Project 2020

Posted here are my final pages for Kamala's amazing book. Pam mailed the book to me in a large box since she was the last one that worked on it. Inside the packet were large white beautiful Handmade Deckle Edge Indian Cotton Watercolor paper and detailed instructions. I decided to make a collage using paste paper sheets and gelatin prints to create my image. Here you can see the profiled head cut from paste paper. I used gelatine prints on the the back - cut them up and collaged them to the surface. This is how it looks folded. The half page reveals only a piece of the  silhouetted head. When opened you see both. I loved working on the beautiful deckled sheets that Kamala provided. 

I decided after a lot of experimenting to make a collage of monotypes and paste paper for Kamala's book. I originally wanted to create an image relating to the Black Panthers that would have explored that organization and its roots in California and their presence in Chicago, but also reference the movie Black Panther and its huge impact on blacks in America and around the world. I thought with the recent death of  Chadwick Baseman it would be a significant phenomena to include in the year 2020. 

Wow! That was an invigorating meeting (our 3rd one). Thanks to all sister artists for participating on the Zoom call. The energy is definitely on! We talked a great deal about exhibits, realizing there are so many possibilities in the DC metro area alone, and talked about promotions, proposals, and grants, Oh My! Everybody is busy on their second book in the rotation. We will mail or exchange them on September 26, and then receive a new one to create our mighty works in! We are definitely on a roll! -Adjoa Here are some reactions from today's Project 2020 meeting from participating artists... "Each of you are an inspiring artist that makes me want to accomplish more." Pamela "Everytime I meet with you all it reminds me of the artistic gift of self expression that was God given." Gloria "We are building something big." Kamala "All I can say is just thank you." Michele "Thank you my sisters." Blessings Francine !! "It takes a Vil...

ME  the coffee-- Here's my finished piece for Julee's book.  I've been thinking about how tough the past few years have been and how resilient and flexible I've had to be.  I loved the story about how the hotter the water the stronger the coffee.  I'm a tea, rather than coffee drinker--I like my tea black, no sugar, no milk--the concept is the same.  So, I approached this as a woodcut self-portrait with ME the coffee.  Coffee, like Black women, comes in many flavors, tints, and shades from expresso to mocha,  cappuccino to cafe au lait--each with its own strength.  Pam

 

       After the magical meet-up at Lilian T. Burwell's home---I cradled Julee's book in my arms as I made the short walk down the hill to my home in Venice Beach.  It sat in my studio/office until Labor Day---when I knew I'd have time to really reflect on the creative innovation of Julee's box book inspired by the short story, 'be the coffee.'  I love that the book is all black and white---as a printmaker, I feel most comfortable with black and white imagery.  The idea for my response didn't take long, as I knew I wanted to create a woodcut for the book.  I found a block that had been given to me 25 years ago that I set aside for the right project.  Well, this is it.  I decided to create a self-portrait as part of my response---you'll have to wait for the finished product to see how I connect my portrait to the concept---but here's my in-process work. Pam

Here, I'm putting the finishing touches on the interior of my book/box entitled the "Crocodile." The crocodile shape is made of leather and has been glued onto a magenta sheet of rice paper. The crocodile is the most fierce animal in the jungle, who has no predators. The Egyptians believed that the crocodile  was the intercession into the spirit world, as it protected the spirit world from our world. It is also symbolic of adaptability, by the Akan people of Ghana. "Denkyem" is an Adinkra symbol that depicts a crocodile. It has its own proverb "The crocodile lives in the water, yet breaths the air"  which is the mantra through out this book. The crocodile is a recurring symbol in my work, as I believe adaptability is why and how my ancestors survived some of the most brutal atrocities known to man, yet we are still here! Somehow between adaptability and resilience they built America, produced the food and other agriculture products, developed ground br...