Lately I’ve been claiming the gift of perspective. The zoom out. The “it’s not that deep” as well as the “it’s much bigger than me.” Joy does that, as does grief. And I (and we’ve) got loads of both.
Here, @obiekweokolo gives you the chance to zoom out on me in one of my favorite and safest places, my bedroom. It’s been 4 years enjoying this space. And zooming out, settling into DC has brought with it a depth of friendship and relationships that feels so hopeful. Obi has become one of the few people in the District who has held both the little and the big for me simultaneously.
Also please enjoy my yellow socks, I know I do 🍋
My latest for the @nytimes , written with the incredible @vvchambers . On the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Harlem Civic Dinner, an interracial dinner that is said to have started the Harlem Renaissance, this piece reconstructs the evening’s events through archival images and stories that connect the dots across institutions, creative genres, and social networks. Many thanks to the Special Projects team and to Veronica for the invitation to work together again.
Made by a legion of people including design by @marcellehopkins@alice_cian and
@tonydeluxxx . Edited by @dansaltzstein . Team lead @monicadrake1
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Doing the archival research for this piece this winter had me diving deep into the subplots and unsung characters of 1920s Harlem. I fell in love with the friendships and the literary salons. We can’t forget that before the book contracts were the neighborhood hangs. The group study sessions at the library. The late nights partying and carrying on then going home and reading each other poetry. The creative community in Harlem is a result of intellectual friendship, something I feel lucky to have in my own life in DC and sprinkled across this country (my UMich community remains to this day, my North Star). This piece is dedicated to them.
If after reading this piece you want to keep reading about this moment, I want you to google Regina Andrews and the ladies of The Dream Haven, who plotted and connected and partied and rehearsed well before the dinner table was set this evening. So much more to write!
40 years of investing in DC artists! 🎨 Our curator Michelle May-Curry, PhD, was live on FOX 5 DC with @kalynnorwood to talk about the 40th anniversary of the Art Bank grant program. Tap in to hear how this program fills our city’s public spaces with local art.
Click the link in our bio to apply for this year’s grant!
It’s Art Bank season! Are you an artist in DC, MD, or VA or a DC arts non profit representing DMV artists? Apply by May 18th to have your work in @thedcarts Art Bank Collection in its 40th anniversary year! I’m very proud to be the curator of this collection and manager of this grant program. More below and at the *link in my bio*
Some quick facts:
1. Since 1986, The Art Bank is the DC government’s permanent art collection with works by metropolitan artists;
2. Artworks are installed in District offices and buildings. A majority of our over 3,000 works are currently on display across the city
3. We accept up to 3 submissions per application (10 for non profits) of original two- and three-dimensional artwork including, but not limited to: ceramics, drawings, fabric arts, mixed media works, paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures.
4. Award amounts vary but eligible individual applicants may be awarded up to $15,000 for the acquisition of one artwork.
All photographs are from DC Art Now 2025 at CAH’s Eye Street Gallery, last September’s exhibition of finalists artworks up for acquisition. All artists tagged where possible!
📸 Bruce Buckley
Thank you to @yogi__1080@todobynat@yogatraveladventure for taking us DMV yogis on a beautiful yoga + surf retreat to El Salvador. Learned to surf, hiked an active volcano, lathered myself in minerals and bathed in natural hot springs, and saw more sunrises in one weekend than I have in my entire life (certified night owl).
📸: @theunicyclingphotographer
Celebrated my birthday with a trip to the Berkshire Mountains. Wouldn’t be complete without a Mountain Day, a visit to Mass MOCA (aka my favorite museum), and many many cider donuts. Sun Ra said it: everything in nature is my inspiration.
Hat tip to all my fellow Williams College alums. Would highly recommend a return to the Purple Mountains on your own terms when you’re ready.
POV: you’ve traveled to CDMX for Art Week with your very talented group of friends who all happen to be film photographers.
To be seen by this group of people makes me feel 10ft tall. To be creative alongside them makes me dream reallllll big.
Some exacto blade tinkerings at the beginning of my wintering. Playing with foreground and site lines and frames within frames. The ground is water the sky is fire. Taking tips and exercises and inspiration from @paulamansart and @cutandplaced and @feigleylee_studio . Listening to an overindulgent amount of jazz and SoundCloud house dj sets (thank you @kokorokomusic and @moodymann313@thelotradio ). To me It’s all just pleasure masquerading as craft.
DM me your address and I might just put something tiny and weird in the mail for you…These have all been gifted away 💌. (Slide 1: a gift to my perfect intern @mayajlee who I miss so much!)
