Though my artistic medium of choice is currently photography, I have always loved making things (or breaking things) with my hands. The Black Crowns are a combination of two things I enjoy; photography and sculpture. Black Crown (Biggie) was inspired by a quote in a play that I saw. The term “black crown” floated in the air and sparked the question “What would a black crown look like?” I thought about what a crown means in black culture and specifically in Hip Hop culture. This led to The Notorious B.I.G.’s portrait of him wearing a tilted crown. I modeled my crown based on the one he wore. Instead of using a prefabricated crown, I decided to make my own using clay. Working with my hands brings me joy. The process helps to slow me down and helps me to be present. Mistakes happen when I get ahead of myself and when they do, it reminds me to focus and recenter myself. It becomes a practice in meditation for me. This one idea for a photograph has morphed into a larger body of work that I’m excited to produce.
Black Crown (Biggie)
Black Crown (Basquiat)
