I am a visual artist working in collage, assemblage sculpture and altered books. My practice explores identity, memory and the history of the African diaspora. Vintage and contemporary images collide to convey how the past informs the present.


Help me make "Magic"

When I learn to control the universe with magic, Things Are Going to Change Around Here. But until then, I’m concentrating on making magic to support contemporary art.

“CoCA Magic” happens the week after next: it’s a fundraiser for the Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) Seattle. Here’s how it goes:

  1. Thursday: we start the art-making marathon. Each artist has 24 hours to complete three or more pieces.

  2. Friday morning: we go home to recover.

  3. Saturday night: we help CoCA auction off the pieces we’ve made.

Artists raise auction paddles at 2018 CoCA Art Auction. Photo credit: Lonnie Mckenzie/CoCA

Artists raise auction paddles at 2018 CoCA Art Auction. Photo credit: Lonnie Mckenzie/CoCA

I love interpreting a theme! I could go a few ways with this:

Black Girl Magic (thanks to CaShawn Thompson)…

black girl magic_tshirt_flowers_iam-se7en-unsplash - Copy.jpg

Perhaps a riff on the 1940’s-era “Magic Skin” doll (the body’s latex skin is known to darken with age)…

Magic Skin doll-teapotdecor-ebay listing - cropped.jpg

Or maybe my spin on the Magical Negro trope.

But I haven’t settled on which interpretation to take. One? All three? Something totally different? Let me know what you think here.

Construction site visitor's pass

Construction site visitor's pass

Build that wall... with cigar boxes