Zip ties! Yes please
Inspired By: Shipwreck Print
I think it fortuitous that just as I am researching Mama Wata, this video surfaces inn my feed as inspiration.
Inspired by Safety Pins
Im loving this work. In my teens, I was fond of making safety pin pendants using beads and embroidery thread.
Coconut Rope Making
This gives me so many ideas…
Say it Loud
Navigating Racial Trauma: Weaving Strength through Emotional Baggage Carts
Despite the growing commitment to fostering racial equity, the daily experiences of women of color show little improvement. The persistence of microaggressions remains a stark reality, echoing the challenges faced before the emergence of the BLM movement. These microaggressions carry significant consequences, fostering stress, anger, frustration, self-doubt, and, ultimately, a sense of powerlessness and invisibility. Within this emotional landscape, my Emotional Baggage Carts emerge as vessels for the weight of racial trauma, offering a transformative act of liberation.
Weaving the Sting:
The act of crafting these carts is a powerful mechanism for weaving the sting of daily microaggressions into a tangible form. As I engage in this creative process, the emotional weight of these incidents is incorporated into the cart. This act of making serves as a cathartic release, offering a means to free myself from the constraints imposed by these triggers.
Liberation through Creation:
In the intricate process of weaving, the emotional baggage is not merely contained; it is transformed into a symbol of strength and resilience. The Emotional Baggage Carts become vessels that encapsulate the stories of microaggressions, allowing me to navigate and confront the emotional toll. Through this creative act, I reclaim a sense of agency and freedom, breaking free from the shackles of stress and self-doubt that accompany these daily challenges.
A Transformative Journey:
Each cart becomes a visual representation of the emotional journey, woven with threads of endurance and empowerment. The transformative nature of this creative endeavor serves as a testament to the strength and resilience inherent in women of color. The Emotional Baggage Carts stand not as burdens but as artifacts of triumph over adversity.
In the pursuit of racial equity, acknowledging the persistent challenges faced by women of color is essential. The Emotional Baggage Carts represent more than vessels for racial trauma; they embody a transformative journey toward resilience and empowerment. As microaggressions persist, these carts become symbols of strength, enabling women of color to weave their narratives of endurance and liberation, reclaiming a sense of agency in the face of adversity.
Inspired by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman” is a powerful ode to self-assurance and female empowerment. In the poem, Angelou celebrates her own unique beauty and presence, rejecting conventional standards of attractiveness. Instead of conforming to society’s expectations, she revels in her own essence and exudes confidence in her identity as a woman. Through her words, Angelou encourages other women to embrace their own uniqueness and recognize their inherent worth, regardless of external judgments or pressures.
Inspired by Jeffery Gibson
Jeffrey Gibson’s work is undeniably inspiring! His fusion of traditional Native American materials and techniques with non traditional substrates like punching bags creates a vibrant and thought-provoking visual language. As I delve into my own artistic practice, I’m drawn to Gibson’s bold use of color, pattern, and texture, as well as his exploration of identity and cultural heritage. His ability to blend diverse materials into cohesive and evocative artworks encourages me to push the boundaries of my own creativity and explore new ways of expressing my ideas.
Find inspiration in the mundane
“Ideas may come from anywhere, anything, anytime, anyplace. For the most part, however, I believe that they spring from rather unromantic, sometimes unexpected, or even unsavory sources. The artist is a collector of things imaginary or real. He accumulates things with the same enthusiasm that a little boy stuffs his pockets. The scrap heap and the museum—embraced with equal curiosity. He takes snapshots, makes notes, records impressions on tablecloths or newspapers, on backs of envelopes or matchbooks. Why one thing and not another is part of the mystery, but he is omnivorous.”
Paul Rand: A Designer’s Art
Inspired by…. Sonya Clark
Textile and social practice artist Sonya Clark is renowned for her mixed-media works that address race and visibility, explore Blackness, and redress history. This online exhibition—the first survey of Clark’s 25-year career—includes the artist’s well-known sculptures made from black pocket combs, human hair, and thread as well as works created from flags, currency, beads, cotton plants, pencils, books, a typewriter, and a hair salon chair.