Keep Looking Beautiful

2012-01-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

Kenya Robinson...how awesome is she?

At the beginning of my transition I was looking up hair artists through images on google searches and what not and came across her blog. I was so excited to see the work she'd done about black hair and other topics tangled in the idea of good hair. Originally from Gainsville, FL, Robinson is a self-taught artist whose work revolves around mass material items used as art materials. Her works inlcude printmaking, sound/performance art, and installation. Her 2008 exhibition titled, HAIRPOLITIC:The Pursuit of Nappiness was my starting point in how I wanted to shape my Keep Looking Beautiful series.

I would love to see some her work in person. ...until then Ill stay tuned to her blog at http://kenyaworkspace.blogspot.com/

Hair products in my daily regimen

2012-01-13T20:13:00.000-08:00

I was checking out my friend Brittany's blog, The Lion Hair Blog, and realized I should do an update post on the products I'm using in my hair. BB did an interview with me over the summer where I gave her the key products that I used daily to keep my hair at its best. Check the link below to get the full article :)

http://www.thelionhairblog.com/2011/07/what-others-are-doing-erin.html

Since that was about 6 months ago, I figure it would be a good time to post a new pic and update. My mom and sister got me into Carol's Daughter hair products. I'd been kind of against the whole natural hair products because I think they are way over priced but Carol's Daughter has been doing right by my locks. My hair has been looking and feeling more moisturized, bouncy, and healthy. Here's the break down:
1) Black Vanilla leave in conditioner spray

I was iffy about the leave in sprays but this is just the thing my hair needs in between co-washes and multiple twist out. Its a lifesaver when I'm too lazy to do a full conditioning treatment.
2) Marguerite's Magic cream hairdress

I'd been looking for a daily hairdress and this does the trick!
3) Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding

I actually haven't tried the curly pudding yet. It was given to me as a gift and am very anxious to see the results. I've gotten a lot of mixed reviews but a common denominator of them all was that Miss Jessie is too expensive :/ and I honestly wouldn't have made the purchase had it not be given to me lol

I switched up my main conditioner to Hello Hydration and for my sulfate free shampoo I use a Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo that I picked up at a local Trader Joe's.

What Ive changed since July: COMBING. Yea…I very rarely combed my hair during my transition in fear of causing hair breakage. However after I got my hair straightened in October I realized combing wouldn't be such a bad thing as dumb as that sounds lol.

"The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975"

2012-01-05T07:36:00.001-08:00

Just recently had the chance to take a look at the documentary, "The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975" and really enjoyed the film as a whole. I was most interested in the interview with Angela Davis as she answers the question whether she approves of violence. Check it out.

p.s. if you're wondering what that song is on the preview its "Unwritten": The Roots, Rising Down

Tis the Season!

2011-12-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of helping out at GCYC Holiday Arts Bazaar last Saturday and had a blast making crafts with the kids! Thanks Elgin and Katie Estes for inviting me to join in on the fun. Here are a few snaps I took of the kids and their creations :)

Barbie gets a Fro for the Holidays!

2011-12-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

When I picture Barbie, it’s with her signature straight blonde hair, unrealistically perky (and hard) boobs, and undeniably Caucasian skin tone and features. Sure, there’s darker-skinned Teresa and, uh, gingery Midge who sported a fetus in her hollowed belly, but they all have distinctly European features and hair. An African-American natural hair group is reclaiming the most famous doll ever with their own take on the traditional Barbie. The group will distribute Barbies to young girls at Booker T. Washington apartments in Columbus, GA in the spirit of the holidays, but not before they’ve reconfigured the dolls’ hair into natural Afro styles using pipe cleaners, end papers, and boiling water. I think this is an awesome idea — what a great message to send to young, impressionable girls in response to Barbie’s usual look, which condones peroxide, flat-irons, breast implants, and anorexia. [Madame Noire]

http://www.thefrisky.com/2011-12-13/barbie-gets-an-afro-for-the-holidays/

Watch out, now!

