#celbrating

Today I experimented with screen print using series of finalized illustrations as prints .I printed them on to tote bags and-shirts because I wanted theses images to look bold and powerful in public spaces that can give a voice to black people. I am influenced by ancient adinkra symbols that originated in West Africa that was used as a way of communicating (Adinkrabrand,2019). These symbols are still used today on architecture, clothing and Jewellery and I am inspired by the different cultural symbols being celebrated with different materials .I don’t want to limit the materials I use because I want these images to access all areas of public so that they get seen so they have a voice to express themselves. 

For this project I wanted to continue exploring the adinkra symbols because this project is about giving a voice to Black people born in the UK .These symbols tell a story and the imagery I am showcasing are black people’s experiences and each individual tells a story .That’s why adinkra symbols is a good way of sharing educational and creative cultures that don’t get seen enough. Therefore, I am celebrating black achievement and giving black culture a voice. 

Laser cut 

I have laser cut series of my new version of adinkra symbols onto wood because I wanted an old and vintage effect to represent how old and ancient adinkra symbols are. I then used the wood work shop to build wood blocks that can crop my stamps so they are easier for my audience to explore. 

These stamps will be laid out on a table for the audience to stamp their favorite symbol so that they take a cultural inspiring print to as symbolic imagery .This is important to me because I want these adinkra symbols to be represented and celebrated and this topic of my work is about giving a voice to black people. This is an achievement that their ancestors has achieved. I think it’s important that the audience do practical work within the workshop so that they explore something educational and cultural.

Today I delivered a workshop with Handsworth men’s group. I wanted to celebrate a culture that is something significant and educational for my participants. They explored horoscopes that are from China and they had to choose their star sign and create their animal star sign using clay. I wanted them to use clay because it a very practical and revealing material and animals worked best to create .Although China is not the most unrepresented culture in the UK due to popularity of Chinese food and Chinese new year (Mailonline, 2019) however I wanted my participants to learn about different cultures around the world so that they are open minded and we can celebrate different ethnicities.

It was a great workshop and the participants really enjoyed learning new things as well as creating their own work .What worked most successfully in this workshop was that we started off discussing about horoscopes and brainstorming ideas on how to make a unique animal which built a good relationship in the group but also gave them enough advice to work independently. I will use these skills to better develop my workshops.

Celebrating Lines, Shapes and Shadows

“The present changes the past. Looking back you do not find what you left behind.” ― Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss

Presenting two more photos from my photo-walk in Celebration Town Center, both taken at the AMC Celebration 2 theatre building — closed since 2010. The sun was out and quite bright, but as there was a storm coming in, it created the perfect opportunity to capture some…