Chronicles | December 2020

A R T

Confronting White Supremacy

“When institutions started posting their own #BlackLivesMatter statements following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, it was the last straw for some who had experienced and tried to address racism at those same workplaces.”

- From Catherine Wagley’s article for ARTnews

Seeing work put towards dismantling the system has been motivating. One way to change this space is by exposing it. ARTnews has published an article that covers who, how, and why people are coming forward with their experiences. Anonymity has been a tool used by Instagram pages like @changethemuseum. Although overwhelming, the quantity of testimonials has resulted in revisions. “The Instagram Account ‘Change the Museum’ Is Doing Just That” published by Vulture delves into specific ways speaking up has caused action. Holding ourselves accountable to address injustice is something we can all do on a personal level. Whether it's in public, online anonymously, a phone call, email, at your place of work, or wherever, be sure to show up and speak up because it makes a difference.

Correlating Painting and Photography

I’ve saved “Irving Penn’s Lyrical Paintings” published by AnOther as a reference for painting to inform my photography practice. His photography career at Vogue spanned over sixty years. In 1984 Penn’s work was exhibited in a retrospective at the MoMA.

“While delving into his archives, Penn rediscovered early works on paper that he had made between 1939 and 1942, while he was a young illustrator working for Harper’s Bazaar – a job that allowed him to save up enough money to buy his very first camera. Following the MoMA exhibition, Penn returned to his young love, and started to draw and paint as a way to reconnect to the creative spirit that fuelled his life’s work in the final decades of his 70-year career.”

- From Miss Rosen’s article for AnOther

How Icons Transition from Contemporary Signifiers to Historic Relics

“Ed Ruscha and Five Signposts of American Symbolism” published by AnOther lists Ruscha’s “definitive cultural signposts” as:

• Swimming Pools

• Palm Trees

• Cars

• Gas Stations

• Signage

His work that includes awareness of these signposts for American culture makes me more observant of how icons are eventually replaced. There are some obvious answers to this but, I wonder what five definitive cultural signposts would be listed now and if any of Rucha’s should remain.

Spirituality and Art

Louise Nevelson’s monochromatic sculptures made of recycled materials are recognizable. If in Dallas, you can see three of her piece’s hung alongside the second story of Nordstrom’s at NorthPark Mall. The Nevelson Chapel opened in 1977 commissioned by Saint Peters Church and is located at 619 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022. Conservation efforts are currently underway.

“Nevelson Chapel is really a story about the city of New York,” Jared R. Stahler, the church’s pastor, told Artnet News. “Nevelson collected all of her objects and broken pieces of wood from the streets of New York and put them together and made these grand forms and gave them new life. Using things that other people would just discard, she created real beauty. I fell in love with the place. I was going through a very difficult time and visiting the chapel gave me a really important perspective. It gave me a sense of hope.”

- From Sarah Cascone’s article for Artnet News

F A S H I O N

Fashion’s Limitations Prevent Innovation

Beate Karlsson’s garments are created with the vision of “belonging in a future imaginary world where there are less norm-driven preconceptions” (from Natashah Hitti’s article for Deezen). Karlsson Describes her garments as fictional fashion. Her work reminds me of Maurcie Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. She creates these sculptural silicone pieces because she’s concerned that imitation has replaced innovation. This prompts me to question when my fashion choices are mine and, when they’re decided for me.

M U S I C

MF Doom the Anti-Hero

Unbeknownst to his fans until yesterday’s announcement, MF Doom had passed away October 31st. His namesake was inspired by the Marvel character Dr. Doom, a chrome masked supervillain. “He spit bars with playful and twisted intricacy, grounded by his own classic soul- and funk-sampling production.” - Lars Gotrich for NPR. Utilizing the mask, MF Doom would sometimes have imposters take the stage in his place, all a part of this complex character he created. As an example of his innovative take on music and performance, in a 2009 interview he told Rolling Stones Magazine:

“I tell you one thing: when you come to a Doom show, come expecting to hear music, don’t come expecting to see. You never know who you might see. It has nothing to do with a visual thing. Use your mind and think. I might be there. Next time I do a show, I might tell everybody to close they eyes. Use your own mind’s eye. That’s better than a camera phone, know what I’m sayin’?"

Chronicles | November 2020

A R T

Existing Utopias by Cauleen Smith

Multimedia artist and filmmaker Cauleen Smith has been awarded the Studio Museum in Harlem’s annual Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize. Studio Museum in Harlem represents artists of African descent whose work is informed by Black culture. In the video below, Smith explains her process and intent of her 2018 film Sojourner. She emphasizes that successful utopian societies or spaces can and do exists.

D E S I G N

Isamu Noguchi knew that Good design never jeopardizes functionality

One of the most thoughtful designers of the twentieth century was Isamu Noguchi born November 17th, 1904. He was an experimental artist whose mediums had little bounds ranging from sculpture, landscaping, furniture, architecture, and set design. Noguchi’s work is known for balancing subtle alongside bold, traditional, and modern. Informed by the mulberry bark and bamboo lanterns of Gifu, Japan, Noguchi created the Akari series. Noguchi was often open to making his design work accessible by agreeing to production. The Akari series has continued to be produced by traditional Japanese methods since 1951 that are easily transported and ethically built to last.

F I L M

Punk Rock Florist

Flower Punk is a short documentary by Alison Klayman following Azuma Makoto‘s art practice of floral arranging. Makoto had a dream of becoming a rockstar that transcended into a love for flowers. In the film, you’ll see that somehow it's all connected.

L I T E R A T U R E

A Celebration of Light

Before I came across Somini Sengupta’s New York Times article To Celebrate Diwali Is to Celebrate the Light I was unaware of the holiday. This year Diwali begins on November 14th, the darkest night of the lunar cycle which is counteracted by illuminating festivities. The holiday motivates us to overcome the darkness of 2020, it’s a celebration of the triumph of good over evil.

P E O P L E

Mountain Climbing History

Emily Harrington made history by being the first woman to complete a free climb of the Golden Gate route of El Capitan in less than 24 hours. A couple of years ago, I watched the film, Free Solo which documented Alex Honnold’s free climb of El Capitan, my palms were sweating the entire time. Honnold climbed with Harrington to start the task. Hear her speak about the achievement here on NPR.

Chronicles | October 2020

ART

The U.S. Will Be Represented at the Venice Biennale by Simone Leigh

Simone Leigh is the first Black woman to represent the U.S. at the Venice Biennale, a prominent juried exhibition that was established in 1895. To be invited to showcase is an esteemed opportunity with the potential to also achieve awards.

In this article for the New York Times, you’ll find more about Leigh’s artwork and life. Quoted from the piece written by Hillarie M. Sheets:

“I feel like I’m a part of a larger group of artists and thinkers who have reached critical mass,” Ms Leigh, 52, said. “And despite the really horrific climate that we’ve reached, it still doesn’t distract me from the fact of how amazing it is to be a Black artist right now.” Continue reading here.

de Young Museum’s 125th Anniversary

The exhibition de Young Open is in celebration of the de Young Museum’s 125th anniversary. Over 700 artists local to the Bay Area are showing and will retain 100% of their sales. View here on the virtual web gallery for those of us that are not local.

FASHION

Crisis & Fashion Revolutions

I read an interesting opinion piece published by Business of Fashion titled, Could Crisis Re-Energise Fashion? It Happened in the 1970s. I found myself agreeing with most of its points because I’ve noticed that regardless if you’re someone is sticking to comfort, experimenting with what you have, using retail as therapy, or whoever, there is a change in how we’re dressing and it seems to be more freeing and creative.

The author Michael Coady suggests that COVID-19 could end fashion’s boring streak. He argues that a difference between the fashion revolution of the 1970s and the pre-pandemic is that brands are too occupied with giving consumers what they want rather than inspiring us. Now, consumers are creating more DIY projects, re-evaluating ourselves, and being more thoughtful about what brands we invest in.

