When I learned that this year’s Newark Arts Festival theme was Radical Reimagining, I immediately knew that my Blackity Black Blanket belonged in the exhibition. The concept of Radical Reimagining challenges us to envision a world where art, culture, and connection shape everything we do. It’s a call to deconstruct the systems of oppression we know and to co-create communities based on equity and justice. Blackity Black Blanket fits right into this narrative by addressing the very real, yet often invisible, impact of racial gaslighting.
Blackity Black Blanket speaks to my personal experiences of racial gaslighting—those subtle, undermining comments that push me to doubt my own understanding of racism. Phrases like, “Are you sure it was about race?” or “You’re being overly dramatic,” are attempts to dismiss my reality and avoid difficult conversations. Over time, these interactions have weighed heavily on me, resulting in insomnia, anxiety, and emotional baggage that feels impossible to carry alone.
In creating this piece, I am reclaiming my power and crafting an aesthetic armor. The blanket, woven from recovered commercial fishing nets and adorned with thousands of black zip ties, acts as a shield—both literally and symbolically. It’s a form of self-protection against the weight of gaslighting, and through this work, I exorcise the demons of doubt that these interactions have instilled in me.
In the spirit of Radical Reimagining, Blackity Black Blanket embodies the idea of using art to confront uncomfortable truths and to build a world where marginalized voices are honored, heard, and protected. Just as Radical Reimagining calls us to reshape society, my work pushes for the acknowledgment and dismantling of racial gaslighting as we strive for a more just future.
Radical Reimagining
Dates: October 9 – December 1
Location: Newark Museum of Art; 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ
https://newarkartsfestival.com
