Saturday, July 28, 2012

Mixed Emotions...


The installation reflecting memory and loss.

Dear Family,

During the past three years I have had the pleasure of being a resident artist with a local organization called REDLine, Milwaukee.  I first heard of this organization after attending a formal portfolio review. I had only been in back in Milwaukee a few months and had no intention of staying-- I was headed to New York City! Well, best laid plans, right? Unable to find funding for the program at ICP, I remained in Wisconsin, trying to figure out what to do next.

So again, hearing about REDLine, Milwaukee, touring the space, I could quickly see this was a special place and I decided to apply. I had made up my mind, if I was accepted, I will stay in Milwaukee and if not, I was heading back to Nashville. I really thought it was a long shot, as I compared myself to the other residents currently in place. Well, I was accepted... at the end of the two years, I applied for an optional third year and was accepted again. During my time I have grown as an artist and as a person...

Yesterday evening marked my final exhibition as a resident artist. I shared work that focused on a reflection of memory and loss. The conceptual foundation was rooted in the house fire, of the home my mother grew up in. The house that my uncle was currently living in with his family. This fire took place a year ago to the day of the exhibition opening. The installation, as pictured, used items from the home and encouraged interaction. My submission also included a triptych of photos and sculpture created from discarded glass windows. The evening was filled with friends from my runners club, book club, fellow artists, colleagues from the Milwaukee Art Museum and of course family. I felt so loved and grateful to have shared this experience with each of them. And why I did fight back tears several times through the evening (no surprise to some of you) I really couldn't help but be thankful! This time has led my work to such a new place! A place I would of never imagined and can only dream of where it will go...

Having a little fun in front of my installation
As the time marches on, I will have a duet show with my mentor Ann Wydeven, as a RETURNING artist to REDLine, Milwaukee in January 2013 and have already been invited to teach a one day workshop or  3 session class in regards to the photographic processes I use for the community. My work will also be featured in at Pyramax Bank of the Historic Third Ward starting August through the end of the year. And I will be in the members show at Walker's Point Center for the Arts from September 1 (which is when the REDLine show closes) through October 6th.

WOW!  Since I have been back in Milwaukee, I have pretty much been a resident artist with REDLine, Milwaukee. And now that this season is changing... I am excited to see what awaits with a grateful hear.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Application is Key: Fin


I wanted to share one additional writing piece from my weeklong workshop with the Milwaukee Writing Project.

This particular writing assignment was called “In the Hood.” I am sure you may agree that “hood” has a negative connotation, but I am sure this was not the intent of the instructor, and in fact I believe she was trying to be more “hip, then square.”

The Process:

  1.  List the address or locations of homes we lived in from childhood through the present. I was surprised that I was able to remember my house and the address on 38th street in Tucson; where we lived until I was 9.
  2. Select one location and draw a map of the neighborhood. I elected to use Jubilee Hall, where I lived as a Freshman at Fisk University and included aspects of the oval the additional halls, grounds and sorority plots in my map as “the neighborhood."
  3.  In adding additional detail to the map we also recorded random, but key events/ideas. For instance, no one is permitted in the middle of the oval!  
  4.  Following being random, we were then requested to be specific and record ideas that related to: weird neighbors, memorable conversations, music, games, machines/technology, tv/pop culture, nature and odd details as well. Of course I included things such as: Biggie, Tupac, Jodeci, A Tribe Called Quest, getting an Email address, instant messaging and Ricky Lake! 
  5.  At this point, each person recorded a major event that took place in their neighborhood as a narrative. I have shared mine below and now that steps are listed above, I encourage you to try this, you will be surprised what you recall!!


Living in Jubilee Hall as a freshman was an amazing experience! I remember meeting young women from all over the world- literally! And while we each had different backgrounds/experiences, etc. We all had one common goal—TO KILL THE ROACHES!

Roaches, as they called themselves, a small dog as I referred to them were prevalent all to frequently in our dorms. Being from the “North” I had never seen roaches quite this large! In fact, I do not really remember seeing roaches period when growing up, but knew this was unusual! We would be reminded frequently by Mrs. League, the dorm mother, to refrain from keeping food in our rooms, but you can imagine how that worked out.  One particular day the largest roach I had ever seen in my life was cruising down the hallway. Of course we had the bright idea to not only kill it, but torture and burn it as well.

1 can of hairspray + 1 lighter = 1 DEAD ROACH! Or so we thought… In reality we chased the roach, lighting him up several times and he refused to die! It literally scurried from 1 side of the hall to the other and under another unsuspecting victim’s door—still alive to torture US another day. THIS of course would not be our last encounter with the roaches of Jubilee Hall; good thing I only lived there for a year.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Application is Key: Part Deux

So I am taking this Milwaukee Writing Project Workshopas a part of my job for two weeks. The objective: Learn this program so better to assist teachers and docents with theWriting and Art Tour. In addition, be prepared to assist with instruction in the galleries as needed. This entire workshop is based on the concept of writing circles. Each day at the end of the day, we have writing circles, mine is called: The Hemingways
 So here is another example of my writing from this two week professional development. See if you can guess the topic for the day! 



Absolute
All gone
Beige
Bonbon
Brittle
Brown
Cocoa
Cream
Divine
Death by
Edible
Flourless
Fondant
Found of
Ganache
Good
Hard
Iced
Juiced
Kiss
Lava
Life Saver 
Lurid
Mine
Nice
Opulence
Precious
Quaint
Rock
Rum
Scotch kisses
Soft
Sugar
Tasty
Tantalizing
Torturing
Truffles
Under
Velvet
Vixen
Watering
Xciting
Yum
Zeal
Zephyr

CHOCOLATE