PEOPLE

In Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15th - October 15th

KERA featured various films this month centered on the influences and lives of Hispanic people which, can be accessed here. One of the films I watched that was especially inspiring was Dolores which, follows the life of Dolores Huerta.

In 1962 Huerta and César Chávez founded the labor union National Farm Workers Association later changed to United Farm Workers. In 2002 she resigned from the board of UFW shortly after Chavez’s death. Later that year, she was awarded the $100,000 Puffin Prize for Creative Citizenship. She chose to use it to fund the Dolores Huerta Foundation which, supports community organization.

Throughout her career, she has faced sexism and racism but, her heart for helping others has never stopped her, even after almost losing her life to police brutality at age 58. The Texas State Board of Education has even banned her name from being used in social studies. Politician Tom Horne once spitefully referred to her as Chavez’s girlfriend instead of co-founder and colleague. It took her a long time to demand the credit she deserves including for her famous catchphrase Sí, se puede! or Yes, we can! 

The erasure of historical BIPOC figures such as Dolores Huerta is unjust so, I urge us all to continue to learn and lend support. You can stream Dolores if you’re a KERA member or rent from Amazon and YouTube.

In Celebration of National Coming Out Day, October 11th

Monica Roberts passed away at age 58 on October 5th. She was a prolific Houston-based human rights advocate and creator of the blog TransRiot which she described as, “A proud unapologetic Black trans woman speaking truth to power and discussing the world around her since 2006.”

Her work included remembering the trans lives that were lost to violence, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and much more.

She provided a space for recognizing the complexities and everyday moments of trans lives, beginning in a time where this was a rarity. From her blog’s beginning up to a month before her death she worked to represent her community and reported the facts. In one of her last post she showed her support for candidate Sarah McBride, who is looking to gain a seat in the Delaware Senate and is also a trans woman.

I admire her perseverance, when she began to transition in 1990 she was harassed for years until she decided to make activism and writing her career.

In Celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, October 12th

Indigenous Peoples Day is a counter-celebration and rejection of honoring Christopher Columbus who represents violence, colonization, and a false narrative of America’s discovery. In observance, I chose to learn about the land of the Indigenous tribes I live on and support Indigenous businesses. I also highly recommend looking over this Indigenous People’s Day Toolkit created by Illuminatives.

Created by the Canadian non-profit Native Land Digital, this interactive map does its very best to provide the Indigenous territories in your city down to your street address. From my findings, it shows the tribe most prominent in Dallas, TX to be Kickapoo although, other sources state no specific tribe claimed the area. This Texas history is generally difficult to pinpoint due to the massive efforts by its officials between 1838 - 1841 to kill all Native Americans. To learn more about what we know of Indigenous People and Dallas, I’ll direct you to this article published by the Dallas Morning News.

To amplify BIPOC businesses, I have curated list of Indigenous-owned businesses to support as follows:

B. Yellowtail

Beyond Buckskin

Orenda Tribe

Warren Steven Scott

OXDX Clothing

Chronicles | September 2020

A R C H I T E C T U R E

2020 Deezen Design awards

The annual design event, Deezen Awards, features work from a range of designers, architecture firms, and studios. These are three of my favorites from the shortlisted projects.

1. The Growing Pavillion is a Company New Heroes event space made of timber and mycelium designed by Pascal Leboucq.

2. The Bunhill 2 Energy Centre by Cullinan Studio supplies heat sourced from the London Underground for over 1,000 buildings.

3. Capsule Hotel and Bookstore in Village Qinglongwu by Altlier tao+c sits within the forest.

A R T

David Zwirner’s New Gallery Directed by Ebony L. Haynes

David Zwirner Gallery is one of the most influential commercial galleries in the world. To offer perspective owner, David Zwirner has ranked in the top five of ArtReview’s Top 100 for eight consecutive years. The list aims to note the contemporary art world’s most “important” figures. In 2018 the gallery was estimated to be worth $500 million.

It was announced this month that a new Zwirner gallery will be developed with Ebony L. Haynes as the director, who will be hiring all-Black staff. This is a historical transition towards racial equality for the art world which far too often has been a complete disservice to BIPOC.

Learn Pottery Basics

Ceramic artist Alex Blais has developed The Free Pottery Guide, a curriculum for the self-taught potter. There are two options, handbuilding or throwing. Each technique has a curriculum broken down into four modules. In either selection, you’ll find tasks and resources. Blais intends for the project to have a community effort aspect. Use the hashtag #abcpotteryguide on Instagram if you’d like to showcase your creations.

Related: 

“The quest to understand something new is a key factor to building the resilience necessary to weather setbacks and navigate life’s volatility.” A quote from Kerry Hannon’s piece “To Build Emotional Strength, Expand Your Brain.” In Hannon’s article, she explains how the process of learning something new is healthy for your brain!

Photography of Kacey Jeffer

Photographer Kacey Jeffer revisited his series Uniform by featuring his photographs on New Yorker Photo’s Instagram. In the posts, Jeffer’s states, “Growing up, I had never seen any relatable images of people I knew or people who looked like me. I wanted this project to fill that void. Uniform is a celebration of visibility, representation, and individuality, as told through the wearing of school uniforms.” The portraits were taken at schools in Nevis, which is Jeffer’s hometown.

Click the images to be directed to the original posting featuring snippets of conversations had with the school children.

Images sourced from New Yorker Photo’s Instagram account.

L O C A L

For a Dreamer of Houses

With only minutes to spare, my friend and I were able to run through, For a Dreamer of Houses at the DMA. The exhibition features a range of work and artists whose commonality is interpreting the concept of home. I was thrilled to see one of my favorite names on the wall, Jacob Lawrence. I was also pleased to experience many pieces alongside Alex Da Corte’s Rubber Pencil Devil (the neon house that has been circulating social media).

Below are interior detail shots of Francisco Moreno’s installation titled, Chapel.

Moreno is a Dallas based artist. His piece featured in the DMA is a large scale installation with a light wood exterior that invites you to walk the narrow path of its chapel-like structure. From wall to ceiling, you’ll see hand-drawn depictions of figures and shapes. It feels both overwhelming and contemplative.

For a Dreamer of Houses will run until July 4th, 2021.

M U S I C

I made a playlist inspired by the transition from summer to fall, enjoy!

Listen here.

P E O P L E

Ynes Mexia

September 15th - October 15th marks Hispanic Heritage Month. In celebration, Fort Worth Botanic Garden featured a bio of Ynes Mexia. I was inspired to do more research about her.

Mexia was a Mexican-American botanist during 1925 - 1937 and the most accomplished in her profession. She lived between Mexico and the U.S as a child, and after ten years in Mexico, she headed to San Francisco at age 39. San Francisco is where she found a love for plants, motivating her to obtain a degree in botany at the University of California Berkeley. At 55, all on her own, she traveled back to Mexico on her first botanical exploration which lasted two years. There, she accumulated over 1,500 specimens, 500 of which were new discoveries. This included a genus of Asteraceae, commonly known as the daisy. After this point, Mexia had visited Alaska, the Amazon River, Peru, and many more destinations. She didn’t stop working until a before she passed of lung cancer in 1938 at age 68.

The stories of her personality nearly outmatch those of her accomplishments. She was known to travel through dangerous terrain, ride horseback, opted to sleep outside, and ingested poisonous plants for the sake of science.

My information provided is truly only a small fraction of her story if you’re looking to learn more.

Cleo Wade

INTERMIX carries multiple collections of women’s clothing and accessories. This month they’ve published the first of an online series titled In Conversation With Women. Artist, poet, and activist Cleo Wade is filmed speaking about confidence. Candidly, I find a lot of conversations like these pretty cringy but, I found her perspective refreshing and relevant.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away on September 18th. In a 2016 article published by the Washingtonian, a glimpse into what sort of things Ginsburg enjoyed is described. In her office at this time, she played opera, hung art loaned from the Smithsonian on the walls including; two Rothko’s, Max Weber, and Josef Albers, and she had always loved the theater. I’m interested in delving into more obscure moments in a person’s history to showcase that there’s always something to learn, work to do, and that human beings are more complex than we know.

