The Zone of Authenticity

17/08/2026

Art from our community show is still available and looking for homes 💛 Contact artists directly for information on pick up/drop off/purchase.

1. “Don’t Touch Me” by Alexey Eikenhout Alexey — contact Alexey on IG or at [email protected]
2. “The Dance Within” by River Noel — contact River at [email protected]
3-5. Layers of Dialogue — “Tasneem”, “Camila” and “Austin” by Carly Richmond — contact Carly at carlyrichmond.com or by email at [email protected]

The statements from the cards these artists were playing with/inspired by/connected to are below. Can you guess what is connected to each of these statements?

“I lean into what nourishes me, knowing I am worth it.”
“My dreams are still possible.”
“I can let me inner weirdo shine through.”

What held this community show with 40+ artists together was The Zone of Authenticity | Radically Playful Participatory Art Authentic Connections Cards. Each card has a statement and two questions on it for self reflection, creative process, or connective conversation.

Find out more or purchase a deck at the link in our bio or at whitneydawn.com/zoa

11/08/2026

Our Community Art Show & Celebration was 2+ weeks ago ✨😅 We’ve been recouping, recovering, resting, and getting back to the rhythms of our everyday life and now, finally starting to share.

What looms large and feels true+obvious+necessary to say is THANK YOU 🙏 to the 40+ artists who shared their work, play, hearts, visions, thoughts, feelings, and talent. Whether you painted, crafted, sculpted, spoke, vended, danced — you moved us. You impacted and inspired us and many others in slight and big ways. To the food, drinks, service, and art vendors — thank you for nourishing us and adding to the impeccable vibes. To the 300+ attendees who came to explore, support, see, feel, and connect. We love you. We love what was created through your willingness to witness. Thank you for co-creating with us.

MASSIVE gratitude to The DAAC (esp Bev, Leslie, Mallory, and Mika) Four Star Theatre and to us — Whitney Dawn | Somatic Coach & Dance/Movement Facilitator and Camille Newsom for all we did to widen The Zone with the intention of supporting art and artists and elevating collaboration over competition.

By many accounts this BIG event was a success. So many things went well. Were there tech snafus, unforeseen challenges, things that we thought might go differently, overwhelm? YES, AND we will take a cue from one of cards — “We release perfectionism. We are allowed to be in process.”

Stay tuned to hear what is next, for more photos and videos from the event, as well as opportunities to view and purchase the pieces that were not sold.

Thank you for being here. 🙂

1. Flash Mob by Whitney Dawn | Somatic Coach & Dance/Movement Facilitator and The Joyful Disruptors
2. “Name your inner weirdo” with Josh Dunigan and Dr. DataBeats
3. Custom poems by William Davis
4. Adrian Dornan
5. Live painting with Manuel Ramirez
6. Matty Moon & friends with “The Shower” by Vivian Nan and “Grasiella isabellae” by Ben Schreiber in background
7. The Zone of Authenticity | Radically Playful Participatory Art merch — decks, prints
8. Tehya A Leech
9. “One Vibration” interactive soundbath by Embodiment & Wellness with Liberty 💓 with Matty Moon
10. “Ends of the Earth” Threshold Dance Project by Whimsy Abbott
11. “She Belly” and other poems from Riverbed Treasures by Saraclarissa Mieras

26/07/2026

23/07/2026

A massive, heartfelt THANK YOU to one of our sponsors, Nurturing Wellness Counseling 💕

Their donation has helped us to offset some of the production costs, like printing costs for our programs and run of show, and it is greatly appreciated!!!

Learn more at Nurturingwellnesscounseling.com

As a small production team of two people plus support from The DAAC — sponsorships and donations are deeply appreciated to keep this event free for the community while still being thoughtfully curated, intentionally planned, and aligned with the values of The DAAC!

💛 See you tomorrow, folks!!

22/07/2026

Celebrating Venusian Vic and Amani’s Henna! 🌕✨

Amani’s Henna: “Come get a hand tattoo. Doing full or half hands. Feel free to bring a design of your choice. Otherwise some premade designs will be available.” — Amani :)

Venusian Vic — Astrologer: Unlock clarity and connect with your inner wisdom through grounded, transformative intuitive guidance. Utilizing archetypal astrology and tarot as therapeutic tools for self-discovery, Victor’s collaborative sessions offer practical insight for your life transitions and soul mission. Stop by his booth to experience an empowering reading designed to leave you feeling validated and deeply inspired to claim your power.
about page- https://the12thhousegr.com/readers/ booking page- https://calendly.com/the12thhousegr/astrology-readings?back=1&month=2026-07 Victor jura

These artistVictor juraired by the Visioning category which asks us to connect with dreams of the past and hopes for the future then notice how they intersect with the season we’re in. The Attuning category invites us to meet the present moment with compassion and curiosity, notice what’s already working, and imagine simpler, more nourishing ways of being.

