsodic.
Siyonbola read from her book Market of Dreams, a poetry collection that explores her experiences and the politics of Africa and the diaspora created through forced and voluntary migration. Her spoken word performance resonated with the audience; her voice was commanding and melodic as she went on to read three poems from her book.
All in all, a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
The 6th Dimension festival continues through October 26. Visit its website to learn more.
