A Classically Black Arts Salon: Beauty Found in the Cracks
Honeysuckle
631 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19123
Classically Black and Opera Philadelphia invite you to an elegant evening of art, music, and conversation at A Classically Black Arts Salon: Beauty Found in the Cracks, an experience at the intersection of visual art, operatic voices, and Afro-diasporic cultural reclamation. Guests will enjoy passed appetizers alongside a curated selection of wine and cocktails featuring exceptional Black-owned wines and spirits.
Featuring performances by baritone Brian Major and soprano Michelle Johnson, artwork by visual artist, art historian, curator, and author Lavett Ballard, and food courtesy of chefs Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude‑Tate of Honeysuckle.
Honeysuckle
| Mon, Dec 1 | 6:30 p.m. |
Duration is 2 hours 30 minutes.
VIP tickets include an additional 30 minute cocktail reception and exhibit walkthrough with Lavett Ballard & Ashley James at 6:00 p.m.
VIP tickets: $150
General Admission: $100
Event Flow
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6:00pm: VIP TICKETS ONLY Artist Reception & Exhibit Walk-through with Lavett Ballard & Ashley James
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6:30pm: Arrival & Welcome Reception (cocktails/ hors d’oeuvres)
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Live Performances by Michelle Johnson & Brian Major
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Closing remarks & mingling
About Classically Black
Classically Black strives to create bespoke and immersive experiences highlighting the prodigious amount of talent and achievement within the Black community. Each experience is unique and eye-opening. Inspired by music, elevated with the taste and smell of vittles, grounded in the fine arts and Black-owned luxury.
Special Performances by Operatic Voices
Audiences can expect a breathtaking musical experience as baritone Brian Major and soprano Michelle Johnson take the stage. Together, these two powerhouse vocalists bring a dynamic blend of warmth, virtuosity, and emotional depth. Johnson’s soaring, velvety soprano—praised for its captivating richness—pairs beautifully with Major’s commanding, resonant baritone to create unforgettable musical moments. Their performances will guide listeners through stories of passion, resilience, and beauty, offering an intimate showcase of world-class artistry.
Featured Artist: Lavett Ballard
We are honored to exhibit the work of visual artist, art historian, curator and author Lavett Ballard. She holds a dual B.A. in Studio Art & Art History (minor in Museum Studies) from Rutgers and an M.F.A. in Studio Art from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia.
Her art—often mixed media collages on reclaimed wood fences—is a powerful visual narrative of people of African descent. She has been commissioned for covers for Time magazine (March 2020 & February 2023), and her work is held in public and private institutional collections.
At this salon, her recent body of work situates itself beautifully within the theme of “Beauty Found in the Cracks,” acknowledging both rupture and resilience within histories and visual identity.
** All artwork is for sale **
About the Venue
Honeysuckle is more than a restaurant; it is a cultural project rooted in the values of ancestry, nourishment, and reclamation. Founded by chefs Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude‑Tate, the space is designed as a third-space of creativity where Black food traditions are elevated and reframed. Located in North Broad area of Philadelphia, Honeysuckle offers a refined setting that melds intimate dining with a living-room, cultural-lab atmosphere—making it the perfect backdrop for our salon’s conversation around art, identity and resilience.