2011-10-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of having a joint show with my old instructor, Darius Hill, who is the chairman of the Visual Arts department at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, AL. The show was a big hit and will be up from October 13th-December 16th so if you're in the area go have a look! Here is a snap of the show title in the gallery, more pics of the work will be up soon.

work by Darius Hill

I was also given the chance to talk to the visual arts students at ASFA and share my story about my work, being at ASFA and making it through art school at SAIC. I was definitely thrilled to have this kind of opportunity. I also got a chance to check out some of the work the students are getting into and felt 100% motivated and inspired to continue my work on my return to Chicago. So thanks ASFA folks :)

STRAIGHT HAIR?!?

2011-10-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

I was curious can you blame me? Just a temporary change but def interesting to see...I havent had straight hair in over a year! Stylist: Uche Afrika

Don't ax 2 touch ma hur

2011-10-15T17:16:00.001-07:00

I fully support this message. So much so that my next work will be focused around it. Stay tuned :)

UPDATE!! 11/11/11
So here it is, the beginnings of my "Dont ax to touch ma hur" doll. I'm too excited to get all the limbs assembled but I'm not just stopping there. I have a lot of ideas I have to sort through as far as hair, clothing, etc and I cant wait to get to work :)
-1st sketch of the repeat pattern

-laying down the pattern in the studio

-doll body pattern cut out
,

-getting closer to being a doll :)

Clumps of Hair

2011-10-15T17:14:00.000-07:00

These are close-ups of the installation work I did for "Black Out." I love how they turned out and would like to make this into a larger scaled project.

Beauty Shop

2011-07-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

I made these over the summer. I was taking a little time off from the BFA show hectic-ness but wanted to still make some fun hair related work to keep the ideas churning

Etsy + Erin

2011-06-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

I'm on ETSY.COM! check out my shop (freshpaint88), its a little bare at the moment but keep checking in because I'll be uploading a lot of new goodies :) http://www.etsy.com/shop/freshpaint88?ref=si_shop

I WORK: progress pics of completed works

2011-06-27T21:50:00.000-07:00

HAIR SHOW

2011-05-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

Just recently curated a Hair Show with some friends of mine and it turned out GREAT! Here are a few images of the space. As part of the show, information was provided about how/where to donate hair to cancer patients.

NEW WORK

2011-05-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

Crown of Glory
screen print with rhinestones, sequin and found fabric
45 X 45in

Crown of Glory (detail)

Crown of Glory: Kinky Curly
screen print with rhinestones and found fabric
45 X 45in

Crown of Glory: Kinky Curly (detail)

Crown of Glory: Antoinette
screen print with rhinestones and found fabric
40 X 43in

collab with jasmine grant: influential African American women

2011-03-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

These are dolls Jasmine and I made in a collaboration project. The dolls represent influential women in my life. Each have a tag that is either a quote or representation of why they are important to me. (from left to right: Kenya Robinson, Wilma Rudolph, Ava Mitchell)Each doll is stuffed with objects that remind us of the women.(Illustrations by Jasmine Grant)

My mother, Ava Mitchell, encourages me to work hard and strive for what makes me happy. She has made me understand the time and work it takes to be where you want to see yourself in the future.

As her tag, I used a picture we took the day of my high school graduation because it symbolizes her support in my college art career. This doll is stuff with potatoes and rice to symbolize the smells of home.

Wilma Rudolph was an American athlete who suffered from polio as a child. Rudolph was considered the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s and competed in two Olympic Games, in 1956 and in 1960.
For her tag, I took a quote from her, "I tell them that the most important aspect is to be yourself and have confidence in yourself. I remind them the triumph cant be had without struggle." This quote reminds me that everything you want doesn't come easy and you have to work for it and push through the hard times to achieve your goal.This doll is stuffed with tissues to remind myself not to feel sorry about the situation I'm in.

Kenya Robinson is a New York artist originally from Florida who focuses on black culture topics. Her exhibition, Hairpolitic: The Pursuit of Nappiness, inspired me while I was in my own pursuit of nappiness. Her art boosted my ideas and she has become one of my favorite artists.
Her tag says, "...in the pursuit of nappiness" and the doll is stuffed with hair rollers.

artist.statement:keep looking beautiful.

