Hadiya Sewer, Tiphanie Yanique, Tami Navarro, and La Vaughn Belle.
A multidisciplinary symposium dedicated to exploring the Virgin Islands through artistic and scholarly engagement is set to take place in St. Croix from March 8-10.
The dECOlonial Feelin Symposium, organized by the Virgin Islands Studies Collective (VISCO), aims to deepen discussions on decoloniality through storytelling, creative writing, philosophy, archiving, and spiritual practice.
VISCO, a collective of academics, artists, and activists, seeks to reframe the Virgin Islands as a site of intellectual and cultural inquiry. The upcoming St. Croix symposium builds on prior events held in St. Thomas in May 2024 and in Atlanta from September 19-21, 2024, where discussions and artistic collaborations shaped the ongoing conversation.
Symposium Schedule and Key Events
The symposium will feature a mix of structured discussions, performances, and interactive sessions designed to foster reflection on identity, culture, and community within the Virgin Islands.
Friday, March 7
The event begins with a Decolonial Rest Practice day, encouraging participants to step away from structured activities and engage in personal reflection, connection, and relaxation.
Saturday, March 8, (12:00 PM - 3:00 PM at CHANT, 217 Custom House Street, St. Croix)
- 12:00 PM – The event opens with a Welcome and Dreaming session, where participants will engage in discussions on the future of intellectual and creative thought in the Virgin Islands.
- 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM – Eco-Speculation: Radical Storytelling, featuring new works by Dr. Hadiya Sewer(“Interment”) and Tiphanie Yanique (“Looking House”), will highlight the power of speculative fiction in reimagining Virgin Islands narratives.
- 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM – Craft & Process Conversation, a discussion with writers on novel writing and editing, will provide insights into creative processes. This session includes a light lunch and requires RSVP.
Later in the evening, at 7:00 p.m., the dECOlonial Dinner will take place at Ha’ Penny Beach Club, featuring discussions on decoloniality in collaboration with V.I. Good Food Coalition and Chef Frank Robinson. RSVP is required for this event.
Sunday, March 9 (5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
- Out of The Sunken Mist of Our Desire – La Vaughn Belle will lead a performance art walk through Christiansted, guiding participants along the historic public wells. This session also requires RSVP.
Monday, March 10, 2025 (9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at 36 King St, Christiansted)
- La Vaughn Belle’s Open Studio – A final opportunity for attendees to engage with Belle’s work and reflect on the themes of the symposium. RSVP is required.
Building on Past Conversations
According to the release, the dECOlonial Feelin Symposium represents the final stage of a larger dECOlonial Feelin Project, which has fostered creative and scholarly discourse across multiple locations. The event in St. Croix will serve as a culmination of these discussions, providing a space for deeper engagement with cultural identity, history, and artistic expression in the Virgin Islands.
With a focus on community dialogue and interdisciplinary exploration, VISCO invites the public to take part in the gathering.
For those interested in attending, RSVPs are required for select events, and further details will be shared as the symposium date nears.
