PURPOSE: THE TIES THAT BIND

Arkey Adams is the facilitator & curator of Purpose: The Ties That Bind. Arkey believes that Chicago's future and real wealth are in its communities. As a Chicago native, and a creative producer Arkey has developed broad interdisciplinary experience across the city's institutions. A cultural anthropologist by training (Loyola, Northwestern), Arkey is always interested in examinations − and necessary re-examinations of how art, culture, politics, and power intersect as well as how they have been historically replicated locally and beyond.

Katanya Raby is a seasoned urban planner, artist, and activist boasting over a decade of professional experience across non-profit, government, and corporate realms. Specializing in equitable planning within Chicago communities, Katanya holds the role of At-Large Officer at the American Planning Association Illinois Chapter, serves on the board of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, chairs the Chicago Transit Authority’s Citizens Advisory Board, contributes to the Regional Transit Authority’s Citizens Advisory Board, and is a member of the Lambda Alpha Land Economics Society. She is an alum of the Chicago United for Equity Fellowship, co-founded and presided over the Society of Black Urban Planners at UIC, and established the Al Raby Foundation. Katanya is also a proud alum of AmeriCorps VISTA and City Year Chicago, demonstrating her commitment to planning for equity, providing service to underserved communities, and inspiring youth to shape the future of their communities.

Katanya, a proud mother of two and graduate of Chicago Public Schools, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy, and a Master’s in City Design from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Her previous roles include serving as an associate planner at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and as a policy advisor to Mayor Lightfoot’s administration. Katanya also contributed to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Housing Subcommittee of the Mayoral Transition Team. Currently, she leverages her diverse talents to bring communities impacted by environmental injustice together as the inaugural Greening America’s Cities fellow for the Bezos Earth Fund at the Chicago Community Trust.

Myiti Sengstacke-Rice, Ed.D is the President and CEO of the Chicago Defender Charities which produces the 94 year-old Bud Billiken Parade and Festival. She is the founder and Publisher of Bronzeville Life, a news, culture, entertainment and lifestyle publication. She is the author of the book, Chicago Defender, a volume in the “Images of America Series” published by Arcadia Publishing. The book captures its sweeping imprint on twentieth century African American culture and American History. She is also a contributing author to Building the Black Metropolis: African American Entrepreneurship in Chicago (New Black Studies Series).

Sengstacke-Rice carved out a unique voice as a living link to the years of Chicago’s history, which her father, grandfather and great granduncle helped make possible. Her father is renowned photographer, Bobby Sengstacke; her grandfather, John H. Sengstacke is the late publisher of the Chicago Defender and prominent civil rights advocate and critical negotiator for the White House. Finally, her great granduncle was Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the founding publisher of the Chicago Defender and the Bud Billiken Parade.

Myiti Sengstacke-Rice has a Masters in Education in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Governors State University in Illinois. She resides in Bronzeville in Chicago with her husband Ken Rice, President of Rice Remodeling and Construction.

The Ties that Bind

Featuring art by Candace Hunter and Constance Willoughby

Arrive early to your performance to experience this installation in person. Our gallery wall is located on the 1st floor near the Downstairs Theater and Merch Shop.

Mr. Abbott by Candace Hunter

Mr. Abbott is a phototransfer collage on stained birch with original shards of Chicago Defender newspapers dated from 1939 - 1946.

Candace Hunter (chlee) collects acorns and vintage doors and broken mirrors and stories- stories published and stories imagined. These things and so much more are re-worked into collage and installation that re-tell the histories of Black folk. www.chleeart.com

Homogeneous Hues by Constance Willoughby

This sculptural, recycled denim work calls attention to the material as it is used in "fast' or disposable fashion.

Constance Willoughby is a fiber artist with a keen eye for discovering beauty in the often overlooked and underappreciated. She draws inspiration from nature and infuses her work with the rich cultural tapestry of her community and heritage. Her artistry manifests through the meticulous use of natural fibers, creating sustainable and earthy art pieces. Each piece is a thoughtful exploration of the interconnectedness between nature, fashion and the human experience.

One of her primary driving forces is the desire to create art that people can feel good about, art that doesn't harm the earth but, instead, serves as a vehicle to illuminate the environmental impact of the arts.

Beyond her artistic pursuits, Constance is a wife, mother of three children and explores her creativity through decorating interior spaces. She also runs a fashion boutique and art gallery for her brand called nwär, an acronym for Now We Are Royal. www.nwarluxe.com