Jasmine Nikole's art ... ... and Redemption, by Linda Mickens, at Amplify the Arts. A multicolored fabric sculpture created by Kat Wiese seemed to float between the trees that framed one entrance to the Eli Whitney Barn. At the other entrance, visitors were greeted by the vibrant bodies and faces painted in vivid colors by artists Jasmine Nikole on the left and Darnell ​“Saint” Phifer on the right. The music of R&B legends, courtesy of DJ Q‑Boogie, could be heard from everywhere, boosting the vibe of each and every artistic creation as Amplify The Arts entered its second year at the storied Hamden location and third year in total, continuing its mission — as reiterated on Sunday by organizer Karimah Mickens — of presenting a space for especially BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and young artists. Karimah Mickens welcomes everyone (with Greg Aime art in the background). All were represented throughout the barn — upstairs and downstairs — and even in the backyard, where vendors and artists sat under tents just past the Beyond the Salt food truck. Visitors could get food with a ticket given to them by Mickens, who walked around greeting everyone. Mickens spoke to the crowd about how she was ​“so grateful” the two-day event was still happening three years later, providing that space as first intended. “This was the whole purpose, to show art that lifts us up in a place grounded in love, community and gathering,” she said.According to Mickens, the event had a steady stream of visitors on Saturday. She was expecting even more on Sunday. “It’s been a constant flow,” she said. ​“We are starting to have an identity. In year three, it’s another level of comfort and a nice diverse group of people.”Phifer also spoke of a ​“solid turnout” the day before and talked about how he enjoyed ​“engaging people and artists.”“Karimah puts on a great show,” he added with a smile.Traveling banners by Linda and Alex Mickens. Just past his inspirational painting called ​“Balance” — which depicted a young girl on a balance beam surrounded by the words ​“life is about balance, baby girl” — the work of artist Ed Jefferson featuring Joe Baez filled another corner. Jefferson was adjusting some of his work on a beam, including his ​“tiny canvasses,” which he said he liked to offer in addition to his larger works. “A lot of people don’t have large spaces on walls” for art, he said, noting that the smaller pieces could be placed on a desk or elsewhere. He called his work ​“feel good art” with ​“good energy” that ​“you can look at and enjoy.”“The most important thing is you should feel good” when you look at it, he said.Tiny canvasses by Edward Jefferson. The works of artists Shanna Melton, Iyaba Mandingo, and Linda Mickens filled the rest of the downstairs of the barn past Jefferson. The smaller sculptures made by Mickens, including her angels, overlooked her larger sculpture, titled Redemption, framed by the names of Black people killed by police. It made her corner feel contemplative, a place where one could reflect. Mickens sat on a bench there, where many visitors stopped to speak with her about her work. She said the weekend had held a ​“good vibe with good music and food and good people.”“It’s been well rounded, like an art party,” she added. ​“It’s beautiful. I love it.”She Makes Shea Butter by Shanna Melton. A sample of Iyaba Mandingo's art. Just below the steps to the second floor, a youth exhibition highlighted the work of high-school artists from New Haven, Hamden, and Stamford. Presented in conjunction with Transcend the Trend, the artists involved in the weekend’s show would be selecting five of these high school artists who would then receive gift cards as prizes. Youth Art Exhibition pieces. Upstairs held the works of Kulimushi Barongozi, Amira Brown, Greg Aime, and Shaunda Holloway. For this show Brown was showing older posters, prints, zines, cards, and stickers, but none of their new works. In a typed statement they offered that they would not be sharing any new works, including on their website or on social media, in solidarity with the global conflicts in Palestine, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Lebanon. One of those statements was set upon a desk, where they invited people to sit and read it if they were so inclined, though they clarified that it was ​“not an installation, but a statement.” They were steadily engaged in many conversations with visitors about both their art and their statement throughout the afternoon.One of the most prominent features of the event was how often the artists were in conversation with visitors. There were moments — like when vocalist Andrea Deyo raised the roof and lifted spirits with her rendition of the Etta James classic ​“At Last” — where there was a bit less chatter, but overall the interaction was constant, communal, and convivial.Paintings by Kulimushi Barongozi. Andrea Deyo and DJ Q-Boogie framed by Shaunda Hollaway's art. Even in the line for Beyond the Salt’s offerings, people laughed, checked out the menus together, and made connections. It was where I spoke to Kat Wiese, who had recently taken over the studio space previously occupied by sculptor Susan Clinard. A multidisciplinary artist and recent Yale graduate who previously had a studio in West Haven, she said the past week had been ​“a hustle” moving into her new space and getting ready for this event, but that it had also been ​“so lovely” meeting so many new people in the community, including families and artists. She also noted that she and Clinard had done ​“kind of a swap,” as Clinard now occupies her former studio in West Haven.“I feel really lucky to inherit her good energy,” she said with a smile.Wiese in the studio talking to a visitor. Tree sculpture by Kat Wiese.