Join us for a powerful evening of performance, discussion, and reflection as we close Sovereign: Honoring Bodily Autonomy. The evening will begin with a live performance of Rite My Wild by Alyce Cristina Vallejo, followed by an insightful panel discussion on bodily autonomy, advocacy, and art, moderated by Katherine de Vos Devine, JD, PhD.
Live Performance: Rite My Wild by Alyce Cristina Vallejo at 6 p.m.
A site-responsive performance weaving movement, ritual, and resilience, setting the tone for an evening of deep engagement.
Panel Discussion 6:15-7 p.m. Free and open to the public. Advance reservation required due to limited seating.
Moderated by Katherine de Vos Devine, the discussion will explore the intersections of bodily autonomy, creative expression, and advocacy
Last Look at the Exhibition
A final chance to experience Sovereign: Honoring Bodily Autonomy and reflect on the works presented.
Free and open to the public. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. after the conclusion of the panel discussion.
Learn more about our moderator and panelists.
About the Moderator: Katherine de Vos Devine, JD, PhD.
Katherine is an attorney, art historian, and the founder of Implement Legal. She has helped hundreds of artists, writers, and other creatives.She is the former executive director of Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center and previously worked at Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft LLP, where she assisted private foundations and public charities.
Katherine teaches Art & Entertainment Law at Queens University of Charlotte Her academic research focuses on fair use and appropriation art, and she has spoken widely about artists’ rights at venues including the University of California at Berkeley, Harvard University, and Art Basel.
About the Panelists:
Doris Kapner – Sovereign artist and McColl Center Programs Director (b. 1971, she/her) Kapner is a multidisciplinary artist working in sculpture and printmaking. Her work examines how societal expectations shape gender roles, drawing from her diverse professional experiences and the tension between personal identity and social norms.
Leanna Pai, LCMHC, ATR-BC – Director of the Sexual Trauma Resource Center and Survivor Resource Center at Safe Alliance. Leanna Pai, (she/her) is an art therapist working with clients who have experienced sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic violence. Pai oversees the long term case management and clinical services provided to Safe Alliance clients while working with multidisciplinary teams to improve county wide trauma- informed responses to survivors and facilitate ongoing care.
Sam Digges Hunter – Sovereign artist and Director of Marketing and PR at Cabarrus Arts Council (they/them) Hunter is a video artist exploring the cultural power of storytelling in shaping collective memory and imagination. Drawing inspiration from mythmaking and cultural narratives, their work explores the ways stories define our shared experience.
Kalin Devonne –Sovereign and Full-Time Artist (she/her) Devone is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores societal influence and social culture. She is known for her use of realism to reflect themes from her upbringing in the 1990s and early 2000s. Devone earned a BFA in Painting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2015. Her portraiture, distinguished by layered short brushstrokes that create a sense of movement, is complemented by abstract works that examine fluidity and spatial flux.
Melinda Lilly - PFlag Charlotte, Programs Coordinator (she/her) Lilly is a nonprofit professional dedicated to cause-based work supporting women’s organizations, climate initiatives, civic engagement, and LGBTQ+ communities. Having navigated intersectional challenges firsthand, she understands the transformative power of community support. Her work focuses on fostering safe spaces and meaningful connections, ensuring individuals feel seen, heard, and supported. As part of PFLAG, an organization committed to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, Lilly is honored to contribute to this critical mission.
Curated by Meredith Connelly, (https://www.meredithconnelly.com/artist-meredith-connelly) the exhibition seeks to create space for meaningful dialogue and connection around these essential themes.
Sovereign, presented by McColl Center and Art By Meredith Connelly (https://www.meredithconnelly.com/), with media sponsorship by Charlotte Is Creative (https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/) and community partnership with Safe Alliance (https://www.safealliance.org/), is also supported by an Arts and Science Council’s Cultural Vision Grant. (https://artsandscience.org/cultural-vision-grants/)
