Natural Gatherings will debut at the Hattiloo
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/2105/1/Natural-Gatherings-will-debut-at-the-Hattiloo/Page1.html
By Tri-State Defender Newsroom
Published on 10/25/2007
A kinky conversation is what they will be having, but that’s kinky as in hair...
Natural Gatherings will debut at the Hattiloo
A kinky conversation is what they will be having, but that’s kinky as in hair.
On Sunday, Oct. 28, women and men will gather for the first Natural Gatherings to celebrate locks, braids and natural hair styles at the Hattiloo Theatre in Zora’s Lounge.
Natural Gatherings is the brainchild of award-winning natural hair designer Pearl Eva Walker, aka the “Hair Deva” (www.hairdeva.com). “It’s a hair party that will be a lot of fun,” she said. “There will be hair decorations, hair games, hair prizes, hair talk and even angel hair pasta!!!”
“For the longest, there have been these random dialogues that occur in my salon while I’m working,” said Walker, who owns Legacy Locks and Natural Styles. “They start with a comment or question, and it just goes from there. These hair dialogues are powerful, meaningful, inspirational and sometimes controversial. We don’t just talk about styles; we touch on hair in the society, the workplace, and even the bedroom!!! I figured that I needed to bring structure to it and take it to the next level.”
“There are a lot of people who are interested in natural styles, so it’s for everyone regardless of hair texture and style, and I actually hope to have a mixture of women with and without chemical straighteners (relaxers) as well as men,’” said Walker.
AJ McClinton is looking forward to attending Natural Gatherings. He recalls getting comb twists for the first time this summer. “I liked them, I liked the style. Everyone was asking me, who did my hair?”
Walker said that when she met with Ekundayo Bandele, founder and executive director of the Hattiloo, he was warm, gracious and enthusiastic about Zora’s Lounge, named for Harlem Renaissance writer Zora Neal Hurston. “After that I was hooked,” said Walker, I love Zora’s because it is an intimate venue with great energy!”
Rhea McGee, who has been wearing natural hair since September 2006, purchased a ticket for Natural Gatherings as an alternative something to do on a Sunday evening. “Going natural has been a liberating experience for me, and I want to meet people who feel the same, hang out, and just chill.”
Highlight for the evening will be a performance by poet Micelle Antoinette Montgomery, who has been wearing locks for 16 years and who will present selections from her upcoming CD “Poetically Nappy.”
“I accepted the gig because of my relationship with the Hair Deva. She is great at bringing different types of people together, and when she decides to do something it’s with intent, not haphazard,” the charismatic Montgomery explained. “I trust her intent and it’s always of some higher purpose. As a woman with natural hair, I will love the experience of being around people who embrace these styles and are not embarrassed to wear them.”
Walker, known for both for natural designs and networking, will give entrepreneurs in attendance an opportunity to share information about their business. She also promises that Natural Gatherings will be unique and out of the ordinary for Memphis — a “Hair-lebration!”
Admission is $10 per person. Due to limited seating, advance ticket purchase is required. For tickets and more information, call 901.323.6030. Hattiloo Theatre is located at 656 Marshall Avenue in the "Edge" neighborhood of downtown Memphis — 1 block west from Sun Studio on Union Avenue. Visit their web site at http://hattilootheatre.org.
On Sunday, Oct. 28, women and men will gather for the first Natural Gatherings to celebrate locks, braids and natural hair styles at the Hattiloo Theatre in Zora’s Lounge.
 |
| Pearl Walker |
“For the longest, there have been these random dialogues that occur in my salon while I’m working,” said Walker, who owns Legacy Locks and Natural Styles. “They start with a comment or question, and it just goes from there. These hair dialogues are powerful, meaningful, inspirational and sometimes controversial. We don’t just talk about styles; we touch on hair in the society, the workplace, and even the bedroom!!! I figured that I needed to bring structure to it and take it to the next level.”
“There are a lot of people who are interested in natural styles, so it’s for everyone regardless of hair texture and style, and I actually hope to have a mixture of women with and without chemical straighteners (relaxers) as well as men,’” said Walker. AJ McClinton is looking forward to attending Natural Gatherings. He recalls getting comb twists for the first time this summer. “I liked them, I liked the style. Everyone was asking me, who did my hair?”
Walker said that when she met with Ekundayo Bandele, founder and executive director of the Hattiloo, he was warm, gracious and enthusiastic about Zora’s Lounge, named for Harlem Renaissance writer Zora Neal Hurston. “After that I was hooked,” said Walker, I love Zora’s because it is an intimate venue with great energy!” Rhea McGee, who has been wearing natural hair since September 2006, purchased a ticket for Natural Gatherings as an alternative something to do on a Sunday evening. “Going natural has been a liberating experience for me, and I want to meet people who feel the same, hang out, and just chill.”
Highlight for the evening will be a performance by poet Micelle Antoinette Montgomery, who has been wearing locks for 16 years and who will present selections from her upcoming CD “Poetically Nappy.” “I accepted the gig because of my relationship with the Hair Deva. She is great at bringing different types of people together, and when she decides to do something it’s with intent, not haphazard,” the charismatic Montgomery explained. “I trust her intent and it’s always of some higher purpose. As a woman with natural hair, I will love the experience of being around people who embrace these styles and are not embarrassed to wear them.”
Walker, known for both for natural designs and networking, will give entrepreneurs in attendance an opportunity to share information about their business. She also promises that Natural Gatherings will be unique and out of the ordinary for Memphis — a “Hair-lebration!” Admission is $10 per person. Due to limited seating, advance ticket purchase is required. For tickets and more information, call 901.323.6030. Hattiloo Theatre is located at 656 Marshall Avenue in the "Edge" neighborhood of downtown Memphis — 1 block west from Sun Studio on Union Avenue. Visit their web site at http://hattilootheatre.org.