What are our times asking for?
There is an urban ethnic colloquial, being “woke” that has trickled into mainstream society at least to those who are “in the know.” If you’re really woke, you may be privileged to the labeling, Woke A.F. (As F*^k) which can be a compliment. The understanding is, the designated person is awakened to the times and understanding the racial complexities, normalized complexities within varied structures and societal temperature that lineage to oppressive pressure points of many within the underclass. I think there is a beauty to this particular term, a call to us on different levels. From the artist standpoint, I think being woke is a necessity to our humanness as well as shaping our craft, whatever that may be. I think our time is asking from us something that we may be unable or unwilling to give; vulnerability. In this appearance driven time, where image seems to play more of a role than reality, artists need to be open to the feel, look and shaping that is happening within these spaces and places. Like reporters, the artist examines what is happening ask questions that enlighten and energize, ignite compassion as well as disrupt, or disturb all towards getting to the bare essence of the truth embedded within the core of the matter. And in order to do this, the layers of acceptability must come off and in its place, examination and being open is found in vulnerability.
–What “signals of now” does your work give off?
The signals of now my work gives off is paying attention to issues that are important to me and allows me to address it in a way my creative ancestors may not have had. Still though, I find even though I could have more freeing language, I sometimes use words as a dance instead of being as linear as I’d like to be. I’ve been learning the art of dance with words, to do-si-do if you will because there are times when blunt will not do, but a well-placed courtesy curtsy can work wonders. And what I hope to give off is kindness, care, humor, intelligence with alternative ways of considering the topic at hand.