Glossin

Glossin, 2020, six-layer screenprint, 11 x 14 inches, edition of 20, signed and numbered

This collaboration with Halftone Projects was selected by the Chicago Printers Guild to be sold through their Raise It Up! fundraising campaign to support the South Side Community Art Center with building improvements. SSCAC has been serving the Bronzeville community for eight decades. Block Club Chicago wrote an article about the partnership which you can read here. This project was partially funded by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

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Project Statement about “Glossin”

"You got some Carmex?" Growing up, as soon as this question was asked, with the quickness one of my girls would pull out that bright yellow pot and we would all start dipping our fingers in, moisturizing and shining up our lips.

I've wanted to make artwork around Carmex for a while, but I wasn't sure how it would come about. When the opportunity to collaborate with Halftone Projects was presented, this image immediately popped into my head. The two ladies in the image are my first cousins, Brittney on the right and Brandie on the left. I am an only child, so they are practically my little sisters. When I studied film and photography in undergrad, I would always use them as my subjects. Brittney was in a lot of my films and I made a whole thesis with Brandie. Fifteen years later, they agreed to collaborate with me again.

Glossin is a tribute to being with my friends—walking through the mall, laughing, giggling, lips poppin, carefree and cute. As I've been still over the past months, I’ve taken time to think about things that are constant in my life; Carmex is one of them. It’s a security blanket. It’s an artifact. What are some of the simple artifacts for you and your friends?