DAC & The Prattler’s Speakeasy: Embracing the Illicit

On March 29th, 2025 the DGT Gallery House was transformed into a bustling speakeasy. Upon my arrival, the terracotta steps of 272 Clinton Avenue were littered with Pratt students mingling—eagerly awaiting a night of artistic curation and creation. Entering the space, guests were immediately serenaded by live jazz. The walls were decked with visual art pieces, such as Shanna Deneux’s photography collection titled The Camgirl, a collection of portraits that examine the vulnerability of bodies in bathrooms. Among the art were also scattered copies of The Prattler’s New York Minute, an issue that explores the decadent timelessness of the NYC experience, the speakeasy acting as its physical embodiment. Although the space acted as an art gallery it shortly became a performance hall of sorts, where art was sonically bouncing off the walls. The event titled Speakeasy was a collaboration between the Dynamic Arts Collective created by Lucca Dohr and The Prattler, Pratt Institute’s leading literary arts publication currently run by Editor in Chief Sarina Greene. When asked about The Prattler’s mission and its place at the Speakeasy, Greene responded: 

“The Prattler to me is a voice for Pratt's student body to express their art, their grievances, or anything they wish they could say without censorship…Before I took on my role…I felt The Prattler was lacking diversity with POC creatives and was boxed in amongst the writers. With Speakeasy, more people at Pratt know The Prattler as a magazine which is meant to reflect all of us as artists in New York, especially ones who feel they don’t get the chance to show their work in competitive spaces.” 

• Sarina Greene, Editor in Chief of The Prattler

  
  

Acting as Creative Director of the event, was second year fashion major Aria Hannah. As Creative Director, Hannah facilitated much of what became the picturesque time capsule all guests went away remembering. When asked about

creating this space, Hannah commented: 

“Pratt students are so cooped up in the studio and their own major even though there are many talented people to work with and meet…we just don't have the spaces. The Speakeasy made that space for Pratt students. Being able to have all the artists and readers go up to the mic and speak, it was a beautiful experience, truly.”

• Aria Hannah, Creative Director of Speakeasy 

DAC founder, Lucca Dohr comments on the night and the tremendous collaborations that made the night possible: 

“From the start, this event was an incredibly organic collaboration with DGT and Prattler…We had over two hundred RSVPs.. We curated a program of performers…and had a section for Pratt students to independently sell zines, prints, collectibles… Our goal was… to bring the artistic community together, and I thank every single person who was a part of the exhibition process.” 

• Lucca Dohr, Founder of Dynamic Arts Collective 

At the DAC x The Prattler Speakeasy, the pressures of critique were swapped with an environment of lively and unprejudiced creation. In an atmosphere like art school where creation is commodified, the Speakeasy was an homage to the space's historic illicitness, allowing the artists to create completely for the sake of creating.

Anna Avent