#theloverfly

why you always talk about freedom? //there is no explanation.

Inspired by a telephone conversation with a friend one morning.

Shared some music that I enjoy for Mistah Rapsey’s season 2 debut Collaborator mix series by Staying Underground Network! Thank You for all of the plugs Thomas, you a far too kind, haha. Here’s an alternative mixcloud stream.

Staying Underground prsnts, COLLABORATOR 033: Dana Washington w/ Mistah Rapsey on the B-side

Staying Underground is blessed to bring back another season of Collaborator mixes with the one and only loverfly aka Dana Washington. Her photography has graced the covers of classic albums including SIR’s Seven Sundays, Tiffany Gouche’s Pillow Talk and photography for Versis’ copæsethetic. She is currently crowdfunding for a short film, let’s help her make it happen. Bless!

Side-A: Dana Washington 1. The Sa-Ra Creative Partners - From The Darkness To The Light 2. Kendrick Lamar - untitled 04 | 08.14.2014. 3. Terrace Martin - Think Of You (Ft. Rose Gold & Kamasi Washington) 4. Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program - Penny’s Confession 5. Syd - Smile More 6. Fatima - Circle 7. Norvis Junior - HudSaf 8. Jameszoo - Flake

Credit &Context

If I get barred from ever gracing the Afropunk website I’ll take that chance, because I have personal-artistic integrity and I should not feel used by a platform that’s content and target audience is known to be POC.

This happened recently. For the second time Afropunk posted a photograph of mine, which for the average person would seem very awesome, though for me it was and is a nuisance.

In 2015, the Afropunk Twitter & Facebook accounts posted the above photograph without any photography credit. The other day I received notifications from friends that the photograph was posted once again, but this time with my name attached. My sole concern is their motivation behind posting it in 2016. I assume the gratification of likes, favorites and hearts is a factor, and possibly to showcase a very beautiful black woman with natural hair, okay yes. But, I see through this charade. So Afropunk (and anyone else) please reframe from using my images for people to coo and cah over without my credit, approval or involvement - I know this is impossible, but understand my frustration.

What bothers me is not only the irresponsibility of not providing proper photography credit, this issue with crediting is something that I will verse passionately about until I am red in the face, but Afropunk had a perfect opportunity to spotlight why I (an artist of color) took this photograph.

This image is but 1 of 15 or so images from a 2014-2015 portrait series entitled Awa. I felt it was my duty to present people of color with dignity, beauty and grace through photography as a means to “speak out.” This series grew out of my sorrow and anguish after the death of Michael Brown and I did so to juxtapose how the media often portrays people of color.

I opened up my home and invited friends &strangers to participate via Internet request. No one was specifically chosen based on their appearance or Internet presence.

In mid 2015, I stopped the series prematurely because I began to sense people were only contacting me in order to get the photographs for their personal use. In other words, an opportunity for a free photoshoot. That ended quickly. I also noticed, at one point, the woman in the above image had not given me photography credit or offered any written context to why she felt it necessary to participate in the portrait series. During the photo-session, she could not vocalize her need for involvement, I did not question her sincerity then. However, that changed, and immediately the original image was removed from my accounts and website. I’m an artist, and I’m sensitive about...

Afropunk’s contributor(s) weakened and continue to weaken my artistic intention for a work, that I was emotionally and psychologically invested in, by lifting images off other accounts (without crediting) and posting said images... this creates a ripple effect. Others begin to lift the image without the credits and artistic ownership is compromised. Afropunk contributors must also dig a little deeper and research where work stems from. That photograph means more than a woman with an afro. Do better. As for subjects, if a photographer takes your photograph credit them when you post the work. Simple.

A note for artists: Have some integrity, don’t get too giddy if a website/platform posts your work without any decent context to accompany it. You and your work are worth more than a one-sentence, copy &paste write up, if that at all. Hold journalists and site contributors to a respectable standard.

when our mirrors are dirty; is Madness a form of hiding?

Art. It’s a feeling. It’s a privilege. 

I believe art-making is very much about using your artistic gift to help, heal and inspire. Most of us tend to take it seriously. For those of us who do, art is our purpose for living, our bread and water. It’s a duty. No, not a chore, but it’s much more than a hobby. Making art is almost like relinquishing your physical being and allowing your work to speak, see and hear, feel and taste for you. By giving your creative self and your art that much weight to carry life will get emotional and that's draining. But, your art is an extension of you and it means that much.

I am guilty of this self-pressuring. I am so guilty that I’ve experienced intense emotional sadness and frustration over image-making. In June of 2015, I found myself crying outside of a gallery space in Los Angeles after being so moved by the photographer’s intent. The work displayed was a result of him following his passion and him being rewarded with an exhibition. It was grief, my stagnancy and not doing what I love that had me in tears. And, quite frankly it’s okay to cry in public over yourself. You, your art and your abilities are worth your tears; people should bear witness. 

Well, again this afternoon, after watching Straight Outta Compton I broke down in tears driving home. Yes…I know, crying (during) and after this particular movie sounds a bit strange, but I did. I cried because those men broke the mold and forged their own paths, questionably, but that’s not my focus. They did what they felt strongly about, and bulldozed past any threat to achieve their goals.

Although, I’m not a crier, I do know now how much art-making means to me. It’s absolutely unacceptable to be filled with creative energy, visions and dreams, and not put myself/yourself in positions to release and execute. Of course, we have to consider who we work for, with and why, and understand that artistry requires patience, but we must also acknowledge that we’re in an age where carving a lane for ourselves is much easier than ever. Because honestly, who wants to work for a company that doesn’t value you as a human being? Rhetorical! And, yes. Sometimes it does get difficult to create art and receive very little recognition, but it’s beyond that. It’s about creating, creating consistently and creating great content consistently. Repeat after me: It’s time. It’s time. It’s time.

So, when I say art and art-making are privileges, I really do mean it. Art is arguably elitist with who it (and its gatekeepers) affords tools, resources, opportunities and institutional spaces to. While many artists get bogged down about copycats, over-saturated mediums, being hated on or film vs digital (stop that!), there are artists out there just simply trying to gather the courage to make art.