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King Constance
Mixed media and resin
2022
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While visiting Danielle Scott's exhibit at the Lemmerman Gallery, I was truly moved as she elaborated on her journey and the experiences she participated in. When discussing King Constance, Scott discussed adorning the children with clothing and crowns to dictate what the could've been in society if they weren't taken in for slavery. "The beatitude is made manifest by the radiance that surrounds them" (McCall). These children weren't able to show their full potential due to the restrictions and the punishments that followed. Scott brought a sense of prosperity and joy, despite the tragedies endured, by dressing up the children with beautiful crowns, eye-catching outfits, and a larger distinction as human being, as opposed to being "slaves". Sadly, the children were ripped away from their family and the outlines represent those who were sold off, missing, or gone from the world. It is a true tragedy to understand the hardships these people had to endure while watching their family disappear, whether they were or were not blood related.
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Queen of Angels
Mixed media assemblage
2020
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When first entering the gallery to view Danielle Scott's work, this homage to the late Ms. Gladys Barker Grauer took my breath away. The use of blueprints from the building she taught at, the halo and flowers surrounding her head, and the water spout drew me in. Scott's explanation behind the creation, along with the adoration she had for Ms. Grauer for the time they spent together, almost moved me to tears. Ms. Grauer poured, the reasoning behind the included water spout, an extraordinary amount of knowledge and care into Danielle Scott throughout their 26 years together. As stated by Scott during the artist talk, the first ever ironing board was created by a woman of color. The use of an ironing board, as described by Scott, was to pay respect towards women of color and the impact they truly had on our world. The use of a photograph created a sense of familiarity and brought the art piece to life. As Sontag stated, "What is written about a person or an event is frankly an interpretation, as are handmade visual statements, like paintings and drawings. Photographed images do not seem to be statements about the world so much as pieces of it, miniatures of reality that anyone can make or acquire" (Sontag).
The use of a photograph and well planned details, such as the blue prints, gave us a deeper look into who she was and her impact on Scott, but we are only able to understand so much. Without the explanation and the stories told by Scott, we could make a small interpretation with the details surrounding the photographs. The photograph alone would leave us questioning who is the lady shown but as you piece information and art together, we are able to understand the larger picture.
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| Growth 2023 |
As I created my selfie, I struggled to decided what pictured I wanted to use. Growing up, I was never a fan of being photographed as I lacked self love and confidence. However, as I have gotten older, I have become a bit more comfortable being in front of the camera and I found an importance in snapping pictures.
I would enjoy reflecting on the past an observing changes within myself, both internally and externally.
To others, its an ordinary selfie.. though that is true, I wanted to document the change I noticed in myself. I have struggled to style and accept my hair for a while now but I truly enjoyed how my hair was looking on this day. It was Thanksgiving and I was off to celebrate with
a new part of my partner's family that I briefly spoke to
a few months back. I wanted to document my feelings
of confidence and self-love while also feeling anxious at the same time. As Sontag claimed, "To collect photographs is to collect the world... but with still photographs the image is also an object". I was a still object in the image but looking back at it, I was documenting a small moment of change and excitement.
The use of poetry, by one of my favorite poets Reyna Biddy, behind me is a way to express how I continue to view myself as I look deeper within. The flowers are a couple of my favorite flowers and it allowed me to express a small sense of femininity and growth. I decided to surround myself with a gold outline and a crown because I am working to consider myself an important person in my own life. I would prioritize everyone else in my life but I lost myself in the process.. I want to reclaim my importance. I was told by someone in the past to be a bit more selfish as opposed to always being selfless because I needed to protect myself.
This piece was inspired by King Constance and Queen of Angels.
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