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Walking through Thornden Park Saturday afternoon, Syracuse natives DJ JETT and DJ Pentiwaa played Afrobeats, R&B and hip-hop music. The sounds could be heard all across the park as people shopped for statement clothing, body butter and bamboo jewelry. Patrons both young and old sat on blankets and chairs on the ledges of the amphitheater, enjoying the day while soaking up the sun.

“Coming out to an event and being with other people, the music and the vendors, it really does lighten your mood,” said Jennifer Miller, the owner of local body care business Melanated OM.

Tucked down in the lush green Thornden Park Amphitheater, the Freedom Festival: Party In The Park 2024 took place Saturday afternoon. Hosted by Niche Production and Black Artist Collective of central New York, diverse talent and vendors from around New York state gathered for the end-of-summer celebration. Black Artist Collective’s events provide more visibility to local businesses and artisans, like Jennifer Miller’s spiritual boutique.

Amid uncertainty and anxiety during COVID-19, Jennifer Miller was meditating on her deceased mother’s birthday when a business idea came to mind. Creating mindfulness and meditation products was her way of transforming restlessness and pain into something creative.

“Meditation is where our journey began from, and we’ve transitioned into a kind of spiritual apothecary,” Jennifer Miller, who runs the shop with her sister, Diane, said. “We realized that everyone needs healing, and we provide a more holistic type of healing.”

Beginning with body care products and crystals, Jennifer Miller’s spiritual boutique has now expanded to carry incense, sage and other aura-cleansing products, after receiving positive feedback on aromatherapy products.

Along with Jennifer Miller, LaShonda Downing, co-owner of the body care business SeaKissed Blends, was also at the event. She created her own body butter when she wasn’t satisfied with other products. Downing, who runs the business with her fiancé, hopes more people will support Syracuse businesses, including those without storefronts.

Cjala Surratt, a Syracuse University alumna who now works with Black Artist Collective CNY, believes that community events like the festival give SU students a fun and safe way to interact with the broader city of Syracuse.

“I love that it is in such close proximity to the university, so they can just walk right over and enjoy one of our local parks, but also an organization that’s trying to highlight a lot of the Black talent here in Syracuse,” Surratt said.

Ella Chan | Asst. Photo Editor

Zy, Ty and Shaun smile under the canopy of their stall at the Black Artist Collective: Freedom Festival held in the Thornden Park Amphitheater. They were selling clothing and stickers from Bysuli, a local distinctive clothing store.

Black Artist Collective CNY connects with many of the vendors and artisans present at the festival. The founder of Niche Production, Kanischa Miller, wanted to incorporate laughter and jubilation for the event. So, she got two NYC-based comedians, Chanel Ali and Andre Thompson, to share jokes and stories later in the afternoon.

“Coming together around something that’s common, which is humor and laughter and community building, I think is a great place to start in terms of maybe then pivoting to talk about these more challenging and nuanced things,” Kanischa Miller said.

Kanischa Miller was especially inspired by NYC comedian Jonathan Teklai, who produced a comedy show called “Full Circle.” Miller witnessed the joy and simple fun of one of his shows in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, a few summers ago. She later connected with him about hosting a comedy-infused event, which then became the Freedom Festival in Thornden Park.

With Niche Production,, which Kanischa Miller founded in 2023, she hopes to bring together groups from different backgrounds to showcase artistic talents in the entertainment industry. She emphasizes that everyone is welcome to these community events. Freedom Festival: Party In The Park was Niche Production’s second-ever event, and Kanischa Miller desires to continue hosting events where they can meet the needs of the Black community.

Kanishca Miller said the collaboration between Niche Production and Black Artist Collective CNY is more than just an event, but that it’s about community showcasing and the talents of Syracuse artists. Whether you’re a college student, a Syracuse native or new to the area, the festival is a space where everyone can come together.

“So often there (are) misconceptions about what arts and culture and community can look like off the hill,” Surratt said. “We’re excited about maybe breaking some of those misconceptions and also me setting us up for people to have a desire to be engaged off the hill beyond just this event.”

Published on August 25, 2024 at 11:33 pm