Tag: Photography
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Artist a Day Challenge 2016-26: Carrie Mae Weems
Last year I highlighted Carrie Mae Weems and I love her work so much that she deserves another mention. Weems was recently announced as the 2016 National Artist nominee by the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Aspen. “Founded in 1966, Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a premier destination in America for art making and critical dialogue,…
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Artist a Day Challenge 2016-15: A Ruckus on the Runway: Black Models in Fashion
On November 28, 1973 America found itself officially placed on fashion’s map after the legendary Battle of Versailles runway show. This walk-off pitted American designers against French designers in an elaborately designed show that catapulted the U.S. to design prominence. The 5 American designers who showcased their work to an international crowd featured 10 black models- an unprecedented move in fashion. To…
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Artist a Day Challenge 2016-13-14: Malick Sidibé & Chris Ofili
Malick Sidibé’s work was prominent in the 1960’s and 1970’s when Mali gained its independence from the French and subsequently transitioned into and out of socialism. This cultural transformation became an underlying theme in Sidibé’s work. I love how his photography captures the exuberance of youth in Bamako-they are some of the most endearing photos…
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Artist a Day Challenge 2016-10: Misty Copeland X Degas
The March issue of Bazaar hits newsstands on February 16h and today the magazine released stills of its photoshoot with American Ballet Theatre’s Principal Dancer Misty Copeland. The shoot is a Degas redux bringing some of the artist’s most famous work to life with Copeland wearing Alexander Mc Queen, Valentino, Roberto Cavalli, Alberta Ferretti and Oscar de la Renta. The re-creations…
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Artist a Day Challenge 2016-9: Brandan Odums & Noirlinians Usher in New Wave of Art in NOLA
Laissez le bon temps rouler! I’ve got New Orleans on my mind, so I thought I’d use today’s post to shine a light on the art that’s being made in the Crescent City today. Steeped in tradition, plagued by disaster and portrayed as a crown jewel of urban renewal, New Orleans is a multifaceted and deeply…
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Artist a Day Challenge 2016-4: James Van Der Zee
James Van Der Zee was a prolific photographer documenting Harlem in the 1920’s and 1930’s with work that earned him the unofficial title of “Photographer of the Harlem Renaissance.” With a mission to highlight middle class life, his work featured portraits of black New Yorkers, showing a side of life that was virtually invisible outside the African American community. He was very…
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Artist a Day Challenge 2016-1: Frederic Douglass & the Power of Photography
In 2015 I embarked on a journey to highlight artists of color during Black History Month and I am happy to bring this important feature back to Culture Shock Art. Instead of the longer theoretical essays, I currently explore on TONDI, this February I will explore one artist, artistic medium or art movement each day during February. Both 2015…
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Wandering: DTLA’s Arts District
Last year I went to a meeting at the CleanTech Incubator near the L.A. river and I was surprised to see how much development has gone into the Arts District. Over the last few months I’ve been getting acquainted to L.A.’s latest gentrified, “it” neighborhood. Here’s what I LOVE about it: The energy is phenomenal (I…
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Art Book Review: “A Harlem Family”, Gordon Parks
“I got fed up with hearing all these people, even Negroes, ask, “Why are those people rioting?” My personal project was to show them why. You have to know what they go through before you can understand why all the violence takes place…” ~ Gordon Parks I love to collect art books that feature prominent…
Colony Little, Culture Shock Art 