Wild Seeds on the Beach

Wild Seeds on the Beach is a writing retreat for Black women hosted by Jamii Publishing in partnership with Wild Seed Poetry and Arts Collective and made possible through generous funding by The California Arts Council.  This retreat seeks to increase literary arts programs to better serve women and writers of color in the Inland Empire and other localities in Southern California. The first retreat was held May 24-27, 2024. During the program 12 poets and writers, all black women, were photographed writing, talking, laughing, and in portrait. This exhibition is a visual reflection of a thriving creative demographic in the Inland Empire that is often overlooked.  

Wild Seeds Poetry and Arts Collective provides a safe space to explore and challenge each other and the scope of our craft to create new and innovative works. We are a collective of women who support and encourage each other. The writing and the photography created during this first retreat will be published in an anthology that will highlight the beauty, joy, and creativity of these local writers. 

Featuring writing and photography by Ginger M. Galloway, Cynthia Manick, Desiree McCray, Kuukua Dzigbordi Yomekpe, Nikia Chaney, Christie Cruise, Martha Darr, Yolanda J. Franklin, Malika Booker, Rachelle Parker, Romaine Washington, Lydia Theon Ware i, Anastacia Renee, Tameka Cage Conley, Martha Darr, Ryane Nicole Granados, Angela M. Franklin, Almah LaVon, Shonda Buchanan and Natalie Graham.

Curated by Lisa Henry.