If the Crown Fits - Queendom Arts Festival celebrates Women

Kyra Bruce
September 1, 2020

What better way is there to celebrate womankind than showcasing her amazing contributions to the arts? At least that’s the thinking of Jerica Wortham, founder and CEO of J’Parle’ and organizer of Queendom. 

“(J’Parle’) hosts monthly live shows that typically have themes. One of my favorites, and most well attended is Queendom,” Wortham says. “Queendom is an all-woman lineup from start to finish. The DJ, band, every act that comes to the stage, every singer, every dancer, the comedian, every poet. All women.” 

J’Parle’ was originally a literary magazine that started in Tulsa in 2012 but has turned more into Wortham assisting authors in self-publishing their manuscripts. 

“With J’Parle’, it’s a company. It’s a creative company, a hub so to speak, and so we have multiple dimensions,” she says. 

The multidimensional company naturally fell into monthly event organizing because Wortham was already booking shows. 

“It was five years ago. And I was doing a lineup and I said, ‘I want to do a lineup with just women, that’s typically my audience anyway, let’s just highlight how dope we are,’” Wortham says. 

Queendom is back for its fifth year celebrating women on at 8 p.m., Sept. 19, at Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 E. Reconciliation Way. Tickets start at $10 on eventbrite.com. Queens are encouraged to wear a crown if they so choose. The all-women lineup of storytellers, comedians and musicians includes women from all over the state, such as Amber S. Owens, Mia Wright, Larissa S. Carter and Darrian Blanchard.

“It’s women empowering women, but it’s not in a Kumbaya kind of way,” she says. 

Wortham is determined to create this sacred space for women even during the COVID-19 pandemic. She and organizers are exploring ways to social distance and considering moving to a digital format or an open, outdoor space.

“Part of the setup is every woman that enters into the space is a queen and treated as such. It’s more of an experience because we also bring in women vendors, so you get a mix of networking and visiting with women in the community,” she says. “You get a night of hanging out with your girlfriends, your family, you can get dressed up to the nines and enjoy a nice evening.”