Tarnynon Onumonu

9546 S. Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617• tarnynono@gmail.com 

https://tarnynono.wixsite.com/tyyuhnuh 

 

EDUCATION 

University of Illinois at Chicago

Major:  African American History 

August 2010- May 2018

 

RELEVANT ART EXPERIENCE

 

Collaboraction Peace Book Festival 2019

 

August of 2019- September of 2019 

•The writer of  the “Free Range” production 

•Acted in two runs at Kennedy King College and La Follete Park 

•Promoted showcases via social media networks

 

The Backyard Series

October of 2018-March of 2019

• Assisted in the planning and execution of 3 artist showcases

• Recruited contemporary Chicago Poets for performance opportunities 

• Promoted showcases via social media networks

 

National Poetry Slam

June of 2018-present

•Represented Chicago in NPS 2018 and placed top 20 as a member of the Lethal Poetry Team

•Competed in various local slams to gain access to the team

•Maintained team social media accounts with the intention to increase festival attendance

 

Threewalls Arts Organization

April of 2018-September of 2018

•Established relationship upon inviting Threewalls Staff to The Basement in The Manor  

•Presented soundscape “The Evergreens” at Xperience Threewalls Gala Fundraiser 2018

•Conducted Performative Panel Inspired by Claudia Rankine’s Citizen for In-Session Series Sept 2018 in partnership with The Museum of Contemporary Art

 

TEACHING ARTIST EXPERIENCE

Hyde Park Art Center July-August of 2019

Teaching Artist with The Academy Group Summer Session 

Chicago Poetry Center March of 2019-present

Teaching Artist with CPS and Charter Schools

Free Write Literacy Arts March of 2019-Nov of 2019

Teaching Artist with Albion, Michigan School District

Youth Opportunity United November of 2017 and January of 2018

Assisted youth in writing and performing civil rights music for Diversity United MLK Day 

 

RESIDENCIES

Flood’s Hall March-April of 2019

Artist in Residence 

Danztheatre Ensemble: Body Passages Feb-October of 2018

Artist in Residence

Chicago Cultural Center: Chicago Dance Week May of 2018

Artist in Residence

Swarm July of 2017

Artist in Residence

 

EXHIBITIONS

Free Write Group Show In Conversation 

     Chicago Art Department June of 2019

Flood’s Hall Group Show In the Receiving Room 

      Flood’s Hall March of 2019

 

PUBLISHED WORK

Newcity Newspaper 

“Chicago Rememory” July 2020 https://www.newcity.com/2020/07/10/whats-going-on-artists-poets-writers-respond-to-racial-injustice-police-brutality-chicago-rememory/

Poetry Center Chicago May Reading Series Spotlight 

“Mother’s Mausoleum” May 2020 https://www.poetrycenter.org/may-reading-series-spotlight-tarnynon-onumonu/

South Side Weekly

“Free Range” August 2018 https://southsideweekly.com/author/tarnynon-onumonu/

Lesbionyx Blog 

“Thrown” January 2018 https://lesbionyx.com/poetry/thrown

Scout & Birdie Literary Magazine and Podcast

“Cascade” February 2018 https://www.scoutandbirdie.com/cascade-by-tarnynon-onumonu

“The Cleansing Breath” November 2017  https://www.scoutandbirdie.com/the-cleansing-breath-by-tarnynon-onumonu