To better understand her role, there are eight Associate Judges and one Cheif of Justice that make up the Supreme Court of the United States. Taken from uscourts.gov, the duties of the Supreme Court is to; ensure that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its own power, that popular majorities cannot pass laws that harm and/or take advantage of minorities, that the changing administrations do not undermine the fundamental values common to all Americans, i.e., freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and due process of law. Members of the Supreme Court are granted life tenure unless impeached. To achieve this position, you must be nominated by the president, and the Senate votes to confirm the nominee.

Ginsburg was appointed by Bill Clinton in 1993. In her lifetime, she was faced with being the only or, one of the few women in the room numerous times throughout her career. She is remembered as an instrumental force in confronting gender-based stereotypes and ensuring women’s rights are protected.

Although the motivation to fight for racial equality wasn’t as prolific. In 1978 she ruled against Oneida Indian Nation in obtaining part of their land back from the state of New York in a large legal battle. Additionally, she lacked an understanding of contemporary concerns of police brutality and prison reform. For more on where she stood on racial issues read The Marshall Project’s, RBG’s Mixed Record on Race and Criminal Justice.

Chronicles | August 2020

A R C H I T E C T U R E

Pandemic Resistant Architecture

Salon Alper Derinbogaz’s project Ecotone is a “pandemic resistant” office designated for Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul. The structure considers communal space, sustainability, public health, and natural disasters. The building integrates nature by employing plants to provide natural ventilation.

A R T

Lwando Dlamini’s Paintings ‘Triumph’

Ebony/Curated is an exhibition space with three locations. In Cape Town, the gallery represents emerging and established African art where Lwando Dlamini’s newest series Triumph is currently showing.

His work addresses violence against Black South African’s and the processes of healing from it. His personal experience with assault has left his vision and memory hindered yet, he shows perseverance in his artwork. Read Amogelang Maledu’s text on Triumph for further context.

RUTH ASAWA FOREVER STAMPS

Ruth Asawa was a California based artist and the daughter of Japanese immigrants. While enduring unimaginable hardship at an internment camp, she focused on drawing and meeting other artists. Consequences of institutionalized racism led her to the famous Black Mountain College where she developed her skills and met her husband, Albert Lanier. She began to gain national recognition in the 1950s and ’60s and is known for creating public art found around her home base of San Francisco. She was a highly regarded teacher, illustrator, and sculpture artist. 

Ruth Asawa USPS Forever Stamps.

You can now purchase Ruth Asawa edition USPS Forever Stamps. The series features 10 Asawa sculptures and will make for an inexpensive art investment and help to maintain the operation of the United States Postal Service. 

D E S I G N

Middle East and Central Asia Traditional and Modern Crafts

This month Design Milk published an article showcasing the contemporary crafts council, Irthi. Irthi features traditional and modern crafts made by women across the Middle East and Central Asia regions. Irthi has developed five initiatives put into place that create marketing opportunities, offer training, and preserves culture. I highly recommend you browse the virtual gallery space linked here.

Below are my favorite pieces from the 2019 London Design Fair.

Click here to view a complete catalog of the work by Irthi designers.

P E O P L E

Luchita Hurtado

Luchita Hurtado passed away on August 13th, she was a 99-year old experimental abstract painter. Her work is described as spiritual surrealism.

In an interview with Anna Furman last year for The New York Times, she is quoted explaining her ideology of passing on. “It’s not death; it’s a border that we cross. I don’t think I’ll be able to come back and tell you, but if I can, I’ll find a way. If you suddenly see a pink ceiling, that’s me.” Referencing the pink ceiling she remembered waking up to every day as a child.

Sola Olosunde

Sola Olosunde publishes archives of Black history, emphasizing New York City’s. In an article by Iman Stevenson for The New York Times, Olosunde explains that sharing his findings on social media is a way to give nearly anyone a chance to learn. He sources from the New York Public Library, through folks willing to share, and so on. One day he hopes to create a museum, I look forward to that.

Portrait by Winifred Hall Allen. Harlem, Manhattan. 1930. Sourced by Sola Olosunde.

Olosunde often sources inspiring creative work by Black artists like Winifred Hall Allen who documented the Harlem Renaissance. On his Twitter, he shares film images and footage that offer an impactful view of the past, in turn informing our future. To help support his efforts, I urge you to contribute what you can to his Cash App $solasystem and his Patreon.

Accompanied by Winifred Hall Allen's photograph Olosunde's post reads:

Winifred Hall Allen was a New York photographer who moved to the city from Jamaica and opened her photo studio in Harlem. She chose not to exhibit her work and burned most of her negatives because she thought they had no value.

Chronicles | July 2020

A R T

Barbara Earl Thomas

Barbara Earl Thomas is a Seattle based artist who has been commissioned to create a new set of windows for the dining hall of Yale’s Grace Hopper College. Physically, her pieces are both delicate and colossal. She uses materials such as; egg tempera paint, glass, cut paper, printmaking, and sculpture.

Thomas explained her intent in a statement published by YaleNews that, “My goal with this project is to depict the history of the college’s name in a way that is real, honorable, and in the spirit of our time. I want the images to tell the story of the renaming, addressing John C. Calhoun’s disturbing legacy while honoring the life of Grace Murray Hopper.” Grace Hopper, the namesake of the school, was a prolific Yale alma mater. Her career as a computer scientist began in 1944. The following year she enlisted in the Navy. While her predecessor, John C. Calhoun, was a leading voice for those seeking to secure the institution of slavery. Yale decided to change the name from Calhoun to Hopper in 2017.

Sonya Clark & Writing Prompt

Portland Art Museum shared a writing prompt on their Instagram inspired by Sonya Clark’s piece, Penny Loafers. The description asks that you research her work before you delve into the project.

Clark’s artwork addresses race, culture, class, and history. In the description of Penny Loafers by the Portland Art Museum, Clark is quoted stating:

“Objects have personal and cultural meaning because they absorb our stories and reflect our humanity back to us. Sometimes common objects are sponges. Sometimes they are mirrors. I am instinctively drawn to objects that connect to my personal narrative as a point of departure: a comb, a piece of cloth, a penny, or hair. I wonder how each comes to have meaning collectively.”

The prompt is to write for six uninterrupted minutes reflecting on “The Sound of Footsteps… / On the path...”⠀

Write Around Portland provides weekly writing prompts to Portland Museum of Art. You can share your work if you like by tagging @writearoundpdx on Instagram.

L I T E R A T U R E

Upgrade Culture

Not “If” But “When”: An Artist Looks Into Upgrade Culture by Lydia Pine for Glasstire, is a synopsis of Julia Christensen’s book, Upgrade Available. Christensen and Pine encourage us to reconsider the afterlife of our electronic devices and the culture of upgrading. Doing so can transform our role as consumers within realms of capitalism, colonialism, globalization, the economy, the environment, etc.

Tamu McPhearson’s All the Pretty Birds

All the Pretty Birds, established in 2008, publishes fashion, global news, and lifestyle content. All the Pretty Birds was founded and directed by Tamu McPhearson whose career emerged from creating streetwear content. All the Pretty Birds sources are creative, engaging, and resourceful.

L O C A L

BIPOC Arts Coalition

BIPOC Arts Coalition was formed this July by David Lozano director of Cara Mía Theatre, Tonya Holloway director of Soul Rep Theatre, Sara Cardona director of Teatro Dallas, and Teresa Coleman Wash director of Bishop Arts Theatre Center. The group ultimately aims to support each other with efforts of sourcing funding and creating an antiracist platform with urgency due to COVID-19. You can read the BIPOC Arts Coalition manifesto in Art&Seek’s write-up here.

