Last night’s benefit for Jakmel Ekspresyon and JE’s Ghetto Biennale project was a huge success with
over 100 people in attendance throughout the night at SF’s historic Verdi Club. Over 50 people were in attendance for the incredible 5-course Caribbean inspired meal prepared by the fabulous Tessa Maria and her crew of excellent prep cooks.
The Verdi Club was transformed by the larger than life decor of Finley, Brutus and Gayle, draping the walls with multi-colored fabric, ornaments and Finley’s beautiful tapestries. Finley set up a live photobooth where she snapped dinner attendees’ photos and printed them out with their choice of psychedelically-themed frames she digitally created. The dinner was served family-style at 4 long rows of tables where friends and strangers had the opportunity to meet and talk.
Homonomixxx crew donning their best,fabulous fashion, bustled in and out of the kitchen serving the delicious vegan and gluten-free dishes. After dinner, the crowd warmly received the debut of SF’s Glimmer, a sibling duo made up by Li and Jonas Pastora. Glimmer’s set was followed by a short presentation about JE by Ivy Jeanne and Aaron Funk and concluded by Ivy Jeanne and Haitian American artist Militza Jean-Felix talking about their upcoming Ghetto Biennale projects in Port-au-Prince this December.
The festivities continued with bumbin’ soul and tropicales sets by Hard French DJs Brown Amy and WamBamAshleyanne and Queer Cumbia/ Party Hole DJ Jiggles.
At the end of the night, we raised roughly $1300 after our total expenses!
Huge thanks to the following for making the benefit possible:
Denny Palmer and The Verdi Club, Homonomixxx, Tessa Maria, Glimmer, DJ Jiggles, Hard French DJs Brown Amy and Wam Bam Ashleyanne, Rainbow Grocery, several Bay Area farmers at the Ferry Building farmer’s market and Alemany farmer’s market,The Free Farm, and the Bay Area community who came out to support this event.
Thanks!
Ivy Jeanne
