One of my Doll Collectors: Cassandra Rush!

Cassandra and her new doll "Pinky"


Decisions, decisions, Moi and Cassandra trying to decide which doll goes back to South Carolina with her!

I just had the beautiful opportunity to meet one of my esteemed doll collectors Cassandra Rush of the African American Doll Museum in Columbia, South Carolina. She and I have been corresponding for nearly a year to get one of my dolls into her collection. After much e-mail traffic and some hits and misses, we finally caught up in Washington, DC yesterday evening and had a lovely time.

I showed her four of my dolls and she loved them all! Finally after much debate, she settled on "Pinky" one of my healer dolls. Turns out Cassandra is not only a doll collector, but she is curator and author. In addition, outside of collecting dolls, she is an avid African American art collector. We talked about our love our art and what motivates her to collect dolls. Cassandra states "I pick dolls based upon how they make me feel."

She is a wonderful lady who has a vision and a passion for collecting. I feel very honored to know her.

An Evening of Haitian Art

My art piece entitled "Wild and Peaceful" which was auctioned during the event.


Several pieces on display from "The Art of Haiti" Exhibit


Guest mingle during the silent auction and opening reception.


Moi and gallery owner, Florcy Morisset of Vivant Collection enjoy one of the exhibit pieces in the gallery.

On Saturday, June 5th, I was honored to have been one of the artists represented by Vivant Collection to have my mixed media work auctioned as part of the Links, Incorporated fundraiser for several Haitian organizations including:

Art Creation Foundation for Children
Les P'tits Tresors School
Partners in Health

Delaware Links, Inc. member, Valerie J. Gilliam, Chair of the fundraiser event, was the winner of one of my art pieces "Queen Series: Wild and Peaceful."

Over 100 prominent guests of the Wilmington, Delaware community feasted on Hors D'oeuvres and cocktails while listening to the wonderful music was provided by child prodigy Emma Gould who played a special violin selection: Haydn Violin Concerto No.2 in G Major, First Movement.

The event was held at the beautiful Delaware Art Museum in downtown Wilmington, Delaware.

As part of the event, the highlighted "Haiti: A Tribute to Art" Exhibition provided an excellent backdrop to the event.

My thanks to Links Incorporated of Delaware and Vivant Collection for being a part of a wonderful event!

Garden Inspirations!

You know sometimes we take our immediate environments for granted. One morning I woke up to water my backyard plantings and really took time to notice the vibrancy of the colors. So beautiful, warm, inviting, spring colors. It made me consider how beautiful they are and how I can perhaps replicate them in my artwork.

Take a look around in your environment and see how it inspires you.

Art Inspiration from Genoa, Italy

My husband and I are joined by a delegation from Detroit at the Waterfront Conference reception dinner the night before we left.


A new friend Rhoda and I head back from and day long shopping trip in Portofino on the Italian Riveria to Genoa in time for dinner.


Transportation safety in Genoa is apparent by the fact that pedestrians do not cross the busy but dangerous streets in Genoa but underground crosswalk filled with murals and art.


Here is another section of the underground crosswalk filled with art.



These underground crosswalks are like mini-art galleries really.


Here is more underground crosswalk artwork.


I loved the tiled sidewalks in the retail section of Genoa!


Portofino was simply breath taking!


More colors and architecture in Portofino.


A mural is stunning inside a Genoa Hotel lobby.


Hi, I just returned from a wonderful trip to Genoa, Italy. I went there to tag along with my husband who was there for a waterfront conference. All I can say is WOW! This beautiful Italian small city sits in the northwestern region of Liguria, is Italy's principal seaport and was a 2004 European Culture Capital. Genoa is a great Italy travel destination and has a fascinating aquarium, an interesting port, and a historic center said to be the largest medieval quarter in Europe, with a wealth of churches, palaces, and museums. The city boasts to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.

The Genoa portion of the Italian Riviera has several interesting villages, ports, and resorts. Most can be reached by train, bus, or ferry

In addition, I had this great opportunity to tour one of Italy’s Mediterranean treasures Porto Fino, and the finest colors and interiors of this magnificent country.

This trip inspired me to begin to create dolls and artwork that signifies the colors, shapes and sounds of the region.

The Mediterranean palette is rich and diverse as the architectural landscape that inspires it. The colors draw from the buildings, the sea and the sky, flowers, and the olive groves.

I am now wondering whether to make a mixed media series based on this travel or a collection of dollwork. In any case, I was truly amazed at the rich culture and colors that were all around me.

I was very fortunate to be able to experience this rich region of our world!

Imperfect Mama- A Mother's Day Tribute

Hi just was fooling around in my studio today. Taking a quiet meditative break and celebrating in my own way the life of my mother Eleanor Simmons Burton who transitioned in April of 1998. I put together the makings of another mixed media art doll on canvas to be part of a collection I am putting together for a fall show. This one is called "Imperfect Mama". It celebrates that while mothers including mine work for the best of for their children, we often place them on pedal stools expecting them to be perfect in every way. I learned as an adult that this is not always so.

Note the stitching on this piece is irregular and imperfect.

A Tour of Anacostia with the ARCH Advisory Committee

Outside Vivid Solutions Photographic Gallery in Anacostia


Briony Evans speaks about opportunities using the former Poetry Museum Property owned by ARCH Development Corporation



Beth Ferraro provides an overview of the Vivid Solutions Gallery and current photography exhibit.


The committee toured the Youth Green Jobs Initiative and Training Program in Anacostia.



Tour members listen to Andrea Hope as she describes the functions of the Dark Room at Vivid Solutions



Briony Evans speaks about Anacostia's creative opportunities and upcoming exhibitions at the Big Chair Coffee house.



Another vacant building waiting for a creative business to rent in Anacostia.


As a member of the ARCH Development Corporation's Advisory Committee which overseas the programmatic activities of both the Honfluer and the Vivid Solutions Galleries in Anacostia, Washington, DC, I was led with other members on a creative economy tour of Anacostia. Briony Evans, Creative Director of the Honfluer Gallery, Beth Ferraro, Creative Director of Vivid Solutions and Andrea Hope, Director of Vivid Solutions Gallery led the tour.

Most of the members of the committee brought others, overwhelmingly photographers, who documented various sites along the way. We visited vacant buildings that will be proposed for new "Pop Up" gallery opportunities for curators and artists, a youth green jobs project to train teens in Anacostia how to build and use green technology for future green jobs, the Big Chair cafe, a new coffee shop and art space, and Vivid Solutions' dark room and training facility for youth interested in learning the art of photography.

I learned so much from the visit about how ARCH Development and partners are trying to promote the area to bring in more creative opportunities and lure creative businesses to the area.

In addition, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities' ART (202)TV Show recorded the event including interviews with those who participated on the tour.

As a member of the committee and a East of the River artist, I truly enjoyed the tour and learned so much. I am looking forward to witnessing the revitalization of this community through the arts!

SANKOFA ART DOLL CARDS TO BE FEATURED AT DESIGN STUDIO ART GALLERY

Sankofa Art Doll Cards will be featured as part of the new May art exhibit and sale at the Design Studio Art Gallery in Hyattsville, Maryland, 5702 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781.

These colorful cards featuring my artistic doll designs make great gifts for Mother's Day and all year around.

The opening reception for this exhibit will take place during the annual Hyattsville Arts Festival on May 22nd!

For more information and to purchase these art cards contact Design Studio Art Gallery at 301.779.4907.