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Lyrical Imagery, San Francisco: Open Mic Night + Open Art Gallery

This story reflects its original publication date. For current gatherings and opportunities, visit our calendar or contact Lyrical Opposition.

Lyrical Imagery, San Francisco: Open Mic Night + Open Art Gallery
Audience members watch an open-mic performance in a gallery.

A New Series is Born

On Saturday, October 3, 2015, Lyrical Opposition launched Lyrical Imagery—a brand-new series merging lyrical artistry with visual imagery. The event was designed as a creative platform where spoken word poets, hip-hop artists, musicians, and visual artists could showcase their work, inspire one another, and begin building collaborative relationships across disciplines. With an emphasis on storytelling through both word and image, Lyrical Imagery created space for artists and audiences alike to experience the beauty of two art forms in dialogue.

Framed drawings and paintings, including the word Love. Decorative artwork arranged on a wooden floor. A collection of colorful illustrations displayed on a wall. Portraits and paintings arranged on a gallery wall.

Open Gallery & Open Mic

The evening opened with a visual art gallery at 6:00pm, featuring local artists who displayed their pieces throughout the night. Shortly after, the open mic began at 6:30pm, welcoming acoustic musicians, emcees, poets, and other performers to the stage. This format allowed the community to experience art in multiple dimensions—walking among paintings, drawings, and photography while also being moved by powerful lyrics and live performances. This event also had featured performances by Lyrical Opposition artists, Jreillah P, June Elizabeth Banks, Samuelu Veu, Johnny, Why?, Jermaine “The Maine Event” Hughes, Alex “Alfluent” Osborne and more.

A performer speaks into a microphone before a seated audience. Performers and guests pose together at the open mic. A vocalist performs beside a music stand. Close view of a performer at the microphone. A Coca-Cola billboard above neighborhood buildings in daylight. A seated audience watches the open-mic stage. Black-and-white portrait of a performer onstage. An illuminated Coca-Cola sign photographed at night. A microphone and stand cast a shadow on a wall. A performer gestures with an outstretched arm.

A Free Community Gathering

As with many Lyrical Opposition events, Lyrical Imagery was completely free and open to the public. Dozens of community members came together not only as spectators but also as participants—signing up to perform, displaying their work, or simply lending their presence to a supportive and creative environment.

A performer addresses the seated gallery audience.

Curated With Care

The event was thoughtfully curated with the support of Ruby Martinez, whose contributions helped shape both the vision and execution of the night. Together with the Lyrical Opposition team, she ensured the event balanced both mediums, allowing artists to shine equally in lyrical and visual expression.

Audience members listen during the open mic. Wide view of the audience and performance area. Guests sit together along the gallery wall. Three participants pose together indoors. Audience members seated around tables at the open mic. A visitor stands beside rows of seated audience members. Audience members seated around tables at the open mic. A performer onstage faces the seated open-mic audience. A performer onstage faces the seated open-mic audience. Audience members seated around tables at the open mic. Audience members seated around tables at the open mic. Audience members seated around tables at the open mic. A performer onstage faces the seated open-mic audience. Audience members seated around tables at the open mic. Three participants pose together after the open mic. A seated audience watches the open-mic stage. Guests listen to the performer from rows of chairs.

Building a Creative Community

Beyond being a one-time event, Lyrical Imagery marked the beginning of an ongoing series. The series is part of Lyrical Opposition’s broader mission: to provide positive, socially conscious platforms for creative expression. With plans for monthly workshops and continued gatherings, the event laid the foundation for an evolving community of collaboration and co-creation.

About Lyrical Opposition

Lyrical Opposition is a missional arts organization that brings together hip-hop/rap artists, spoken word poets, and other lyrical creatives through workshops, cyphers, trainings, and fellowship. Rooted in positivity and social consciousness, Lyrical Opposition continues to cultivate inclusive spaces where art and activism intersect.

📸 Follow the Movement:

Lyrical Imagery was more than an event—it was the first spark of a community committed to blending visual and lyrical storytelling. The collaborations and connections that began on October 3, 2015, continue to ripple outward, shaping future gatherings and creative endeavors.

Lyrical Imagery open mic and art gallery announcement.

Lyrical Imagery is a brand new series that merges both lyrical artistry with visual imagery. There is beauty in both art forms and we want to create a positive platform for both to be highlighted and showcased. We are developing a community of lyrical and visual artists that can collaborate and potentially work together by storytelling through the two different mediums. We strive to create an environment for artist collaborations through connecting at our events, as well as attending our monthly workshops. Feel free to join us in the beginning stages of this process by either performing during our open mic or displaying your visuals during our open art gallery!

This event is absolutely FREE to the community and public!

RSVP for FREE at http://lyricalimagery.splashthat.com


Acoustic, hip-hop, spoken word artists and other lyrical artists can sign-up online by emailing at submit@lyricalopposition or sign-up on the day of the event during open mic sign-ups at 6:30pm.

Visual artists will displaying their pieces at 6:00pm until the event has concluded. For those that want to highlight and display your work are highly encouraged to submit your entries to submit@lyricalopposition.com as soon as possible, due to space being very limited.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/497391470434132/

About the Organization:
Lyrical Opposition is a missional art organization that consists of a community of hip-hop/rap artists, spoken word poets, and other lyrical artists getting together in building up each others' artistic talents through icebreakers, freestyle, cyphers, hip-hop development workshops, training and fellowship. Their inclusive community consists of positive, socially-conscious and/or faith-based artists and non-artists, activists, and enthusiasts that respect the culture of creativity.

http://www.lyricalopposition.com
Instagram: @LyricalOps
Twitter: @LyricalOps
Snapchat: LyricalOps
Facebook: Lyrical Opposition

We hope to see everyone there! =)