Individual Artist Project Grant

The Duluth community is in need of more work (both creatively and community initiatives) that focuses on marginalized communities that are often harmed by the majority population in Duluth. As a Black queer woman living in Duluth, I often feel alienated, discriminated against, and forgotten. I constantly feel the burden of creating the change I want to see while folks in majority go about their lives without understanding how their actions negatively affect my experience here. Ignoring these issues isn’t the answer and won’t make these negative issues go away. My exhibition will open these issues up and help folks to understand how they can get involved to help our community be a better place for everyone to live and exist no matter their identity.With this work, I want to facilitate conversations that help folks understand their role and circle of influence to the experiences of Black women. The mission statement that I live by is to promote positive change with conscious creativity. Change will only come with creativity and new approaches to the dissemination of information. I want folks who engage with my work to feel the emotional strain of being a Black woman in this society and to begin to find out how they can lighten the burden of racism and sexism. My measurable outcomes will be folks that engage with the interactive piece at the exhibition. I will also be providing information in the zine where folks can get involved in the community around these issues in hope that I see folks show up at community organizing events and meetings. I have over 10 years of experience as a designer and illustrator, with almost half of those years dedicated to planning events and exhibiting work. I am very dedicated to my work and craft which is why I was able to solidify a solo show at Zeitgeist. For my work with Project Naptural, over the past 3 years I’ve secured over $15,000 in funds to support my work and the events that surround those exhibitions. I have a variety of experience with writing reports for my own work as well as community and activist organizations. I am very passionate about social justice and education and I see this exhibition as a way for the Duluth community to engage in community issues that are not familiar with. I am hoping to ignite social change around these concepts. I will and must complete this exhibition for the betterment of my community.I plan to measure my outcomes by counting how many interactions show up on the interactive artwork as well as a journal placed within the exhibition to not folks reactions and experiences. I also want to make sure folks are interacting with the zine through discussion, using the materials given to find their voice and influence in the issues present throughout the show. I plan to follow up with registered attendees with an exit survey to understand how their thoughts might be changed and what new knowledge they've gained.