Dallas TRHT

In the first edition of Dallas TRHT’s Transformation Tuesday director Jerry Hawkins spoke with BIPOC Arts Coalition. They discussed specifics regarding racism within the art industry of Dallas. There is a lot to learn and a lot to do, begin by watching the conversation here.

Bath House Cultural Center

Bath House Cultural Center is my family’s go-to spot when visiting White Rock Lake. It is also the first gallery I showed in with my Mom, in fact, for the 2008 Día de Muertos exhibition.

At the beginning of the year, before any of us knew the impact of COVID-19, the Bath House began renovations. Now, they are still closed, employees are furloughed, and there is a reality of not being able to fully restaff.

Yet, the city of Dallas has a say in funding that could save grace. The Bath House Board of Directors published a letter in White Rock Lake Weekly, requesting visitors to contact Mayor Eric Johnson and our local officials to voice a plea to save the Bath House staff.

Here is a link to the article with a template ready for you to send, although personalizing it will go further! Here is a link to directly message Mayor Eric Johnson, and here is a link to the local official's directory.

P E O P L E

John Lewis

The death of John Lewis has been felt deeply. As the information on his legacy and quotes of his consequential words filled our social media feeds, I searched for references between the arts and Lewis. I found that in 2009 he was selected for the Congressional Arts Leadership Award for his commitment to the arts. This included sponsoring The Artist-Museum Partnership Act, which allows us creatives to file tax deductions on our contributions. I also read a quote I hadn't seen before, "Without the arts, the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings" which still holds true, doesn't it?

For a documentary on John Lewis, I recommend Kera’s John Lewis - Get in the Way. The free link expires on August 17th but, is available on other streaming platforms as well.

I’d also like to highlight the times that John Lewis led a march through Comic-Con while promoting his graphic novel trilogy, March. At the convention, he would cosplay as himself during the March on Selma in 1965.

Chronicles | June 2020

A R C H I T E C T U R E

Preserving Black Historical Sites

African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund showcases history by preserving Black historical sites. You can browse their archive of locations like Nina Simone’s childhood home, Pauli Murray’s house, and more here. John and Alice Coltrane’s house is one of the sites that was a struggle to save from demolition and now needs repairs. The Coltrane Home is an organization that withgolds the couple’s legacy through community outreach and re-opening their home as a museum.

In conjunction, this month Architectural Digest published, When Architecture and Racial Justice Intersect with words from the executive director of African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, Brent Leggs. He urgently states, “If we want to educate future generations about Black history in America, we need to work to preserve Black historic sites now.” I learned from this article that Black preservationists in the U.S amount to 1%, including Leggs and that of the 95,000 entries on the National Register of Historic Places only 2% focus on the experience of Black Americans. There are many ways we can show support listed throughout the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s website. It’s also encouraged to research locations in your surrounding area to help maintain and nominate as a historic place.

A R T

Black Liberation Through Art

“Visually, I understood at an early age the power of the image to control or to liberate. I don’t want to engage that binary exclusively because I think it is more complex than that, but I do understand energetically how people can be transformed by the image, not only in the art world but on a larger scale. Whenever we speak truth to power through the image, it is a language.” - Artist Lyle Ashton Harris

I sourced this quote from the Dazed article, How Artists Have Championed the Black Liberation Movement Over a Century that debuts context, references, and history. Galleries, museums, and the institution’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement have been sorely minimal, to no surprise. Despite the discrimination upheld by the art world, there are plentiful alternative resources, artists, to learn from. As examples, I’ve listed two artists below that have been influential in dismantling the exclusive and racist portrayal of American history.

Gordon Parks ( 1912 - 2006 ) 

Parks is known for describing his camera as a weapon against social injustice. He is also commemorated as the first Black photographer on staff at Life magazine. Parks’ work is resurfacing, at large, once again, with references in various articles and through social media posts. Additionally, The Gordon Parks Foundation, Museum of Modern Art, and Steidl have republished his 1957 photo-essay The Atmosphere of Crime in the form of a book.

“The story, titled “The Atmosphere of Crime,” was both prescient and incisive, the text that accompanied it a systematic dismantling of the dubious statistics that fueled white Americans’ growing sense that an immense crime wave was upon them. And Parks’s pictures? Cinematic, intense, and exquisitely composed, they did nothing less than revolutionize what a “crime photo” could look like. But they also exposed issues that would animate mass protests years later: the trip-wire tension between race and law enforcement, the relationship between poverty and mass incarceration, the gulf between what we see and what we think we see.”

From Bill Shapiro’s article Gordon Parks: The Crime Photographer Who Saw Color published by The Atlantic.

Jacob Lawrence ( 1917 - 2000 )

Lawrence’s artworks were influenced by his upbringing in Harlem. He was dedicated to portraying the stories and bodies that were not recorded in history books. Part of his process was thorough research before putting paint to canvas. Later in life, he became an art professor at the University of Washington.

In this short documentary, there are insightful interview clips with Lawrence. He states that while the Black experience is often overpassed as not important, the Black experience is the American experience, the human experience. In summary, “You bring to painting your own experience”, a quote he is well known for. One of his most celebrated series is the rendition of the Harlem Renaissance, a blossoming of Black culture due to the migration of families from Southern states to the North in relocation towards a better life.

D E S I G N

TRNK features design objects for the home while TRNK Editions supports emerging artists by creating and distributing limited edition prints. This month TRNK curated, MIEN a digital exhibition featuring seven queer BIPOC artists. For the month of June 100% of the proceeds from MIEN were donated to Ali Forney Center, an NYC based non-profit that provides shelter and healthcare services to LGBTQ+ youths.

F A S H I O N

To hold retailers accountable in their support of Black businesses, the 15 Percent Pledge has was created by Aurora James, founder of Brother Vellies. The mission statement reads, “Black people in the U.S. make up nearly 15% of the population. We’re asking brands to pledge 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses.” Thus far, Rent the Runway and Sephora have signed the pledge. The organization also calls on businesses such as Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods to do the same.

In an interview with Forbes, James explains why she chose to take action. When asked what she would like consumers to realize when purchasing from Black-owned businesses, she states that “supporting Black-owned businesses helps secure financial longevity and economic equality in the long term.”

F I L M

Produced by Dress Code, Emory Douglas: The Art of The Black Panthers is a short documentary led by Douglas. He explains the conception and roles of his printed works for the Black Panthers beginning in the 1960s. Furthermore, I appreciate the history I learned from watching this interview. He is still active today. His work rings importance continually.

L O C A L

A non-exhaustive list of Dallas-based organizations helping to fight racial injustices that we can learn from and stand by are:

Abounding Prosperity serves the Black LGBTQ+ community in Dallas. Abounding Prosperity provides mobile testing and resources for sexually active individuals, provide counseling, safe spaces, and more. Here is the option to donate. If you are interested in other options, contact them directly.

Dallas TRHT provides resources and knowledge regarding inclusivity and race within Dallas and beyond. TRHT’s mission is to uproot an embedded hierarchy within American culture by addressing the source of the issues and lending a truthful voice. If you are unable to donate, you can join to be involved.

“We aim to liberate Oak Cliff from systematic racism” - For Oak Cliff. This organization focuses on policy change, education, counseling, creating culture through art and community building. For Oak Cliff has also worked to provide notably useful COVID-19 resources for the community. $15 donations provide food for a family of four, consider donating what you can. On their volunteer page, there are many options to choose how you spend your time helping.

MINT’s mission is to mentor, inspire, nurture, and train. MINT also provides healthy food options through their weekly pantry, currently for all residents in Dallas county. You can sign up to volunteer and donate.

The Afiya Center provides resources for Black women and girls to better understand their reproductive health. There are many programs carried by The Afiya Center that involves community outreach, education, and mentorship. They also provide science-based and legal information regarding women’s reproductive health. Here is the form to volunteer. Here is the link to donate.

