Every survivor has a story to tell. On Sunday, September 28 at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, a brave Broward County-based artist will lead attendees through the debut of A Stitch In Time: An Afrofuturistic Tribute To Breast Cancer Warriors, a journey of interactive art, spoken word, song, and dance, where cosmic narratives of resilience and empowerment aim to inspire and heal.
An art teacher and facilitator of art programs in Broward County, and the founder and creative director of The Creative You, Dr. Kim D. Harris—or Dr. Kimme as she prefers—will guide an Afrofuturistic celebration that reimagines breast cancer survivors as galactic healers and tech-infused alchemists who marry ancestral knowledge with futuristic technology.
Her journey as a 25-year breast cancer survivor is a testimony to finding herself. For Dr. Kimme, connecting with the Creator and her ancestors keeps her balanced and grounded. Amid trauma fueled by fear, worry and anxiety, Dr. Kimme sought connection. The medium that healed her was her art. “Art has always been with me since I was a little girl,” shares Dr. Kimme. “So, I took a deep dive using my God-given talents and have birthed many creative projects.”
A Stitch in Time is a celebration of Dr. Kimme still being here, and she’s inviting others to attend the show to step into the future. Here, Black women will become galactic healers, blending technological innovation with herbal rituals and art, as a healing modality for others who’ve been diagnosed.
The first-time event stems from Dr. Kimme’s grant from the Broward County Cultural Division, which gave her the support and inspiration to manifest what started out as an idea.
Dr. Kimme chose Island SPACE Caribbean Museum as the ideal venue because of its connection to the Black community and convenient location in Broward County. Joining her on the bill as performers are longtime friends who remember when she was “growing through” breast cancer.
Expressive artists play a large role in the event because Dr. Kimme says they are significant to healing, resilience and renewal. “They offer powerful, non-verbal ways to process complex emotions and experiences,” she says. “These activities help individuals bypass the limitations of verbal communication, especially when words fail to describe pain or trauma. By engaging the mind and body, they facilitate emotional release, foster self-awareness, and build a sense of connection and community.”
Dr. Kimme notes the rhythmic nature of music and dance, for example, can have a calming effect on the nervous system, helping to reduce stress hormones and release pent-up anger and frustration.
“Expressive arts help build resilience by strengthening an individual’s sense of self and ability to cope with adversity,” she explains. “They promote a positive focus and can lead to a ‘flow’ state, where a person is fully immersed in an activity, which is associated with increased well-being.” The mind-body unification and integration are crucial for healing, because they “allow individuals to understand how their emotions manifest physically, and to use movement or sound to regulate their emotional state,” she continues.
In addition to songstress Alana DaCosta; creative artist, soul singer, and flow dancer DayJah Starr; spoken-word poet Abasi Da Manblack, she was able to secure an especially meaningful speaker – Dr. Alejandra Perez – her oncologist from 25 years ago.
“I felt so honored that she remembered me,” she says. “Her voice is critical to this event because she set in place a plethora of protocols for my healing and allowed me to continue using some of my natural remedies.”
The event color scheme of pink, yellow, white and black was chosen to reimagine breast cancer survivors as cosmic healers and tech-infused alchemists, channeling the power of color to transcend time, space, and adversity. Dr. Kimme encourages attendees to dress in these colors in celebration of breast cancer warriors through the Afrofuturist lens.
“Pink radiates as a frequency of love, compassion and interconnectedness, forging an unbreakable bond between warriors across dimensions,” Dr. Kimme explains. “Harnessing the power of the sun, yellow pulses fuel mental clarity and innovation, illuminating pathways toward a future where resilience and joy coexist. The ethereal glow of white represents purification and rebirth, a celestial reset that aligns the spirit with higher realms of healing. Black is the force of grounding and protection, a limitless expanse that holds ancestral wisdom and the strength to defy gravity.”
To those currently battling breast cancer or other health struggles, Dr. Kimme welcomes all to her circle. “I hope this event imparts a profound sense of empowerment, community and emotional release to attendees,” she shares. “My hope is that the experience helps them feel seen, heard and supported in their journey.”
WHAT: A Stitch In Time: An Afrofuturistic Tribute To Breast Cancer Warriors
WHERE: Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, 8000 W. Broward Blvd., Unit 1202 (inside Broward Mall), Plantation
WHEN: 2 to 8 p.m., Sunday, September 28
Tickets: $20
INFORMATION: 954-999-0989 or islandspacefl.org
