Happy Spring!

Greetings love!This space didn’t arrive fully formed. It grew from the soil of grief, burnout, and deep transformation. Back in 2022, I was writing through some of the heaviest personal losses I’d ever known. The pandemic stole more than time—it stripped away clarity, momentum, and the ease of joy. I wasn’t trying to build a mic series. I was just trying to breathe. Trying to remember who I was beneath all the noise and numbness.From those pages, Thee Quest for BlackJOY emerged—first as a performance, then a spiritual practice, and now a living, evolving ecosystem of art, healing, and communal ritual. Over time, this practice began to call out for space. A space where others could show up whole, be witnessed, and reimagine what joy looks like in real time. That’s how Glimmer Garden MicShop bloomed.Formerly known as Good Grief MicShop, our name shift marks a shift in my own spirit—from survival to possibility, from ache to glimmer.Thank you to everyone who poured love and support into my recent residency fundraisers. While I didn’t meet my goals in time to attend either opportunity this spring, I’m grateful that the Kolaj Institute has offered me a secured seat for a future session. The fight for sustainable creative funding continues—especially in a time where federal arts support is shrinking. Still, I remain hopeful.And right now, I’m feeling so ready to be back in community. I’m thrilled to kick off our 3rd season of Glimmer Garden MicShop and keep growing this garden with you.

Author

RBJ Gallery Staffer
April 16, 2025

@GGMICSHOP SEASON 3:

✨ Why "Glimmer"?

A glimmer, as my therapist lovingly shared, is the opposite of a trigger. It’s that fleeting, precious moment that says, “You’re still here. You’re still capable of joy.” It might be the sunlight on your face, a song you forgot you loved, or someone really seeing you. It’s a nervous system reset. A radical reminder.

Glimmer Garden is a place to practice those reminders. Where art isn’t product—it’s presence. It’s a prayer. It’s a protest. It’s the collective reimagining of what it means to be whole.

Since we began, Glimmer Garden has become more than a mic. It’s a monthly ritual. A sacred vibe. A soul sanctuary. I’ve watched poets unravel generations in six minutes. I’ve watched musicians resurrect joy from silence. I’ve seen dancers move through grief like gospel. And most of all, I’ve seen the community become co-creators in the process. This isn’t a show. It’s a living archive of how we keep going.

🌸 April’s Offering: A Special Femme-Focused Mic

To kick off our 3rd season, we're partnering with SpeakEasily for a femme-focused salon honoring Women’s History Month. Our featured artist is the brilliant Dara Jemmott, whose comedy and storytelling hit with raw truth and electric presence. Dara doesn’t just take up space—she transforms it, reminding us how powerful it is to create from the soul.

Co-hosting is the incomparable Madge, founder of SpeakEasily and a force in Brooklyn’s queer performance scene. Their commitment to DIY, community-rooted art brings the perfect energy to our stage—unfiltered, unapologetic, and overflowing with care.

📍 WOW Café Theater, NYC
 📅 Sunday, April 20th | Doors at 6pm
🎟️ Sliding Scale $0–$30 | No one turned away

🌿 Beyond the Mic: A Garden of Possibilitrees

This spring, Glimmer Garden is branching into something new: "BlackJOY Imagination Vacation: Glimmer Garden of Possibilitrees", a social art installation blooming at Bailey’s Cafe in Bed-Stuy.

At the heart of the installation is a vibrant painting series called "Reimagining BlackJOY," where each viewer is invited to reflect and respond. You’ll write your hopes, memories, or questions on paper leaves that will grow our BlackJOY Possibilitree, turning the gallery into a living monument of collective vision.

Another space invites you to craft found poems on black tiles, which will be tied into “meded fences”—a metaphor for our fractured social contracts and a call to reimagine the agreements we want to uphold with one another. This is art that builds accountability, not just beauty.

We’ll host three grounding events to nurture the installation:

🌱 May 16 | 6–9pm
 “Planting Possibilitrees”
A conversation between Bed-Stuy street photographer Amy Touchette and myself, followed by a special open mic.

🍲 May 24 | 4–7pm
 “Let Em Cook”
A fellowship event with food from local spots and storytelling by Brooklyn natives reflecting on survival, joy, and gentrification.

🌼 May 31 | 2–5pm
 “Blooming Brunch: Happy Fourty-Free”
A celebratory closing with music, poetry, and a preview of the upcoming BlackJOY album and book. We’ll reflect, release, and make space for the next season of growth.

The Essentials

WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT REGULAR BLACK JOY

DIRECT DONATIONS

your direct contributions through payment platforms like Venmo (@TheNotoriousRBJ) or CashApp ($TheNotoriousRBJ) allow me to make the art day to day. Funds received provide transportation to/from gigs and daily things like laundry or dinner, which allow me to get through life between gig/contract work after bills have been covered. LEARN MORE →

PURCHASE MERCH

I don’t know if you know that I have a whole host of clothing, apparel, and home goods I’ve designed for everyone to Reimagine BlackJoy for themselves. Browse the shop for yourself and get some BlackJOY for yourself!

PRE-SAVE & STREAM MUSIC

FUN FACT!: I’ve been secretly dropping music since March 17th of this year. On what would have been my father, Patrick Adams’, 75th birthday; I began recording, organizing and releasing the music I’ve been working on for the past 5 years or so. So far, 2 songs “SheSpaz” & “Cookin’” are available on all streaming platforms for purchase or download; With a 3rd song “Stripped feat. Adam Bauch {barebones version}” dropping on Sunday 4.20.25!!!

PATRONIZE BLACKJOY

I started my Patreon to stay connected with those who believe in my art. With tiers starting at $2.75 (the price of a MetroCard swipe), it's meant to be accessible and sustaining. Shoutout to my two longtime patrons—you’ve truly kept me going. If you’ve got a little more to give and want to support ongoing BlackJOY work, consider joining for less than an Omni tap. Every bit helps grow the garden. 💛

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just someone searching for a soft place to land, you are welcome here. Glimmer Garden isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about possibility. And it’s about holding space for each other to bloom.

Let’s grow something wild and true together.
We’ll see you in the Garden.

With art, love and deep gratitude,
C.Joi (Notorious R.B.J) Sanchez
Curator | Dreamer | Seeker | Living Artist