So much of ourselves can be discovered through art. The beauty of visual representation, the pride filled moments of bringing an idea to life. Throughout my artistic journey, I have struggled with the discovery and the defining of myself as an artist... as a Black woman creative. Sliding down the rabbit hole that is Instagram, dancing in the minefield of comparison, I find…no…found…no… find myself stifled again. On this road I’ve left behind four Tumblr pages and two Instagram’s (the stench of old ideas rot like roadkill), I have been struggling for years to find my voice. Find my place in this over saturated artistic world – where there’s a photographer on every corner. Like church.
Enter BLACK IS A PRIMARY COLOR.
A new place I can call home. An incubator for my ideas. A place to share my musings, my love for art and the artists I admire. A place to think. To opine. An ideal I hope to grow into yet another thing – even my inconsistency is consistent. A place to discover how loud I can yell without the fear of being stared at. A place where I can make mistakes because I’m actually trying something new. A community of one. You’re welcome to join me. Then we’ll be two.
-teri joi
p.s. I am not a blogger. I am not a writer (looking at you, grammar Nazis’). I am not an art historian nor do I have a background in art history. I make pictures (sometimes). I collect art from artists whose work speaks to me (that I can afford). I go to art shows and artist talks. I love films. I don’t go to everything. Hell, I don’t go to most things. But I go. I support my friends. I support artists. Creating. I’m interested in how we as consumers and artists engage with art spaces. I’m interested in how we create community. I’m interested in how we create lives through art.