2024 in Review
2024 in Review
a list poem of sorts
january
Florals, still lifes, and figure drawing
”Contemporary African Spirituality in Art” show with Calabar Gallery at Seton Hall
Began English paper piecing because Emily let me see the antique quilts from the archive at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts and I needed one more hobby.
”Growing Resistance” show at MIAD, fantastic exhibit documenting arts, community organizing and agriculture through Milwaukee, and how these things inform our culture
Bought a car from a questionable used car dealership, where the man who sold it to me was fired a week later for drinking. The vehicle promptly began breaking down. I have a two year warranty, and this is the worst relationship I have ever been in.
february
More floral paintings and still life, observational sketches at guitar show
Monthlong sleepovers at David and Gloria’s, while I did an impromptu working artist residency at Spectrum School of Art. I joined the gallery as a member because Denise was the only person I asked who offered to let me use her space for less than thousands of dollars. I spent the month working on “Moanin in muddy waters” triptych for the Baird center
Figure drawing at Draw Joseph studio, where I remembered how enjoyable it is to draw nudes and not talk to anyone while Lou Reed screams through my headphones.
march
Assembled fabric triptych at Spectrum with Denise’s adult art classes checking in on me periodically with a down the stairs field trip.
Attended the Wisconsin Black Art Expo hosted by Mahogany Gallery at UW Parkside, and checked out the Trenton Baylor artist talk
Rekindled my love of roller skating at the hometown roller rink.
Community dinner for Growing Resistance at MIAD, met Marlon Hall
Saw Della’s work become part of the Milwaukee Art Museum permanent collection
Started petite portrait studio sessions, did roughly a dozen. Only one isn’t finished, but they mostly turned out ok.
”Black Pioneers” exhibition continues to travel
april
Created art for 88nine’s lifetime achievement award for Sam Belton
Did a bunch of cyanotypes
Bought Charly Palmer USPS stamps for my collection (very cool)
may
Had custom frame boxes built by Steve at Infrastructure Canvas.
More petite portraits, plein air paintings
Served as a panelist at “Building the Table” for Women’s Entrepreneurship Week, ate delicious pizze from Flour Girl and Flame. It even came with hot honey.
june
Taught a workshop at “Invitation to vocation”, celebrating Venice William’s 35 anniversary in ministry. I am in perpetual awe of how connected she is to her congregation, and how much room she continues to create around her.
Taught a workshop at the bell hooks Symposium. Driving to Kentucky with kits, car broke down in indiana, causing lots of grief, including missing my appointment for the bell hooks Archive. Took car to a dealership in Lexington, where they showed used parts that were put back into the car for repair, causing the breakdown this time.Yelled at by the Wisconsin dealership owner, who told me he wouldn’t spend any more money on the vehicle (forgetting that I had a two year extended warranty). Stuck in Kentucky for three additional days. Made the most of it by eating the first peaches of the season and watching trash television with Shadee.
Delivered Vel n Em to Greenwood Park Gallery and Framing for framing and installation at ThriveOn project on King Drive.
Mark built himself a driveway to go with the garage.
Participated in Lakefront Festival of Art at the Milwaukee Art Museum as the poster artist, and managed to make it to an Iron and Wine concert but missed out on artist drinking and comisseration because of additional car problems.
More plein air painting at Wingspread, might turn the piece into a textile, but who knows?
Took our maiden voyage in Pickles, the vintage winnebago travel trailer I got to do plein air and workshops on the road
july
More cyanotypes, and pay what you can petite portraits at Villa Terrace Artist Day
Lost my uncle Donnie, got to spend an evening with him before he went.
Spent a week as political refugees at Western Hills Garden to avoid the RNC and anticipated violence (Out of state officers shot and killed a homeless man). Spent time under redwoods and near the ocean. Stopped in Berkeley for an evening to hang out with Lauren’s family (happy birthday Mia!) and ate dinner with midwestern friends Georgina and Dan. Trapped in Las Vegas airport for many hours, delayed due to international computer breakdown. Plane almost crashed when we got home. Had to break into our own house.
Finished Alice Visions Octavia, now in the permanent collection of UW Whitewater Crossman Gallery.
Cyanotype workshop for teens at MAM
Spent much time at the beach and at state parks, remembering to protect public green spaces, waterways, and parks through letters and phone calls.
august
Starving artist fair at Spectrum. Got to see some old friends and make some new ones. Spent the day outside doing petite portrait demos.
Arianne at Lynden for annual indigo dye workshops, she invited me to Cuba for a cultural exchange, doing dye workshops in a yoruba village in Havana. Board a flight to cuba. CUBA! (separate post eventually)
Cecelia Gilbert passed away, and the city mourned.
WQMFA Digital Humanities fellowship announced, I get to chat with and document a small sample of the state’s textile artists in a listening project turned podcast. Pretty delightful.
Mahogany gallery takes “People’s Church: Black Mages” works to Butter, pieces acquired by University of Indiana student union.
september
Cultural Artist exchange in Cuba with Arianne and Hank!
Second year of participating in Sketch Racine, which culminated in a return to the underground railroad church I visited on a walking tour in first grade. I never forgot that experience.
Finished the Basilica textile.
Installed solo show at Museum of Wisconsin Art on the Lake, did the opening talk, show runs til Dec 15th.
”Fiber Connections” opening at UW Whitewater Crossman Gallery, students voted to add “Alice Visions Octavia” to the permanent collection.
Opening at “Criss Cross: Seams II” at Portrait Society Gallery, re-encounter illustrator extraordinaire Emil Ferris, spent the night chatting away with her in a dark corner.
Celebrated our anniversary at Kohler Andrae state park, saw a gorgeous solar rainbow. Mark gifted me a litho from his uncle Paul Yank thatI fell in love with it on a visit to his studios last year. Visited Kohler art preserve. Remembered that the Kohler company wants to privatize portions of this state park to expand their golf course, and I hate that we are losing public waterway access for rich folks to have more places to golf.
october
Started drafting Cuba illustrations to process the experience, possibly expanding the sketches to larger bodies of work later.
Began digital humanities interviews
Tried to celebrate my birthday, but the weight of the genocide of the palestinian people has burdened my heart for two birthdays in a row.
Travelled to Alabama for the Kentuck Festival with Della. Did an iron pour from one of the cuba illustrations, got to meet some of the ladies from Gee’s Bend, and learned that a blooming onion is too much to eat for two people.
november
More digital humanities interviews, and a few cancellations.
Started new mixed media series in preparation for a solo show.
Bathroom under full construction. Tiles procured, arch built, chandelier and vessel sink procured from Antiques on Pierce annual sale. Thanks to Eli at Art Asia for the beautiful sink!
General anxiety from election results hijacked my brain and stole every once of productivity for about a week and a half.
Finished “mother and child” painting as a way of grieving the election realities and the weight the outcome will have on women, children, brown folks, queer people, and everyone who isn’t a straight white man.
december
More existential dread/exhaustion from election results
A decision to move forward, with more details forthcomiing.
I’ll be making some announcements in the next week or so, so if you aren’t already, please sign up for the newsletter. Thanks for reading the list poem.