“It’s all about us getting to know each other as artists and having a comfortable space to do so,” Wauketa Okoli explained, “Not just musicians and poets but also visual artists, photographers and anyone who wants to share their work, talk about their work and talk about their process. Get Lifted is really an entity I created for all artists.”
Okoli is a Fayetteville native who has spent most of her life outside of West Virginia. She recently moved back home with the high hopes of creating a space to support artists after being inspired by the vibrant Texas art scene. Her vision soon took form in downtown Beckley.
“I thought to myself ‘This is perfect’,” Okoli said recalling the first time she entered her current space, “It will be something new in a place that’s growing. I also thought ‘If I build something, my tribe will come to me.'”
A creative herself, Okoli said she started as a designer before branching off into other creative outlets such as poetry and marketing.
“I learned how to sew at my mother’s knee and that was one of my first art forms,” Okoli said, “I would make my own clothes for school so that was a lot of fun. I’ve had many genres that I’ve created in over the years.”
Okoli said she feels local artists need more easily-accessible spaces to share their work and fellowship with others.
“I think there are so many artists that are out there but we’re not seeing them because they don’t believe they have a space to be in or that the spaces that already exist don’t really accept them,” Okoli explained.
“I would love for this to feel like a community art space. In terms of how to show support, I just want people to come in.”
Although Get Lifted has already hosted events such as The Girlfriends Lounge Empowerment Brunch and the ‘From Affrilachia, With Love’ art exhibition, Okoli is just getting started. She said she looks forward to building a space that encourages positive development and lifestyle.
“This place is all about mind, body and spirit,” Okoli said, “Growth, beauty, ascension, transformation on every level, ourselves, the environment, socially, physically, and culturally.
Okoli welcomes everyone to check out Get Lifted’s monthly open mic, which is held the 3rd Saturday of each month. This event, known as “The Higher Ground Lounge”, is free of charge and welcome to all.
“There’s always going to be some tasty food because we also want to welcome our food artists as well,” Okoli said, “It’s all about us coming together and enjoying the art and each other.”
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