Black Woman is Art
The theme: Motherhood... Or rather be "Muva"
ICYMI: The Keith Lee of it all
In previous week’s post and in Oakland Voices I wrote about influencer, Keith Lee’s visit to the Bay Area. Well days after his departure I recorded with my good sis Kahja Elliot, Niema Jordan and Charlese Banks on her podcast “As Told By…” and decided to make it a crossover episode on my own platform “I Have Questions” podcast.
Yes. I have a podcast. I’m just inconsistent.
Stop yelling at me. I already know.
Exhibit: The Black Woman is God
On show at 231 Grant Street, San Francisco
Karen Senefu has a special place in my heart for creating spaces for others to display their work. Her exhibition for the Black Woman is God still warms my heart.
I wrote about it in 2021 when the exhibit was at SoMaArts in San Francisco. Then she returned 2023, in San Francisco’s financial district, to take up space. I went when it first opened to the artist talks.
The exhibition was originally slated to close in October but was extended and has included work from so many Black women artists. Unfortunately I didn’t capture all the names of the artists but did see piece from the first woman Black panther, musician and artist Tarika Lewis.
I loved seeing the portrait titled “Mimi is Mutha” of writer and friend Mimi Tempest is the embodiment of “Muva”, a phrase used in drag culture to describe an iconic figure and a way to express the fandom. Her newest book Delicacy of Embracing Spirals is out and she’s been having readings all over the world. This portrait and knowing her reminds me to not just create art but to embody it.
At the time of my visit the piece from Nicole Dixon “Come Home”. Her blend of mixed mediums and gold leaf embellishments as an accentuated crown speaks to royalty in any form. The way that piece highlighted a Black man in a form that is perceived as hardcore or intimidating combined with soft elements is stunning.
There was so much care and love put into this exhibition and I need to revisit it.