Come see the them, the work of 40+ other artists live music/dance/painting, mini-workshops and experiences, as well as yummy food and drinks from our wonderful food and N/A bev vendors on Thursday, July 23rd from 6-9pm at The DAAC

Registration reThe DAACit’s free!) at whitneydawn.com/zoa

22/07/2026

Celebrating Josh & Dick! 🎉🪘

Dick Buist’s artistic endeavors are a sifting process. He thinks of his art as a tasty “cake” and any admiration as “icing”. Icing is nice but still the sweet cake is best! He says, “I feel that my artistic rendering for this event really speaks to the theme of EMBODYING . Since the spray foam sculpture was literally created on my body, wearing a skin tight black suit for a Grand Rapids event called art battle in 2005. Once I was embodied in the harden foam, I sprinkled myself with symbolic blood as in red paint so that I appeared turned inside out. I needed to be cut out of the sculpture, but decided to save it as a symbol of mankind being embodied unaware. With its hollow eyes it captures the spirit of T.S. Eliot’s 1925 poem The Hollow Men.”

Josh Dunigan is a man with a van and a plan to make music with every human he meets. More about Josh at joshuadunigan.com and Josh Dunigan

The thread connecting this eclectic community show is our The Zone of Authenticity | Radically Playful Participatory Art Authentic Connection Cards. Each card has a unique statement and two questions or prompts.

The artists here are playing within the Embodying category. Dick is showing a 3D man that you’ll have to look up to see and Josh will be leading an interactive drumming and expression experience for our Art Show & Celebration on July 23.

Come see the them, the work of 40+ other artists live music/dance/painting, mini-workshops and experiences, as well as yummy food and drinks from our wonderful food and N/A bev vendors on Thursday, July 23rd from 6-9pm at The DAAC

Registration required (it’s free!) at whitneydawn.com/zoa

22/07/2026

Celebrating Rue and Shannon! 🎉

Shannon Underwood is a writer, intuitive energetic bodyworker and lover of nature and exploration. Find her at Shannon Beth - Under The Woods

Rue Sparks’ is an author and illustrator whose work is a Venn Diagram of visual and written media at the conjunction of q***r, disabled, and neurodivergent identities. At times sassy and sarcastic, other times earnest and raw, no matter the genre, world, or plot, every piece is a mirror to the moment in time it was penned. Find Rue at ruesparks.com

The artists here are playing within the Releasing category. Both artists will be sharing poetry and spoken word at our Art Show & Celebration on July 23.

Come see the them, the work of 40+ other artists live music/dance/painting, mini-workshops and experiences, as well as yummy food and drinks from our wonderful food and N/A bev vendors on Thursday, July 23rd from 6-9pm at The DAAC

Registration required (it’s free!) at whitneydawn.com/zoa

22/07/2026

Celebrating Fotis Art! 🎉

Fotis Art is a visual art project inspired by the natural world, femininity, spirituality, activism, and personal life Alex Fotis. Fotis Art 🌞🧿

Come see the them, the work of 40+ other artists live music/dance/painting, mini-workshops and experiences, as well as yummy food and drinks from our wonderful food and N/A bev vendors on Thursday, July 23rd from 6-9pm at The DAAC

Registration required (it’s free!) at whitneydawn.com/zoa

21/07/2026

Celebrating More Joy Studio! 🎨🌈

More Joy Studio is a Grand Rapids-based dash-dye and design house where color becomes wearable art and self-expression becomes a photographed moment. Founder Andrea Napierkowski dresses each client in dash-dyed pieces built around their own colors, then photographs them outdoors to capture the joy of finally being seen in something true to who they are. Visit the booth to browse and purchase finished dash-dyed pieces, or sign up for a Power Portrait session of your own. https://morejoystudio.com/ MORE ∞ JOY

Andrea felt inspired by our Connecting category which asks us to notice and explore what you feel connected to within yourself, others, and your environment.

Come see the them, the work of 40+ other artists live music/dance/painting, mini-workshops and experiences, as well as yummy food and drinks from our wonderful food and N/A bev vendors on Thursday, July 23rd from 6-9pm at The DAAC

Registration required (it’s free!) at whitneydawn.com/zoa