In addition to sponsoring the Foundation of Art’s Oasis Festival, the Ramsons Arts Partnership hosted the event’s official afterparty at the Lounge at Huntington Square. Billed as Confluence II, the standing-room-only event featured visual and ceramic artists, a DJ, dramatic performances, traditional spoken word and spoken word with musical accompaniment.
Ramsons’ Vice President, Scott McDaniel who also performed at the event stated, “This was our second Confluence show and we’re very excited about the feedback. We plan on making these a regular occurrence. We want our events to be a ‘big tent’ and combine various forms of art.”
The Confluence II was hosted by Mary Hollis Inboden, a Jonesboro resident and working actress known for her lead roles in Kevin Can F**k Himself and the Real O’Neals. She has also had supporting roles in hit programs such as The Righteous Gemstones. Hollis was not a traditional host; rather, she performed monologues that established the mood for the set that followed. “Scott and I have long talked about a collaboration and what my ‘role’ in The Confluence could be, and there it was — perform monologues from plays instead of being a traditional emcee,” she said. “Blending art, music, theater and spoken word is so exciting to me and that’s what I was able to do within the Confluence II.”
The event was headlined by Tim Seibles and Chris Brydge. Seibles is former Poet Laureate of Virginia and a finalist for the National Book Award. Brydge is a renowned jazz bassist and member of the Virginia Symphony Jazz Orchestra.
Additional artists included a DJ set by Darrell Sykes, a spoken word set by Paige Phillips, ceramic arts by Boo and Finni, visual artists Samantha Krueger and Dylan Nelson. McDaniel’s set was backed by local musicians Trent Duff (guitar) and Derek Doyle (bass).
Photo credit: Nathan Eades of N870 Media