The Stewpot provides food and resources for those experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty in Dallas. There are options to donate, volunteer, and sponsor a meal. They also have a great art program where you can purchase from the artists The Stewpot supports and donate supplies. Their horticultural therapy utilizes counseling with the use of plants.

L I T E R A T U R E

The link below is an important perspective and voice in understanding how White people’s willingness to be active on social media, or protests, or book clubs is not sustainable or, enough to fight racism in America.

When Black People Are In Pain, White People Just Join Book Clubs by Tre Johnson for The Washington Post

T H I N G S

I’ve really enjoyed this month’s purchases from Black-owned businesses.

Intimacy Calling is a smooth and earthy floral scent with hints of orchid rose, ylang ylang, black amber, and Mandarin. This candle is by Olphactory Candles, a company influenced by the mood of jazz. I look forward to adding more of their products to my collection, when you browse, don’t hesitate to purchase, they justifyingly sell out fast! Oh, and they’re Dallas-based too.

MAW SUPPLY is a Houston-based online vintage shop, where I got the lovely dress pictured above.

Gratus Candles is also a Dallas-based candle company. They have a wide range of scents, I went with the Sicily Sage which is bright and clean.

Peak and Valley carries wellness blends made of high-quality ingredients with a focus on adaptogens. Nadine Josephen, the founder and CEO was inspired by her neuroscientific studies on stress. Adaptogens are blends of mushrooms and herbs that help your body adapt to stress. To help with focus and memory, I got the Nourish My Brain Blend. I’ve been incorporating it into my smoothies, it has a nice peanut-buttery taste. It takes time to notice differences when using herbal medicine, for now, I have noticed an energy boost when I use the product.

My intention with the Pure Matcha from Glode was for lattes but, I’m enjoying how my green tea ice cream turned out even more. Glode focuses on using superfoods to support skin and body health.

Lastly, I also purchased Patchouli Bar and Thyme Peace bar soaps by Unique & Natural, a Dallas based personal care shop.

Chronicles | May 2020

A R C H I T E C T U R E

Does Validation Exist When It Comes to ‘Copycat’ Architecture?

In order to promote local design, China is prohibiting the future construction of any ‘copycat’ architecture. Most have found these replicas to be off-putting making the new limitations primarily well received. Although the news poses questions. Is there a point in these buildings? If it’s simply rooted in humor like the Paris Texas Eiffle Tower, does intent make a difference? Additionally, I’ll note that China has also formed restrictions on what they call ‘weird’ structures too, which is probably a whole other subject.

A R T

Returning to Normal Versus Starting Anew

I found an interesting article in defense of changing the way museums operate post-COVID-19. The piece is published on Dezeen titled, “Rather than attempt to reconcile museums' contradictions, we should start again” written by Owen Hopkins. Dualities are presented like, “The homogenising effect of social media means museums risk losing much of what vitally distinguishes the experience of a visiting a museum” and “Museums should use the present moment to rethink the fundamental relationship between object and viewer”. On one hand, museums as Hopkins mentions are, “sacred spaces existing outside of time, connecting the past to the future of human existence.” Yet, there’s enraging inequality of representation. Is it possible that the only way to ensure inclusivity is to take away the museum’s physicality, to exist online? Or maybe, it’s a propelling start?

While we consider how the future of experiencing museums will evolve we can reference their actions taken presently. SFMoMA has decided to commission six creative collectives to occupy their website's homepage as part of their Community in Residence series. Each collective has one-week to respond to the prompt: What does it mean for artists to work collaboratively in the time of social distancing? The medium of this tenancy is called a digital mural, where links to resources, materials, and activities relative to their practice can be found. You can tune for weekly broadcasts Thursdays at 6 pm PDT and also find sources on SFMoMA's YouTube. SFMOMA’s YouTube channel serves for great content, generally speaking, I advise delving into their videos.

D E S I G N

How Creative Thinking Shapes Society

I’ve included some interesting inventions and solutions in consideration of our current climate. Factorydesign is a UK based aviation consultancy. They’ve envisioned inclusion of Isolation Screen Kits for future passengers. Domino Park’s staff took it amoung themselves to paint 30 symetrical 8ft circles to encourage social distancing. In an interview with Deezen they explained the process took a few bottles of 99¢ chalk paint and a couple of hours. The park sits in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

F A S H I O N

Indigenous Artists and Sustainability

There are companies that have focused on sustainability at their core, the efforts made by the fashion industry to become more sustainable are rooted in consumerist wants and needs. An important perspective that we do not see enough of, is that of Indigenous people. The article 15 Indigenous Designers on What Sustainable Fashion Is Missing published by Vogue written by Christian Allaire showcases interesting points made by Indigenous artists. Via this article, I found amazing pieces from the small business that I urge you to check out as well.

“After a career of designing fast fashion clothing destined for landfills, I arrived at a place of creating with consciousness. I have long believed in sustainable design processes—handmade, restored and repurposed vintage, one-of-a-kind upcycling of textiles. Orenda Tribe is built on these tenets and fueled by my desire to honor my indigenous history, to protect our sacred lands, and a drive to help others. ”

— Amy Yeung

A commonality between the interviewee’s statements is that one of the most impactful things you can do as a shopper is to make more thoughtful and less frequent purchases. So, I am also featuring an article by Man Repeller founder Leandra M. Cohen titled Hold that Cardigan! A List of Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Shop. It’s obvious we’re all online shopping and browsing more than ever but, it’s more important to not be impulsive. Some of the questions listed on the Man Repeller article are:

1. Do I already own something that serves the same purpose?

2. Is this one so much better, that I would feel compelled to donate three things in its place?

3. What do I have to give up to get it?

4. Can I afford it?

5. If it were more expensive would I still try to figure out how to buy it?

L I T E R A T U R E

Some of the books I’m naming below are novels, memoirs, essays, or poems but all uniquely portray the topic of racial injustices against Black Americans. You’ll notice each link provided takes you to a source to read the author’s biography, a summary of the book, and to make a purchase. If you decide to purchase any of these books consider the links I’ve provided or a local bookstore. It’s important to use these sources as a powerful tool in prohibiting systemic racism in America, there is productive action to take alongside our reading lists.

Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones

Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

Solitary by Albert Woodfox

Survival Math: Notes on an All-American Family by Mitchell S. Jackson

The Autobiography Of Malcolm X by Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley

The Condemnation Of Blackness: Race, Crime And The Making Of Modern Urban America by Khalil Gibran Muhammad

The History Of White People by Nell Irvin Painter

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration In The Age Of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

The Tradition by Jericho Brown

The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom

Chronicles | April 2020

A R T

Time Traveler Hilma af Klint

Serendipity led me to attend the Guggenheim's exhibition Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future last year. Klint's abilities left me in awe to the extent that it felt indescribable to those who didn’t get to see in person. Luckily, a Hilma af Klint documentary came out this month. It’s not on big-name screening services but, I found a list of theaters from Zeitgeist Films that were intending on screening Beyond the Visible - Hilma af Klint, and for now, offer online showings. I chose to purchase my ticket from Cinema 21, a small theater located in Portland, OR. You can stream it here. The documentary is directed by Halina Dyrschka and shines a light on the concepts behind Klint’s work and her life trajectory while confronting the male-dominated art world.

L O C A L

Remember This?

Lately, I’ve been driving through the city, taking in the scenery I’ve grown accustomed to overlooking. This month, Robert Wyland’s mural Whaling Wall was unveiled after being covered by large scale advertisements sense 2005. I found it funny that although the last time I saw the artwork was 15 years ago, it was engaged in my mind so well, that I didn’t notice it was ever gone. I encourage those who are able, to take a look. Read PaperCity’s reporting on Whaling Wall for further information on the mural’s history.

