Joy in the Blues

This mixed media collage incorporates a sliver of paper from the poetry anthology titled In Search of Color Everywhere, a book which offered to me, for the first time (back in high school), a window into the vast world of Black poetry. As a teacher, I was passionate about and an advocate of a more diversified curriculum. We have so far to go, but books like this are a reminder of how grand our contributions have been.
 
I also can't help but think of the Duke Ellington quote, “I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.” The frustrations, furies, as well as the joys are evident in our art, the poetry, the music, the dance.
 
Pictured with Ego Trippin' and Children of Promise (sold separately, but contact Akwi directly for a discount to purchase all three).
 
Paper and fabric collage handstiched on acrylic paper; 2021; framed dimensions: 13.25 x 16.25
Professionally framed using UltraVue anti-reflective glass (with up to 70% UV protection)