A Fine Madness: Constellation Events

Thursday, May 28th | 6:00–8:00 PM
In Partnership with Chela Mitchell Gallery
1285 4th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
(directly in front of La Cosecha)

Reflect on queer lineage and the ways these histories live in our bodies, stories, objects, and rituals with A Fine Madness creator & performer, Justin Weaks & Hollis Heath of The Inheritance Room! This kickoff Constellation Event for A Fine Madness asks the central question: what do we carry forward in the midst of a changing world? As part of this interactive session, attendees are invited into the creation of a living altar curated by public historian Orilonise C.D. Yarborough that honors memory, personal history, chosen family, and the lives and legacies that shape us. These collective offerings will serve as the foundation of a living archive that will travel throughout the city as a part of A Fine Madness.

Examples of items to bring: Photographs, copies of letters, small keepsakes, fabric, poems, printed images, objects connected to family or chosen family, and items that speak to memory, identity, healing, joy, or resilience.

The Inheritance Room is a salon series devoted to Black memory, lineage, and imagination. Hosted by Hollis Heath at Heath Gallery, the series brings artists, cultural workers, and community into conversation around the stories that shape who we are and what we carry forward. www.heathgallerynewyork.com/inheritance-room-2026

Orilonise C.D. Yarborough is a public historian whose work focuses on oral histories, heritage sites and preservation, and museums/archives based public programs. Poking and prying with a purpose, Yarborough seeks to shed light on all aspects of the Black experience within the historic narrative and to expand our understanding of the role of archives and museums in stewarding our histories.

Chela Mitchell Gallery is a contemporary art space rooted in community cultivation, the richness of culture, and the amplification of unique voices in fine art and design.
Founded in 2021 by art advisor Chela Mitchell, the gallery has quickly established itself as a premier destination to discover artists who push boundaries and inspire new perspectives. www.chelamitchellgallery.com

Sunday, June 7th | 5:00–6:30 PM
In Partnership with Home Rule Records
702 Kennedy Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

How do music, place, and community shape our identity and sense of belonging? This wine reception and vinyl listening session with Justin Weaks & Charvis Campbell, co-owner of Home Rule Records and co-founder of the Home Rule Music and Film Preservation Foundation, explores the rhythms, sounds, and cultural touchstones that make people love DC and its enduring legacy as Chocolate City.

Home Rule Music and Film Preservation Foundation is a Washington, DC nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and documenting the city’s music and film heritage through performance, education, and storytelling. Founded in 2021, the organization produces public programs that highlight Washington’s signature sounds including jazz and go-go while sharing the stories and cultural history behind the music. Its flagship program, the Home Rule Music Festival, is an annual public celebration held at The Parks at Walter Reed and Alethia Tanner Park featuring live music, film screenings, record fairs, educational programs, and community activations. www.hrmfdc.org

Home Rule Records is a neighborhood music vinyl/record shop on Kennedy Street NW that specializes in rare jazz, soul, African and reggae records. The shop is known for being a cultural gathering space that hosts listening sessions, conversations, and events that celebrate and preserve Washington’s musical legacy. homerulerecords.com

Saturday, June 14th, immediately following the 2:00 PM performance
Hamiltonian Artists

Following the performance of A Fine Madness, audiences are invited to stay for a brief talkback featuring Justin Weaks and Jermaine “jET” Carter, whose exhibition Get Home Safe will be on view at Hamiltonian Artists from June 6 to July 4, 2026.

Thursday, June 18th 9PM-1AM
In Partnership with Eighteenth Street Lounge
1230 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

How does joy live in your body?

On the eve of Juneteenth, join us for a night of movement, music, and celebration! Rooted in joy, freedom, and communal release, this is a space to celebrate Blackness, queerness, and the beauty of coming together. Expect a high-vibe evening that invites you to come as you are, hit the dance floor, and move as an expression of remembrance and resistance.

Enjoy Happy Hour specials from 9:00 to 11:00 PM. Featuring DJ Baronhawk Poitier and another DJ to be announced!

Eighteenth Street Lounge
Energy. Music. Culture.
The Eighteenth Street Lounge is dedicated to providing Washington DC with the greatest regional and world-class DJ talent, as well as live music ranging from traditional Jazz and Funk, to Reggae and a hybrid of Latin sounds.

Growing up in PG County, Maryland nestled between Baltimore and Washington, DC shaped life for artist Baronhawk Poitier. Listening to local radio stations and sorting through records while working at The Record Exchange heavily influenced his pursuit of a career as a producer and DJ. He was recognized alongside mentor Kris Klayton aka Karizma/ Kaytronik with a grant from the National Endowment of Arts for electronic music production. Baronhawk expresses his passion for cultural preservation and education working with dance legends at the nonprofit culture and education project Urban Artistry, Inc. He has also earned a name for himself within the LGBTQIA+ dance music community as a member of the unique DC based queer artist collective “The NeedleExchange,” who are known for their independent events, raves and DJ residencies.

Date: June 27th, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 3:00 PM
In Partnership with Theatre Alliance
Theatre Alliance (Temporary Space), 580 Water Street SW, Washington, DC 20024

Join us for a candid conversation about preserving queer health! Explore the inequalities that continue to shape queer health outcomes — including barriers to inclusive, affirming, and responsive care, systemic neglect, and the ongoing erasure of queer lives and experiences. This event also serves to create space for resource-sharing, community building and connection, and invites us to reflect on what it means to support queer well-being not just individually, but collectively, and to imagine a future where queer people are seen, protected, and cared for in FULL.