M U S I C

Aries Energy

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Aries are known for their radical ideas and call to action. I’ve always felt it was special that Al Green and Marvin Gaye were Aries because their music ignites such energy and intent. This month Bill Whether passed away and rightfully so, he finds himself on my roster of influential Aries too. I thought about who else can be added and created a playlist.

Although Thundercat had to cancel his tour, that didn’t stop the release of his newest album It Is What It Is. James Lawson’s album review from Stereoboard describes Thundercat’s intent more sufficiently than I can, as music reviews are not my forte. Lawson writes; “Throughout, the LP is punctuated by unexpected bursts of humour. It soon becomes clear that rather than investigating grief in isolation, Bruner has written about living with grief as an omnipresent but secondary character. This is achieved with a level of candor that manages to take the Thundercat alter ego, as over-the-top and cartoonish as it is, and portray it delicately, honestly and believably”. Thundercat’s music exists in various realms but, if I had to narrow it down for those unfamiliar, I’d define his work as funk, soul, jazz, and electronic-influenced.

After seven years, The Strokes released their most recent album The New Abnormal. This comes at an opportune moment. I’ve been reminiscing on the last time I felt unrestrained with what I do, it was in middle school when I was obsessively teaching myself how to play songs from Is This It, Room on Fire, and First Impressions Of Earth.

P L A C E S

New York & New Orleans

A year ago I spent the first week of April in New Orleans and the last two weeks of April in New York City for work, it was my first time there. I’ve always loved New Orleans and although it took time and reflection to admit it, I love New York too. These cities have been affected by so much throughout history and now COVID-19 takes its jab. I look on at these images I took fondly in the hopes to revisit one day.

Carmo will be my first stop in New Orleans, the restaurant that fed me so well, and offered sweet hospitality after a long mishap filled road trip. Somehow, I’m eager to go on another time-warped, 17-mile walk, through Manhattan and Brooklyn to find solace in dollar slices and Italian restaurants like Fiore at the end of my day.

Personal Care | Dallas Based Shops for Skincare Needs

Hello,

I don’t want my skincare knowledge to go to waste while I’m unable to guide people through their regimens in person. I’ve composed a list of quality skincare products from smaller companies that can all be purchased from Dallas based businesses. Even if you’re not a Dallas-local, you can most likely find these items in a boutique closer to you or, opt to shop from the shops I’ve listed.

Enjoy!

G L O S S A R Y

Fatty Acids - strengthen the surface of the skin making for a more smooth texture.

Emollients - help retain moisture, softens, and soothes the skin.

Humectants - substances that help withhold moisture.

Tocopherol - is a form of Vitamin E which is hydrating and antioxidant-rich.

Panthenol - is vitamin b5. It is a humectant and soothes the skin.

Niacinimide - is vitamin b3. It strengths the skin, is soothing, restores hydration, and evens skin tone.

Antioxidants - assist in repairing and protecting our surface cells which become damaged by free radicals causing oxidation. Think about the discoloration of a sliced apple left on the counter. By squeezing lemon juice on the apple, it prevents browning making the lemon an antioxidant in this scenario.

Collagen Production - occurs naturally in our skin but lessens as we age. Collagen is important in helping our skin renew itself, retain moisture, and improve in texture.

L I P C A R E

Lip care can be used in particularly dry areas of the body as a salve. Our lips have many layers of skin meaning a need for a higher boost in hydration to suffice. This is why I recommend using a dense lip product for dry hands as a helpful trick.

Le Baume can be bought from Marcel Market. I’m highlighting the option that’s naturally fragranced with violet as I know the ingredient to be softening, hydrating, and antiseptic. Other quality ingredients include; Shea Butter (high in fatty acids & is an emollient), Tocopherol, Sea Buckthorne (antioxidant-rich), and Honey (anti-inflammatory).

If you prefer a traditional applicator try Nash and Jones’s Lip Balm available at All Good Things. It contains Avacado Oil (fatty acid-rich), Beeswax, Tocopherol, and Peppermint (soothing but avoid around the eyes).

C L E A N S E R

Magic Hour Shop has a solid collection of skincare items. For a daily and or nightly face wash, I’d direct anyone towards Lauren’s All Purpose’s Serum. To use this product as an oil cleanser, apply 8 drops into your hands and gently massage on your face and neck then rinse. Please don’t be wary to try an oil cleanser even if your skin is oily! The way an oil-based cleanser function is that its oils attract your oils. Ingredients in Lauren’s All-Purpose Serum are; Hemp Seed Oil (balances excess & depleted oils), Burdock Root (anti-inflammatory & antibacterial), and Rose Otto Oil (helps to maintain elasticity in the skin & is very hydrating).

An overlooked approach to face washing is using your oil cleanser daily and reaching for a clay-based masque for a twice-weekly deep cleanse. The masques I’ll reference can also be purchased at Magic Hour Shop. If your skin is on the dry side I would go for the rose quartz masque and if you’re oilier, the vitamin C masque. Poppy and Someday’s Rose Quartz Face Mask contains; Rose Quartz and White Kaolin Clay (decongesting & gently exfoliating), Rosehip (boosts collagen production), Lavender (balancing to excess oils), and Chamomile (anti-inflammatory). The other option is Palermo Body’s Vitamin C Mask with; Pink Clay (decongesting & gently exfoliating), Rosehip, Strawberry Extract (antioxidant-rich), Hibiscus (high in alpha-hydroxy acid which is another gentle exfoliation), and Chamomile.

T O N E R

A toner is essential in my opinion. Visualize a toner as a primer, your skin as a canvas, making the steps that follow the painting. To reiterate, the toner comes after any product you wash off and before the products you’ll leave on. A good toner feels balanced and light in hydration. My advice is to avoid traditional astringent toners in general because they’re quite aggressive on the skin and can potentially cause more trouble in the long term even if they do offer short term results (this is relevant for those with blemishes and oiler skin).

You can order Noto’s Basil Yarrow Mist at Shop Commerce to use as a toner. This product offers; Rose Water (hydrating), Witch Hazel (antiseptic & balances excess oils), Basil (antioxidant-rich), Chamomile (anti-inflammatory), Ylang Ylang, and Lavender (both balance excess oils). This is a good option for all skin types, particularly oily and combination.

Poppy and Someday’s Gypsy Rose Toner from Magic Hour is based with; Rose Otto Oil, Evening Primrose (fatty acid-rich), and Witch Hazel (balancing & cleansing to pores). This would make more sense for those with dry, sensitive, and mature skin. However, I don’t see the harm in other types trying it out as well.

M O I S T U R I Z E R

At All Good Things you’ll find Freck’s Lil Prick Cactus Seed Dry Serum although I’d argue this would make a really nice moisturizer for oily, blemish-prone, combination, and sensitive skin. For dry skin, I would layer this product underneath another hydrator. Ingredients are; Prickly Pear (anti-inflammatory & can even skin tone), Sweet Almond (hydrating ), Grape Seed Oil (anti-oxidant rich), Rosemary (antiseptic), and Tocopherol.

Shop Commerce carries Alder New York Everyday Face Serum and Alder New York Every Day Moisturizer. The moisturizer is geared for dry, normal, combo, sensitive, and dehydrated skin. While oily skin types could use this at night. This moisturizer contains; Hyaluronic Acid (retains moisture in the skin), Glyceral Ascorbate (vitamin C which aids in hyperpigmentation & is an antioxidant), Oatmeal (soothing), Sunflower (vitamin E rich), Panthenol (vitamin b5) and, Aloe Vera (soothing). While the serum has; Niacinamide (vitamin b3), Rosemary, Willow Bark (soothing & cleansing to pores), Panthenol (vitamin b5), and Hyaluronic Acid. The serum could be useful to anyone.

Those seeking to aid with irritation, redness, and inflammation could try Fat and the Moon’s Moon Milk at Magic Hour Shop. It is comprised of; Rosewater (anti-inflammatory), Hemp Seed (balancing to both dry & oily concerns), Coconut Milk Powder (nutrient-rich & makes for milky consistency), Hyaluronic Acid (retains moisture in the skin), and Elderberry (antioxidant-rich).

