I am a visual artist working in collage, assemblage sculpture and altered books. My practice explores identity, memory and the history of the African diaspora. Vintage and contemporary images collide to convey how the past informs the present.


Black History Month: Toni Morrison

Black History Month: Toni Morrison

For Black History Month, I thought I'd share some of the visual and literary artists who inspire me. Let’s talk about:

Toni Morrison

Author Toni Morrison speaking at West Point Military Academy. Pboto credit: West Point/ Wikimedia Commons

I used to say I “loved” Toni Morrison and her work, but it might be more accurate to say I was/am in awe. Her use of language is merciless, both in its poetic phrasing and its honesty about her characters’ inner lives. Here’s a sample, from “The Toni Morrison Project”:

Maybe you didn’t know she won both the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Pulitzer. Maybe you didn’t know her full name (Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison, born Chloe Ardelia Wofford). But if you don’t know her actual work, you can fix that now. You have eleven novels and a slew of other writings to choose from. My favorite is Beloved.

See you on Monday, on our first full week of Black History Month. Five new artists to admire…

Black History Month: Betye Saar

Black History Month: Betye Saar

Black History Month: Bisa Butler

Black History Month: Bisa Butler