2011-03-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

The work that I do is based on my navigations through transitioning my processed hair back to its natural form. I explore the gender, race, and identity politics that revolve around African American hair. By using a mix of African textiles, original pattern designs and vibrant colors, I build layers of images that reflect the different stages it has taken to get back to my natural roots. I use the work to address the altered opinions of beauty in our culture. While in the process of making the work, I adopted the phrase “Keep looking beautiful" as a word of motivation to not falter in the decision to go natural. Overall my work is a celebration of accepting myself and embracing true beauty.

Post BFA...whats next?

2011-03-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

product junkie, 2011...there's a good chance I'm going to combine these two....but we'll see....

I couldnt stay in BFA recovery long! I need to work, work, work! So as a post BFA project I started two new textile pieces. They are still in the beginning phases so more images will be posted as it deveplops.

busy-ness making business cards

2011-03-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

Business cards I printed for the BFA show.

KEEP LOOKING BEAUTIFUL :)

inspiration, creativity, uniqueness, I cant wait!

2011-03-12T21:45:00.000-08:00

This lovely pile of fabrics was graciously donated by a dear friend of mine and thanks to his great eye for color and pattern, I'll be creating a number of lovely repeats and pieces from it. I'm extremely excited to get to work on the number of projects I'll get out of this. Stay tuned!

BFA installation

2011-03-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

more photos to come...

The final product. It was received very well and I'm really happy with how it all turned out. Thanks for all who attended the show or have reached out to give their congrats. I appreciate all the love.

Spring Undergraduate Exhibition: BFA BABY

2011-03-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

The backdrop is finally done! I cant wait to see how it will all look together. There were definitely some technical difficulties making this but overall I'm happy with how it turned out. Its going to POP once its up in the gallery space. Check out my step by step photography (trying to be better at documenting)

"My yellow brick road"....it took many coats but I got the fabric to the perfect vibrant yellow. It was all downhill after this!

So this is whats up....

2010-12-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

...drawn to print circa 2009

my hair! includes 3--2yd fabric compositions with added performance work via photos.

Its all about my transition from relaxed to natural hair....8 months natural and still going strong--no creamy crack!! lol

Holiday Art Sale. woop.

one of the pieces that I didnt sell but still love dearly. <3

Oh yea, I was in the holiday art sale....check the table, nice right? I know.

my sorry attempt of a much needed update but it will have to do for now. working working working!

Back down Memory Lane: Some Older prints of mine

2010-10-02T17:43:00.001-07:00

All are monoprinted backgrounds with transferred imagery
(collage) with acrylic/spray paint and ink

Oldies but Goodies

2010-10-02T17:35:00.000-07:00

Idk why I hadn't post these before but here are two prints I did of a series from last semester.

2010-09-02T20:08:00.000-07:00

I most recently have been working in this organic form. I see these becoming an installation and taking over a gallery specifically a ceiling/corner wall somewhere. I was told that this looks like some of Chihuly's work and I can def see the similarities...

‘Kew Persian Chandelier’ -Dale Chihuly

My work is also similar to Polly Apfelbaum check her work out
here-->(http://www.pollyapfelbaum.com/)

2010-05-28T16:13:00.001-07:00

TECHNICOLOR PACHYDERMS

A nice lil series of 50 Elephants inspired by "Elephants on Parade" from Dumbo that I'll be using as door decorations in the dorm for my residents.

freshly painted hoodies!

2010-05-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

FRESHLY PAINTED HOODIES ARE HERE!

Its been a while since I've updated my artistic adventures toward fresh paint so here's a treat I've been doing a little dabbling in hoodie customization. I'm going to keep up with different ideas and textiles and start printing my own designs to incorporate into the scheme of things. Tell me what you think of it.

Like what you see? For sales, comments, and questions email emitch1@saic.edu

2009-06-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

The beginnings of Fresh Paint...
Just a taste of much more to come so stay tuned ➪

↓
↓
↓

↓

↓
↓
↓

*Special thanks to Sis. Morris and Jade