“Writing is like taking your medicine every day. [When] there’s something I don’t understand about the world or my own life, I’m just writing to make some sense out of it.”– Dr. Zelda Lockhart

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I sit down with Dr. Zelda Lockhart, an award-winning author, poet, educator, and Fulbright Specialist rooted in Durham. We talk about writing as a daily healing practice, story as a tool for kinship, and what it means to tell the truth when silence is easier. Dr. Lockhart shares how her life across regions and roles shaped a writing and creatives practice that holds memory, resists isolation, and makes space for real connection.

We also get into her work as a Fulbright Specialist, where she will be leading a digital memoir project that braids classrooms in Africa and the U.S. into one conversation. She is currently fundraising for this trip so please visit her website to show support!

Dr. Lockhart also names the pressures of colonization and capitalism, and we lean into what it means to write anyway. This episode is the nudge I needed to be more consistent in my writing practice and it might do the same for you. Enjoy.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* Using writing as a daily healing practice

* How storytelling builds connection across generations and cultures

* Honest talk about colonization, capitalism, and creative survival

* Community building through art in Durham, North Carolina

Support the Podcast

The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform. And if you’d like more Durham focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Read on Substack

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with Dr. Zelda Lockhart:

https://zeldalockhart.com

https://www.instagram.com/zelda.lockhart/

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham, North Carolina

On July 4th, 2025 I had the honor of interviewing North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green. She is the first poet laureate of North Carolina and an amazing woman who’s dedicated her life to witnessing truth and documenting it in her poetry.

When NorthStar Church of the Arts reached out for me to facilitate the conversation I was nervous to be in discussion with such an icon yet excited. I’ve been attending events at NorthStar since 2022 and it’s become a third space for me. A place where I can go and always see someone I know. A creative sanctuary that welcomes all of me and expands my imagination. A respite. So it was an easy yes to be apart of the NorthStar legacy by participating in one of their community events.

I’m really excited for you all to hear listen in on Jaki and I’s conversation. We talked about community care, what black autonomy means, her experiences following and documenting the movements of the KKK, writing tips, and so much more. And while this is the audio version, you can watch the video here on Youtube as well.

I really enjoyed being in conversation with Jaki and the community members who came out to support and I know you will hear that through the audio. This is one you’ll want to take notes on.

Enjoy.

Subscribe on Substack to be notified first about new episodes and receive the accompanying newsletters that reflect on the podcast episodes!

🌀 Remember to like, comment, and rate wherever you listen to this podcast to help us reach more listeners!

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

✏️ Connect with Jaki Shelton Green:

https://jakisheltongreen.com/about-jaki/

⛪️ Connect with NorthStar Church of the Arts:

https://www.northstardurham.com

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Recorded at NorthStar Church of the Arts in Durham

"That painting or song or performance is a tithe laid at the altar of community. It is a small piece of their talent that they're providing for our engagement and healing and pleasure."

-Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha

This is the last one.

For like… two months-ish lol.

I’m really proud of this gift that is the Durham Artist Archive. And I hope that you find this episode takes you on an audio journey. As inspired by podcasts of my past like The 1619 Project, Welcome to Nightfall, New York Times’ The Daily, and even Majesty Royale-Jackson reminding me of the power of sound design, I was ready to try my hand at creating something more immersive and engaging.

Rather than just talking at you for 11 minutes, I stitched together quotes, sounds, music, and more to bring you back to the first time you heard each podcast guest. You will hear their voice emerge in conversation with mine and each others to share the themes of this season. And if you haven’t heard that clip yet, maybe it inspires you to go back and listen to the full episode.

Either way, I spent hoursssss creating an 11 minute podcast and it was time to just release this one into the wild rather than continuing to tinker with it. Progress over perfection. And this is a huge step towards progress.

Thank you again for riding with me on this journey and I’ll catch y’all at the end of the summer for the new season of the Durham Artist Archive.

Remember to like, share, and follow if you like what you hear. Your ratings help me reach my goal of being listened to by the equivalent of 1% of Durham which is 3,000 people. 💕🌀🐂

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Partially recorded at Queeny's in Durham

Royalty free music and sounds from Pixabay

Thanks for reading The Durham Artist Archive! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

“Art can only be done in isolation, but for so long. It is meant to be done in collaboration with others. That is how you prevail. That is how you really make the most of a project.”

-Nori McDuffie

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive (DAA), I catch up with curator and photographer Nori McDuffie, a Durham native whose passion for archiving, storytelling, and community-building has helped shape the city’s creative and youth landscape. We trace Nori’s path from exploring family scrapbooks as a kid to leading youth councils, curating shows like “Mali to Raleigh,” and helping found the presently named Durham Powerful Arts Collective (it’s new name is to come!). Along the way, we dig into what it means to keep a record of this moment in Durham’s cultural history, why collaboration is the heartbeat of community, and the different ways that Nori has gotten involved that others could also partake in.

And not only did we talk about Nori, but he flipped the script and asked me a few questions about the future of the Durham Artist Archive and the history I see this podcast being apart of. It was really refreshing (although it caught me off guard) to be asked questions and I hope that between us, something resonate with you.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* How community-driven exhibitions come together—from concept to opening night

* The power of youth councils and advisory boards to shape local arts policy

* Building an artist collective that uplifts emerging voices

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with Nori McDuffie:

https://www.instagram.com/shotbynori/

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham

Thanks for reading The Durham Artist Archive! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

  “You can create art that is gonna make a difference in someone else's day that you don't even know. And 10 years from now, when someone else is walking down that hallway, they're gonna see your name, they're gonna see your art.”