Poppy and Someday’s Sea and Sun Shield at Magic Hour Shop would be a good item to incorporate for everyone. If you’re oily use it as a moisturizer and if you’re dry go ahead and layer it. It has; Carrot Seed Oil (high vitamin E), Sea buckthorn (antioxidant), Frankincense (aids in hyperpigmentation), Sandalwood (anti-inflammatory), Lavender (balancing), and Rose Geranium (antibacterial).

S K I N T Y P E S

I’ll offer some guidance below for those who are having trouble defining your skin type but most importantly, don’t overthink it!

Normal skin doesn’t feel tight, flaky, patchy, textured, overtly oily by the end of the day, or visibly congested. If you have no persistent concerns with your skin, my recommendation is trialing products one at a time to develop a routine that makes sense for your lifestyle and environment.

Dry Skin cannot produce enough oil. Flaking and patchiness can be seen and feeling tight after cleansing is common. Use nourishing ingredients in each step of your routine not just a bountiful amount of lotion.

Sensitive Skin doesn’t just mean you’re prone to breakouts. I would define truly sensitive skin as reactive to weather, allergens, and is easily inflamed resulting in rashes. Sensitive skin needs simplicity, hydration, and soothing ingredients above all other concerns.

Mature Skin is usually dry because our ability to retain moisture, produce vitamins, and collagen slows down rapidly roughly after age 30. You’ll need to focus on hydrating and protecting your skin at this point. Don’t fixate on if a product claims anti-aging results rather select formulations that are nourishing, have fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Oily Skin feels greasy, sometimes coarse in texture, and can have more of a chance for clogged pores. If you have oily skin, aim for balancing it not stripping everything away. It’s still vital to moisturize even if you suffer from oiliness because you can still be dehydrated. In some cases, people’s skin appears oily because it’s so depleted of nourishment.

Combination is most usually experienced as oiliness across the forehead and nose while feeling normal to dry on the cheeks. Similar to approach with sensitive skin, aim for simplicity. Just because your skin may feel many different ways doesn’t mean you need many different products. Again look for balance, perhaps try a decongesting cleanser, a nourishing toner, and a lightweight moisturizer.

Blemishes can occur on any skin type. As someone who is acne-prone, my greatest advice is don’t try and dry out your concerns with harsh ingredients. Instead, looking for decongesting and anti-inflammatory properties. Fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants are really important to ease scaring after a severe breakout.

Chronicles | March 2020

A R T

Making Art Digitally Accessible, Should Be More of a Effort Even Post-Pandemic

Many galleries are archiving their installations and artists’ talks on social media including Talley Dunn where the piece featured above by Francesca Fuchs is currently on display. A snippet from Fuchs’s exhibition statement reads, “Thickly oil-painted ceramics of mugs are paired with paintings of objects and paintings of paintings. Fuchs jostles images of last century stylizations with representations of classical art and the domestically mundane. From a framed image of the Pantheon in her childhood home to the unassuming mugs she uses to drink her daily tea, Fuchs’ subjects are drawn from her immediate surroundings.”

Realted, Glasstire published a new series called, Five-Minute Tours which features Texas-based exhibition walkthroughs. On a global scale, you can virtually tour internationally recognized museums by way of Google Arts & Culture.

D E S I G N

Yuko Nishikawa

Design Milk highlighted the work of multi-media artist Yuko Nishikawa this month, specifically noting her hand made ceramic lights. I enjoy her process of developing characters for each sculpture series and turning them into functional objects by adding lumination. See Keisha Badalge’s write up here to learn more about her process and collections.

Ryan Lawson

Being homebound has led me to delve deep into interior design references. Through this, I found the home of Ryan Lawson, a designer himself, featured in an Architectural Digest’s piece by Paola Singer titled, A Showpiece of Studied Juxtaposition in the Hamptons. Although I can get behind the simplicity of minimalism, I find the trend to be a little sterile because of how much I value using art, color, texture, and memorabilia in the home. Lawson’s house styled by Colin King and photographed by Chris Mottalini (who also photographed the images of Louis Armstrong’s preserved apartment in my last post) does a commendable job at blending minimal and maximal.

L I T E R A T U R E

Local Book Stores

D Magazine’s article features suggestions by Deep Vellum’s founder Will Evans. Out of his recommendations, Heather Harper Ellett’s East Texas-based fictional mystery, Ain’t Nobody Nobody was most compelling to me. Additionally, Deep Vellum is offering digital care package’s which include four digital books for $20. Keep in mind you can also order books online from local bookstores like Interabang Books and Half Price Books too. For art-related reads, I’ve been looking towards an article for Artsy, 13 Art Dealers Share the Books That Helped Them Navigate the Art World. For any other genres, I would suggest perusing NPR’s Favorite Books of 2019.

L O C A L

Small Businesses to Support

Aiming to help maintain small business during this time is a personal focus, D Magazine published a running linked here. WFAA also published one and I’ll feature places to support accordingly as well. While I look forward to expanding to this, any suggestions are warmly welcomed in this post’s comments. An item from a locally based candle shop I have my eye on is “Alexandra”, a candle made of Lavender & Vetiver from Old Flame Candle Co. The reason being, the vessel’s history of a 1970’s ginger jar, the combination of two of my favorite scents, and you know…its namesake. Yet I’m most excited about my new wallet by Admonish pictured below.

Its structure is minimal with black hand-stitched detail around the exterior. The color is a warm brown that transitions between patterns of dark clay, medium amber, and golden-toned highlights. Their small studio began in 2019 where they continue to focus on quality handmade leather goods.

M U S I C

Bob Dylan Knows About Dallas

There were plenty of releases that I had on repeat this month but I decided to showcase Bob Dylan’s Murder Most Foul. It’s his latest published song after eight years and resonates more like a spoken word poem. He speaks about the murder of JFK with clever metaphors, descriptive visualizations, and stories of sociologic happenings in the 1960s that are perhaps relevant now. All the while detailed references to Dallas interestingly intertwined.

You can view Dylan’s lyrics on Genius.

P E O P L E

The Strength of Mexican Women

Tw: Sexism & Violence

On March 9th women of Mexico, collectively protested Femicide resulting in over 80,000 participants leaving metro stations, offices, and schools void of their presence. Some companies were able to give women a paid day off in observance as the need to showcase the consequences of the rapid rise of Femicide is dire. I’d like to applaud all those that able to be involved by reflecting on the work of Frida Kahlo.

1. Self Portrait - Time Flies, 1929

2. Fruit of Life, 1953

3. The Suicide of Dorothy Hale, 1938

4. What the Water Gave Me, 1938

5. Still Life with Parrot and Fruit, 1951

P O D C A S T

If you’re looking for a podcast, I recommend Invisibilia published by NPR hosted by Alix Spiegel and Hanna Rosin. Its description reads, “Unseeable forces control human behavior and shape our ideas, beliefs, and assumptions. Invisibilia—Latin for invisible things—fuses narrative storytelling with science that will make you see your own life differently.” Many of my personal project ideas stem from the sources presented in this series.

Chronicles | February 2020

A R T

Embracing Fear and Failure

The NOWNESS series Photographers in Focus highlighted Alec Soth’s work for February. In the short film by Joppe Rog, Soth speaks about his career, his intent, and the subject of failure. Soth previously had a conversation with Aaron Schuman featured on Magnum Photo’s Theory and Practice where he explained, “A common mistake I make while shooting with sheet film is accidentally double-exposing the film. I did this last year while shooting in Warsaw and ended up loving the result.“

D E S I G N

Louis Armstrong’s Home

Although Louis Armstrong’s preserved apartment has been standing untouched since his passing in 1971, The New York Times published an article this month titled, Louis Armstrong, The King of Queens which showcases images of and histories about his home. Thanks to the article, I learned that $12 will get you into a house tour.

