NEWARK, NJ- The Gamma Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, a professional fraternity for artists serving Newark, New Jersey, initiated one new member on Saturday, June 29, 2024. This new member adds to the creativity and bandwidth of the chapter’s membership and places it on a continued path of celebrating “Gammas Out Loud!”
The new initiates is: Kevin Slaughter
Kevin Slaughter is known to the local artistic community as Don Krypton.
Don is a writer, author, DJ, professional Host, and Stage Assistant for NJPAC. A native of Elizabeth, NJ, with strong Newark roots he has a background in IT management. He has always considered himself a wordsmith, writing short stories and raps in his spare time, but his true plunge into the Spoken Word/Poetry scene was inspired by a challenge given to him at the infamous CryOut Cave by the Evoluculture team, where he now serves as General Manager. Since then he has been an active part of the NJ poetry community and working diligently on his own. Don Krypton fancies himself a jack of all trades, dabbling in content creation, music/video editing, investments, philanthropy, activism, and support of the advancement and proper education of black people.
Gamma Xi Phi is a predominantly African American organization of men and women in the arts, including literature, visual art, music, theater, and dance. GXP was established at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, on October 7, 2010, on the principles of Philanthropy, Sodality, and Elevation.
Gamma Xi Phi honors artists’ achievements through fellowship, philanthropy, social justice, and service.
Newark, NJ, May 31st, 2024— The Young Artisans Award has been an exciting initiative in the fraternity since 2015. With the purpose of honoring emerging artists living within the service areas of a chapter. The selected artists must display artistic accomplishment and a willingness to learn, grow, serve, and be mentored. The Gamma Chapter, serving the city of Newark, selected 1 student after reviewing numerous highly accomplished applicants.
Onnieya Martin is a 12th-grade student attending Arts High School, where she is a vocal major. . Her artistic interest is in singing. Not to mention playing sports( basketball, volleyball, track & field). Ms. Martin will attend Georgian Court University majoring in Political Science with a minor in Music on a Basketball Ball Scholarship.
Mrs. Devonne DeNose, Arts High School principal expressed “It was an honor and a privilege to witness such a beautiful event recognizing and honoring Arts High School’s artist-scholar, Onnieya Martin. I want to thank the members of the Gamma chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, Fraternity for Artists for their work and dedication to inspiring young artists and supporting the arts.”
Bro. Keivon Hemmings, an Arts High School alum, class of 2014 had this to say: “It’s been a pleasure to be a part of giving this deserving scholarship to an even more deserving student! Onnieya and students like her are the reason why we give this award. We wish her luck on entering college and we are eager to be there as a support system. Arts High strong!” Ms. Martin will receive access to the knowledge and expertise of the chapter members. A bag of gifts compiled by the chapter and a $250 scholarship. This was the first time the Gamma Chapter has given out the award and can’t wait to continue for years to come.
Gamma Xi Phi is a predominantly African American organization of men and women in the arts, including literature, visual art, music, theater, and dance. GXP was established at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, on October 7, 2010, on the principles of Philanthropy, Sodality, and Elevation.
Gamma Xi Phi honors artists’ achievements through fellowship, philanthropy, social justice, and service.
NEWARK, NJ- The Gamma Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, a professional fraternity for artists serving Newark, New Jersey, initiated four new members on Saturday, October 15, 2022. This occasion marked the first in-person ceremony in the fraternity since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This infusion of creators and innovators expands the organization’s membership and places it on a continued path of celebrating “Art, Society & Justice: For Decades to Come.”
The new members are visual artists, educators, writers, actors, poets, and arts administrators, representing the largest cohort of members in the chapter’s history.
The new initiates are:
Gamma Attorious Renee Augustin, a nonbinary (they/them), queer, performance poet, filmmaker, and educator from Wanamassa, New Jersey. Their work focuses on transformation and community, and their hope is for their art to serve as a catalyst in the liberation of all people from oppressive systems. Attorious received their poetry MFA at Rutgers University-Newark. They are the host of Lampblack’s Instagram Live Series, “The Inky Bulb” and an artist-in-residence with New Jersey Performing Arts Center, where they were co-artistic director of NJPAC’s 2021 performance “Phronesis: A Focus on Frequency.”
Gamma Tasha Grant (they/she) is an Afro-Costa Rican queer and non-binary multi-disciplinary arts & social justice educator, applied theatre practitioner, and cultural worker from Newark, New Jersey. Tasha has worked in education, activism, youth development, and gender and sexuality education as a facilitator, devised theatre director, teaching artist, high school teacher, and college lecturer. They are the founder and Artistic Director of Maroon Theatre Project, a New Jersey-based Black feminist theatre collective that creates programming and curriculum that fosters critical consciousness, activism, and healing in youth through the arts. Rooted in liberatory pedagogy, Tasha works to reimagine theatre-making and education by focusing on young peoples’ social-emotional development and providing them with access to social justice and political education. Tasha prioritizes queer, transgender, and non-binary youth of color to create affirming spaces for multi-marginalized youth. Currently, they serve on the editorial board for Youth Theatre Journal and holds a BA from Utica University in Psychology, with a minor in Theatre, and an MA in Educational Theatre for Colleges & Communities from New York University.
Born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, Brother Jaquair Gillette is a graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey. He is an actor, poet, producer, and community artivist. He recently released his festival award-winning film “3rd & 4th Chapters.” He has been featured in roles in plays and television shows such as August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson for Now Theatre, Inc., Orange is The New Black, Godfather of Harlem, Tommy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, FBI, and Law & Order: Organized Crime. He recently released his debut spoken word poetry book entitled Defiance & Desperation available on numerous eBook platforms. In addition, He is a three-time featured poet at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe in NYC. He is the annual open mic host of Paterson Poetry Festival and has performed in poetry cafes and venues across the U.S from New York City to Los Angeles. Jaquair continues to stay active in his hometown of Paterson as a commissioner on the Paterson Arts Exchange and as an associate producer for The Urban Blackboard Program for Public Access Television.
Gamma Dontae T. Muse is the owner of the award-winning Above Art Studios in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He is also the best-selling author of Tripping Over Canvases: How to Open Your Own Art Gallery with No Prior Experience. Dontae has participated as an advisor to or on the boards of New Jersey Art Administrators of Color, Institute of Music for Children, Black Girls Who Paint, Blk Art House, National Endowment for the Arts, New Brunswick HeART Festival, New Brunswick NAACP, Arts New Brunswick (Art Council), and Morris Arts. He is also an advocate for fair access to health insurance for artists and fair payment to artists for artistic services, and curates the movements #nostarvingartists and #paytheartist.
Augustin said they connected with Gamma Xi Phi’s principles. “They build up to the expansion of Gammas as individuals and community through intentional creation, service, and gathering.”
Muse stated, “I hope that I can add valuable relationships that can help procure more resources to better serve the artist community.”
Gamma Xi Phi was founded on October 7, 2010, on the campus of Ramapo College. The purpose of the organization is to honor the achievements of artists through fellowship, philanthropy, social justice, and service.
Newark, New Jersey, October 15, 2013— Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists, has selected four new honorary initiates: visual artist, curator, and educator Nette Forné Thomas; emcee, producer, and engineer Ess Vee; visual artist and graphic designer Hue.Man; and artist manager, videographer, and web designer Add. The initiation was conducted on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at GlassRoots, Inc., in Newark, New Jersey. (more…)
