Last night (6-9-16) my good friend Siphus Steele hosted an event to celebrate his company, Artw0rks. The event was special to him and his team because it was their 1 year anniversary which is an accomplishment in itself. When he initially reached out to me about sponsoring the event, I did not hesitate one second before saying yes. Artw0rks is a community based organization dedicated to working with nonprofits; helping low and fixed income communities. They do this through art, music, and events. Last night there was an open mic, featured performances, live art, food, and more. It is clear that Siphus wants to use Artw0rks to put the power back in the artists (and community) hands. The event was also free and open to all ages making it even more important. I am more than happy to support something like this because it's something I believe in. The night started out a bit slow (like most NYC events do) but once the music started, people started to pile in. Siphus started a freestyle cypher and had other rappers hoping in and out. This was dope. Next came the open mic portion of the night where artists got to showcase their songs in front of a live audience. Two of the artists stood out to me but I can't seem to remember the first guy's name. The other artist was Arie Dixon who put on such a good show, the crowd begged for another song. His energy and performance was top notch. The event eventually moved into the featured acts who got to perform for a longer time. By the time I left, I realized the full potential Artw0rks could have on the community. It has the opportunity to bring people together for a good cause all while featuring music and art.

Photos & Video by Matt O Instagram.com/BoardinOgilvie