Iliana (2020)

Iliana Emilia Garcia @ilianaemilia

I was introduced to Iliana by Miguel Luciano when she was exhibiting at @bricbrooklyn ‘s Bordering the Imaginary: Art from the Dominican Republic, Haiti and their Diaspora.They have a great video called Storytelling with Chairs where she talks about her use of the chair in her work. It’s a symbol of domesticity and home. A tool for her to tell a story. She kindly visited me for a studio visit during my time at @svamfafinearts and it was a great visit. She’s amazing! 

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

Daniel (2020)

Daniel Anthony Vasquez @sipote_de_barro

I met Daniel through Instagram. I noticed his work and posts through friends and decided to follow him. I so enjoyed the moments he shared with his son and his art. Daniel is a Salvadoran – American Father and Visual Artist!

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

Lourdes (2020)

Lourdes Bernard @lourdesbernardstudio

Lourdes Bernard is a Dominican-American Artist raised, currently living, and creating her artworks in Brooklyn. I was first introduced to her artwork at @elmuseo. My grandmother was very impressed with her drawings and the story she was telling. She was kind enough to visit my art studio. I was supposed to visit her beautiful studio space and kept missing my opportunities due to a hectic schedule. I still plan to see her amazing space and prolific work in person. 

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

TK (2020)

TK aka Tasty Keish @tastykeish

I remember one evening I met up with Keish at a neighborhood pizza spot and we discussed all the things we wanted to do in our career life. I remember her telling me about her passion for radio and production. Now over ten years later she’s a Co-owner/Producer of @bondfireradio, Radio Personality, Voice over Talent, Master of Ceremonies, and Professional Action Taker! She’s one of my role models. I love you and your work and I’m so very proud to call you my friend!

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

Sheila (2020)

Sheila Pepe @pepestudionyc

While I was attending the SVA MFA program I had access to amazing artists and in the beginning of the semester we had to pick mentors. I failed twice at picking and was reminded of the words of Abigail DeVille. She recommended that I grow a circle of women artists and she was right because my third mentor pick was just right. Sheila listened to me, allowed me space to express my feelings without judgement or correction, and encouraged me to try my ideas and expand outward, fearlessly. We disagreed with some things but those discussions were as valuable as the unconditional love and support she gave me. Thank you Sheila for believing in me, thank you for being my mentor, thank you for your solidarity in the BLM Movement and thank you for participating in the @scaffoldproject.

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

Cheyney (2020)

Cheyney McKnight @notyourmommashistory

With so much going on in the world I must pause from the negative to celebrate the positive and this woman in particular is an amazing contribution to humanity. Cheyney, when I first met you some years back I knew I was blessed to meet you. Your Black excellence, brilliance and knowledge can challenge and excite minds ready to learn truths. Thank you for dedicating your life’s practice to education, history and humanity. You are loved.

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

Gerald (2020)

Gerald Leavell @microcity_gl2

I met Gerald when I was a Family Program Coordinator for the Studio Museum. He was the coordinator for the Expanding the Walls teen program and we enjoyed that time together. He was a thoughtful and genuine colleague and after we had left our positions we became very good friends. He’s an amazing artist, educator and fearless innovator.

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

Dareece (2020)

Dareece Walker @artistdwalker

I met Dareece at @svamfafinearts program. He had graduated the year prior but I was familiar with his work and I know for a fact he was addressing all of these BLM Movement issues years ago like so many other woke people. I’m glad the world is catching up. Dareece thank you for voicing your concerns and love through your artwork.

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

Dana (2020)

Dana Robinson @alphabet_party

Dana Robinson is a multimedia artist working predominantly with fibers and paint. Her practice explores antiquity beyond the simplicity of novelty. Check out her recent virtual exhibit of her Grandmother’s Bells.

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

Iviva (2020)

Iviva Olenick @iviva_in_brooklyn

Iviva and I met through the New York Historical Society. We’re both artists and educators but most importantly we work together in solidarity. Her artworks vary in subject matter but are influenced by immigration, environment and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Iviva exploits the (assumed) delicacy and domesticity of beading, embroidery and crochet to emphasize resilience, flexibility and adaptability. Her processes and resulting artworks question the complex social systems we clothe ourselves in, the degrees to which we are (un)aware of the boundaries between social expectations, personal identity and behavior. I appreciate our shared unity and I support your activism. Visit Iviva’s work in the Brooklyn Utopias: 2020 exhibition outdoors 

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″

Jonathan (2020)

Jonathan Joseph @boyandsheep

I met Jonathan a few times before we were formally introduced. We met formally last year when he visited me at the Abrons Art Center in the lower east side during a Parent Artists Residency I was completing. He’s a kind, helpful, creative artist, musician and urban planner (he’s got credentials). A renaissance man.

Pen, pencil, acrylic and flash paint on Shizen Pastel Paper

9″ x 12″