-Mayanthi Jayawardena on the power of murals

What happens when art becomes both your therapy and your toolkit for social change? In this episode of Durham Artist Archive, I talk with Mayanthi Jayawardena, a muralist, illustrator, and children’s book artist about that exact thing. She shared how her journey into art began as a form of healing while working in sexual violence prevention and eventually grew into a full-time creative practice.

We discussed her shift from photography to murals, her passion for community-centered work, and what it was like working with some major clients like Dreamville Festival. I also loved digging into her collaboration with students at Southern Highchool on a mural and what it’s like bringing the community into big projects like that. All and all I found our conversation winding across mediums and topics but always rooted in the same thing: art as activism.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* How art can be a tool for healing and personal transformation

* Ideas for bringing community into public art

* The behind the scene process of making a mural

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with Mayanthi Jayawardena:

www.serendibcreative.com

https://www.instagram.com/serendibcreative/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/serendibcreative

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham

Thanks for reading The Durham Artist Archive! This post is public so feel free to share it.

In this episode of Durham Artist Archive, I sit down with Majesty Royale-Jackson, also known as Glitter Boi Wonder, a Black Seminole artist whose work moves through dance, sound, digital media, and installation. We talk about how movement has always been central to their practice, shaping everything from choreography to immersive storytelling.

We also dig into Soft Riot Radio, a dreamy, post-apocalyptic sound piece layered with memory, grief, and rich sonic textures. Majesty shares how sound became a way to process loss and honor legacy, drawing from both science fiction and personal experience. We close by reflecting on Durham’s changing cultural landscape and the importance of staying rooted while making space for new artistic visions.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* How movement, sound, and digital media can be forms of storytelling

* Exploring local history through experimental art

* Using sound design as a way to process grief, memory, and legacy

Thanks for reading The Durham Artist Archive! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with Majesty:

glitterboiwonder.com

https://www.instagram.com/glitterboiwonder/

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham

Thanks for reading The Durham Artist Archive! This post is public so feel free to share it.

In this episode of Durham Artist Archive, I sat down with the one and only JoRose, an aerialist, burlesque dancer, and producer based right here in Durham, NC.

We got into everything from growing up in Durham, traveling the world, to her mission of producing burlesque shows where artists are not just valued but actually paid what they deserve. We also broke down the difference between burlesque and exotic dancing, and talked about the deep sense of support and community that runs through the burlesque world.

JoRose shared how she uses performance art to push back against shame and open up new spaces for freedom, joy, and radical expression. We dug into how burlesque isn't just entertainment. It's a way to teach history, politics, and personal liberation. And as I reflect on the episode, I see that JoRose has truly stepped into the role of a modern-day griot, passing down stories and sparking real connection through her art.

From her inspirations like Josephine Baker to the way she invites others to find their own paths to freedom, JoRose’s passion shines through every word. I left this conversation feeling inspired to reimagine stories in new ways, and I know you will too.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone:

* Interested in the intersection of dance and storytelling

* Who wants to learn more about burlesque as a liberatory practice

* Who is interested in event production

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with JoRose:

https://www.instagram.com/_jo_rose_/

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham

Thanks for reading The Durham Artist Archive! This post is public so feel free to share it.

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I sat with C. Bay Milin, a Durham based photographer with a deep passion for storytelling through photos. C. Bay not only shared his own journey of migration from California to Durham, but also shared his parents migration stories and that prompted me to describe my own. We also dived into his approach to photography, starting with memories of his first camera and traversing his history to today, where he experiments with different photography tools and films to get desired effects.

We dug into my favorite projects of his,'Signal to Noise' and 'Thai Time: I’m dreaming for you too' and found themes of memory, connection, and the immigrant experience through out them. We ultimately ended our conversation considering the future of Durham's artistic community and how we can all contribute to its growth. We are dreaming for Durham. 💕🌀🐂

This episode is a must-listen for anyone:

* Interested in film photography and niche photography tools

* Who resonates with a story of migration

* Who loves to tell stories through their creative medium

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with C. Bay:

https://www.cbaymilin.com

https://www.instagram.com/heycbay/

👋🏽 Connect with me:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham

Thanks for listening to the Durham Artist Archive. Every like, comment, and share is of huge value to me and helps share the stories of Durham creatives.

In this bonus episode of the Durham Artist Archive, hear behind the scenes of my post pod conversation with East Durhamite Dasean Burnette, designer and musician. He tells me an oral history of North Carolina and ties into why Durham looks the way it does today. For those new to North Carolina and Durham, this episode is especially important to understand how the city we love came to be.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Connect with Dasean:

http://oledstudio.co

https://www.instagram.com/daseanburnette/

Connect with me:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive (DAA), I caught up with Dasean Burnette, a talented designer and musician born and raised in Durham. We talked about his creative history starting with paintings in kindergarten to corporate graphic design roles, to today where he has his own design studio called OLED. We also touched on his clothing brand, Ultra Bad, and his dive into music that kicked off during the pandemic. Dasean’s journey is all about adaptability, creativity, and staying true to himself while serving his community.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* The experience of someone who worked in corporate graphic design

* Hearing what it’s like to start your own design studio

* The experience of someone who creates every detail of their own music

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Connect with Dasean:

http://oledstudio.co

https://www.instagram.com/daseanburnette/

Connect with me:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham