More good news URBettes! It's been so busy lately, I've hardly had time to breathe. But I am loving it because it's mostly art related. I'm excited to share with you all that's been happening in the last month.
(Example artwork from a Paint Night I virtually led at A.M. Davis Elementary School for Black History Month this year. I introduced the children to artist Kehinde Wiley and then showed them how to paint flowers to make a backdrop for a photograph of themselves. We had a ball.)
1. I am honored to be one of four PopUp-Residents at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Va. What does it mean to be a popup-resident? VisArts is giving me access to a studio space with my own key for 3 months. I also have 24/7 access to the entire building including community studio spaces. This is great because they have several studios with equipment that I wouldn't ordinarily have access to without shelling out some major bills. So far I have made plenty use of the fiber studio and wood shop. I will be learning soon how to do screen-printing and hopefully some other types of woodworking.
2. Fellow artist, Jowarnise, and I were awarded a grant from CultureWorks to lead a summer art workshop with young ladies from Girls for a Change. We are super excited and can't wait to encourage positive body image through the use of art.
3. I was excited to learn that I've been asked back to design the 2nd Street Festival poster. I get to do an idea I had for the 2020 poster and I may even get to sign posters at the festival in-person for 2021. I'm super stoked. Anyone who knows me know I like to meet and greet people and talk about one of my favorite things - art!
My artwork for the poster last year:
4. Shhhh! I have a project in the works that involves several other artists. We are going to do a popup version of The Met Gala. Instead of a flash mob, it's an art mob!
5. Did I mention I was accepted in Artfields. I didn't place but it was a fabulous opportunity that I would do again. Artfields is an annual juried show that invites artist from the south eastern United States to exhibit work and is located in Lake City, South Carolina. The work was spread out over 41 venues for about a week. The grand prize is $50,000 in cash. We drove down for the final day of the show and walked our soles off trying to see everything. I met some truly amazing artists.
Thank you if you stayed to read all of that. There are two upcoming opportunities to see me in-person! Check out the fliers below:
That's all for now. As always, stay tuned...