The logistics:
I’m so excited to announce my want to tell you about my latest project, “To Be Seen And Celebrated”, which will be hosted generously by the Metropolitan Charlotte, in their “Hole In The Wall” space, adjacent to Hickory Tavern, with ample free parking in the Trader Joe’s lot, with accessible entrances, ramps and along a bus route and located along the Sugar Creek Greenway. The exhibition will begin with a huge party opening on Friday, January 31st, 2020 where everyone is invited to a night of levity, dance and celebration. During the month of February 2020, we will host two workshops based around personal development and seeking growth and articulation through the creative process as well as opening the space for other esteemed community members to host meetings, events and workshops as well. The event will culminate in an intimate closing reception on Friday, February 28th, 2020 where the purchasers of the commissioned eye paintings will be able to come, once again, celebrate their loved ones, and take their pieces home.
The vision:
I am painting 100 8 x 8 inch panels of eyeballs, like the ones I have attached here, that will be sold for $150 a piece. Instead of offering Christmas commissions this year I want to offer these as a lower price point option for people who want to buy into my work as my prices continue to raise and as I begin to work on larger, national projects.
Everything will be run through a separate website (www.tobeseenandcelebrated.com) where people can purchase one of the panels, upload a photo of an eyeball (their own or a loved one’s), select from a drop down panel “In Honor Of,”/”In Memory Of”/”In Celebration Of”, write a little blurb about the person and something that can give the piece some personality and use the online portal to complete their payment. I want to make this a seamless process where it’s a one-stop shop for people wanting to participate and buy a piece as well as amplifying the “specialness” quality by hosting events that bring celebration and fun into a Charlotte arts scene that has taken a beating over funding arguments, low social mobility and increasing stresses pertaining to the creative fields.
For the opening night, the Metropolitan Charlotte (where the Target and Trader Joe’s is), is giving me access and in-kind support to host a FUN ASS PARTY to kick off this month of being seen and celebrated. DJ, catering, photo area with hired photographer, the whole 9. The idea is that people will bring their loved one to surprise them, or will show up to celebrate/honor someone to see the eyeball as part of a massive grid of the 100 eyes, on a mural backdrop, as part of this sweet ceremonial party that links celebration, art and giving back.
The give back:
I will also be raising money for eye exams and glasses for some of the residents of the Brookhill Community, one of Charlotte’s oldest historically-Black and historically-under resourced neighborhoods. Eyesight is an important issue for me as I suffer from generational genetic macular degeneration and struggled as a child who didn’t have access to the glasses, prescriptions and exams I needed. Pairing that with the will to be a full-time visual artist, it’s been an interesting ride for sure that I’m sure many can understand the low-rumbling trepidation of taking care of my ever-precious eyesight. Now that I have the resources to care for my vision, I want to pay it forward, and continue to display and model person-to-person fundraising that is specific and actionable with a quick return rate and highly impactful.
The low down:
Please join me in sharing the good word, getting excited, and consider adopting an eye painting, sponsoring vision resources for Brookhill Village residents, and showing up to dance. As always, remember to take time to See others And To Be Celebrated.
xo,
-B