Chris Mottalini captured the home’s images above for an article published by Curbed in 2018, Visiting Louis Armstrong’s ‘Wonderful World’. The author, Rebecca Bengal conveys a story of Armstrong’s neighborhood concerning Jazz and identity.

F I L M

Berlin Film Festival

I’ll preface that AnOther’s article, Ten Films You’ll Want to Watch from the 2020 Berlin Film Festival, are in fact films I intend to watch. This year marks the festival’s 70th edition. Narrowed from Another’s breakdown I’ve selected three most interesting to me.

Berlin Alexanderplatz was originally a story conceived by Alfred Döblin in 1929 and I’m curious how the 2020 film references our current political climate. The contemporary narrative follows the story of an African immigrant’s promise to be a good person if his life is spared but the circumstances don’t make it all that easy.

Watch Trailer

Uppercase Print references duality and censorship. It’s a split story of one part anti-regime teenager circa 1981 in Romania and one part the government’s portrayal of him.

Watch Trailer

Zero is a documentary about Dr. Masatomo Yamamoto, a renowned and prolific Japanese psychiatrist. At age 82, he has decided to retire to care for his wife full-time which leaves his patents wondering what will happen to them now.

Watch Trailer

L O C A L

Censorship at Our Galleries

To me, the closing of 500x Gallery marks an end of a Dallas art era. Although, we as artists and art admirers hope for sufficient relocation, 500 Exposition Avenue was home to the gallery for 41 years. As censorship plays a role in the landlord’s decision to abruptly dislocate the gallery, I wonder if Dallas will ever actually let itself be more than the high-brow art hub it values so much.

M U S I C

Valentine’s Day happened and I published a playlist of songs about love that mostly makes you want to groooove.

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P E O P L E

If you haven’t been already, I’d like to introduce you to Christina Koch & Christine Sun Kim. These two women were sources of establishing monumental moments in history this February.

Christina Koch returned to Earth after orbiting space for 328 days, breaking the record for the longest spaceflight completed by a woman and second-longest spaceflight in U.S history. Space freaks me out, and with that being said, documentation of her travels on through Instagram accompanied by her existential descriptions make me feel some type of way. In her last photo from the perspective of space the view of our blue planet shows with a caption that reads; “What will I miss? The exquisite beauty of both the planet Earth and this marvel that its amazing people create.” I encourage you to read up on her accomplishments during her mission here.

Christine Sun Kim is a multi-media artist who became the first Asian American deaf woman to sign the anthem at the Super Bowl. I’m particularly interested in this story because often conceptual artists and sporting events do not go hand in hand. I have strong concerns about what our society decides to glorify and invest in. Kim expressed disappointment that she was only featured for a couple of seconds of air time yet, her work is prolific and her performance was a breakthrough.

T H I N G S

Aromas

I discovered Mondo Mondo’s fragrance High Lonesome while researching product packaging. After investigating, I learned the aroma was inspired by the desert and the remainder of their collection proved just as intriguing. I opted to trial their package of seven permanent fragrance samples. While I enjoyed each of them, my favorites were The Center of The World, Doll, and Cowboy. Center of The World is the most subtle option in comparison but I enjoy how the fresh and earthy aroma lays on my skin. I am often disappointed with rose interpretations but Doll is spot on for credentials, it’s comforting and real. Cowboy is my favorite because it smells like Texas. Specifically, a freshly cut and watered lawn that had been warmed by the sun all day while hints of honeysuckle nectar flow through the air.

Chronicles | January 2020

D E S I G N

Maison&Object’s Paris Art Fair was held January 17th - 22nd, the theme being regeneration. Two of my favorite concepts are as followed.Marking the 10th anniversary of the Brokis Muffin lights designed by Lucie Koldova and Dan Yeffet, the lamp now comes in options of mahogany, palisander, and marble. Tom Dixon’s series Swirl marries psychedelic patterns and Italian post-modernism.

“A family of candleholders, bookends, vases and tables, each with their own distinct silhouette, colouration and personality. Substantial in weight, smooth in texture and bold in pattern, Swirl will inject a fresh pop sensibility into any setting.”

— Tom Dixon

L I T E R A T U R E

ArtReview is a contemporary art magazine with a long-standing history beginning in 1949. The January & February 2020 issue covers an array of topics. VALIE EXPORT is displayed on the cover where inside you’ll find a video piece of hers converted into written poetry. Topics of art and linguistics are considered throughout conversations with and about Thu Van Tran, Adrian Lahoud, and Lari Pittman. Yet, most intriguing to me is ArtReview’s columnist Carla Young’s reporting on, “a current trend of quoting landscape and ecology in runway shows, and wondering whether nature has become the ultimate luxury.”

“In 1967, she changed her name to VALIE EXPORT—written in uppercase letters, like an artistic logo—shedding her father’s and husband’s names and appropriating her new surname from a popular brand of cigarettes.”

— Experimental Cinema

L O C A L

Aroma

Society by Jackson Vaughn is a boutique shop in Dallas’s Bishop Arts District centered around handmade candles. I reacquainted myself with their range this month and found four particular aromas I was drawn towards. I picked up West Third Brand’s Eu de Toilette, Old Bourbon because of my bourbon bias. A mixture of sweet, citrus, woody, and warm notes are merged into a summer scent for those of us who enjoy wearing earthy fragrances year-round. Sydney Hale Co’s Woodsmoke + Amber comes in the form of a home fragrance and candle. The woodsmoke isn’t too overpowering because the amber balances it out softly. The two candles I enjoyed most are from Jackson Vaughn’s Proprietary Collection which is numbered 01 through 12. The description of warm ginger root and sun-dried hemp immediately caught my attention persuading me to pick up number 08 and smell. I found it to be beautiful and sunny but not in a citrus way. Finally, we have 01 which seemed most experimental in its conception by using eggplant, sandalwood, and basil. To my pleasure, this candles gives that feeling of spring without following conventional influences such as “clean linen” or “oceanside”.

P E O P L E

Kobe Bryant

In memory of Kobe Bryant’s vigor, dedication, and passion I’ve linked a poem he wrote titled Dear Basketball upon announcing his 2016 retirement.

John Baldessari

Although for whatever reason, I was never too keen on John Baldessari’s work, I respect him as an influential force in the development of conceptual art. Baldessari passed away January 2nd and I urge those that are both familiar and not to reflect on his work.

Aaliyah

Aaliyah is a timeless style and musical icon who we all tend to collectively celebrate ever so slightly more on her birthday, January 16th. This year she would have been 41. In a 2001 New York Times article, Kelefa Sanneh describes the power of listening to Aaliyah, “Where some divas insist on being the center of the song, she knew how to disappear into the music, how to match her voice to the baseline - it was sometimes difficult to tell one from the other.”

Sade

Sade’s birthday was also on January 16th. She’s someone I look towards when I question the value originality holds. “I only make records when I feel I have something to say. I’m not interested in releasing music just for the sake of selling something. Sade is not a brand.” - Sade.

Susan Sontag

Susan Sontag, again born January 16th, was a prolific writer and philosopher. She was also a filmmaker and activist. Roughly seven years ago I read her essays On Photography and Regarding the Pain of Others. Reading her explain such complex ideas felt mind-bending but, eventually in a good way. I would recommend giving it a go.

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton celebrated her 74th birthday on the 19th. Parton’s philanthropy work shouldn’t be undermined, I aspire to achieve her ability to make things happen.

Martin Luther King Jr

January 15th marked what would’ve been Martin Luther King Jr’s 91st birthday. While I do appreciate the quotes, speeches, images, and writings we share on this specific day, I wanted to research something I haven’t learned before. In my findings, I read an article that a woman in Arizona unknowingly purchased a tape recording at a thrift store for $3 that was a rare speech of MLK’s recorded in 1964. It took place on Arizona State University grounds and the school has the recording now open and linked to the public here.