Search results (tags) for: "african americans"

Black History Month: Voices from the Etsy Community

2008-02-22T11:00:00-05:00

In honor of February being Black History Month in the US, we at the Storque asked the Etsy community of all races to weigh in on what inspires you about African American culture, be it influences in your art, inspirational people like Martin Luther King, Jr., artists who have inspired you, and any inspiration garnered from black culture or a black subject (like Nina Simone, for example), and how this relates to your making handmade items. We discovered that there is a strong and vibrant community that has joined together, with an Etsy Artists of Color Team and associated blog. We've collected but a few insights from the many brought forward.

Beautyconnesuier: I am an African-American Etsyian and am very pleased to be a part of this community. My work is filled with vivid color and depicts the urban life. As an African-American artist and a woman, the majority of artwork in the mainstream is not representational of my group. So, I sought out a way to inspire others by creating artwork that gave the African-American woman a chance to be anything she dreamed of. High fashion: if she was not depicted in a magazine she could still imagine herself as so by looking at one of my pieces.

In general, it was the non-represenational idealism that allowed me to look at the unequal situation from a multicultural and gender viewpoint, because it happens in various groups. In urban America, women of all walks of life are becoming the forefront of business more than ever. So, I wanted to commemorate that by saying we as women are multifaceted and we can be all things while still being a woman. I want women to not be afraid of stepping out of the domestic sphere and into the patriarchal sphere...We can straddle both spheres and become powerhouses no matter the race. We should all run this marathon together.

gingerlime: So my art is not always apparently Afrocentric...not what I've posted on Etsy so far, at least. Honestly, I was waiting to "feel it out" here. So anyway, I'm influenced by the '80s, when I wanted to be a rocker chick, but none of them looked like me, so I didn't think it was possible. I loved Pat Benetar, Heart, and Stevie Nicks as much as I loved Janet Jackson (and all the Jacksons, for that matter...).

The heart behind my art is just being my goofy self and hoping that I can represent my culture's diversity...That I can rock and be African American (along with my other roles). It's hard sometimes because of where I'm from: things are so segregated that I felt like I had to tone down my edge a bit because my African American associates would see my style as too "white." It hurt, but then I was also advised not to put my face on stuff because then white people wouldn't buy it.

I was happy to find Etsy because then I could start trying to put more of me out there without getting strange looks. I even had my picture on my shop (I think it was there when I made my first — and only — sale; it was definitely there when I got some of my hearts) and that meant a lot to me. I took it down because it got weird seeing my face everywhere as I joined posts and stuff. It's still on my blog though: www.restingplace-jpd.blogspot.com.

So the style is still emerging, and I look forward to seeing what happens. That was a lot, but I've been thinking about this a lot...Peace

BeadsInTheBelfry: My work primarily focuses on nature, but pretty much everything I do is an extension of who I am. And one of those HUGE influences is being black.

I think one thing that has always influenced the way I live my life is that I like to make people look again. What I mean by that is to look past what they see. After all, as an African American, this is a day to day struggle.

My parents are originally from Panama, and it would always crack me up when I'd run into people (outside of the New York metro area) who did not think black people should speak Spanish. That is probably my earliest memory of turning people's pretensions on their heads.

This definitely influences my process. As a child I used to love cutting up frilly socks to make clothes for Barbie. (Seeing past the sock and what have you.) I find the same satisfaction in working with metal and beads. I try to see past the materials to something more.

One piece I'm really proud of to this end are my caged bird necklaces (shown above). As soon as I saw the beads I was like, oh yes, I know what these are. Not everyone would have seen them that way (in fact, another jewelry artisan told me she had those same beads and could not make heads or tails of them — which come to think of it is basically what I did. Ha! Hey — I'm corny). That brings me great satisfaction.

Nina

VeronicaWillingham: I am an African American woman and have been running my jewelry design business since 2001, and on Etsy almost a year now. I'm 99% self taught and learning everyday. Later this month I'll be coming out with a ring line that I'm really excited about.

Growing up in the South (Dallas, Texas) and of African American descent with extremely artistic parents I gained an eye for color quite early....my other inspirations stem from being a little girl and seeing the amazing colors being worn by Aretha Franklin, Chaka Kahn and the like. I think I always wanted to do something artistic; then in 2001 my calling to jewelry design took hold and now its my full time vocation.

Thanks,
Veronica

Thank you to all the artists who chimed in! Post in the comments below with your inspirations or thoughts on being African American artist or craftsperson!

Kwanzaa: A Handmade Holiday

2007-12-20T16:02:00-05:00

antb celebrates the holiday season in a special way that is tailored to her family. "When we adopted a sibling group of mixed race kids, we decided to make Kwanzaa the focal point of our winter." According to Wikipedia, Kwanzaa is "a week-long Pan-African festival celebrated primarily in the United States, honoring African American heritage. It is observed from December 26 to January 1 each year."

We were struck by the creative, handmade quality of antb's family celebration: they've taken traditions and reinvented their meanings in a very personal way. "While we follow the seven themed days of celebrating, we also have added to and changed the holiday to fit our family. On New Year's eve, we have a family dinner and exchange handmade gifts. We have a libation ceremony, remembering the struggles of the races. We remember our ancestors, distant and recent, and talk about where we have come from as a family... It is the way a holiday should be. I love it." What follows here is a peek into the family life of an Etsian, expressing the unique qualities of her family and the universal holiday spirit on Etsy in general.

I think back to when our family grew in one day from a family of four, to a family of nine. It’s been almost fourteen years, but I still remember the sheer busy-ness of life that occured when we adopted a sibling group of five kids from Chicago. I wondered how to teach our new children about their heritage. I couldn’t see them finding a lot of pride in their adoptive parents with Viking forefathers.

My sister asked me if we were going to celebrate Kwanzaa, now that our family was mostly African American. I think she was joking, but the idea appealed to me on many levels: It would be a dedicated time of year to talk about African American role models and was based on African traditions and rituals. It was all about what we as individuals could do when we worked together – an idea I was anxious to instill in my children as part of a newly blended family. It was also about handmade – using what you have, honoring craftsmanship, and taking pride in what we can do ourselves.

Yes, this was a holiday I could embrace! I couldn’t ignore the signs of a commercial Christmas all around, but I could make Kwanzaa into the handmade, family centered holiday I had always wanted for my family.

As we set the table for Kwanzaa, my youngest daughter Grace sets out baskets and sings"The 12 Days of Christmas," repeating the phrase, “Two Turtle Doves” about a half bajillion times.

“Grace, honey, that’s the wrong holiday,” I tell her.

“Oh right. Harambee!”

Renee and Jasmine finally find the kinara, the special candle holder, and begin arranging it on top of the mkeka mat. Jens and Tasha bring platters full of fresh fruit, crackers, corn and peanuts in from the kitchen.

“Who remembers the seven principles of Kwanzaa?” I ask. Everyone crowds closer around the table, picking the piece of fruit which will represent them in the basket. Nearly everything on the table is handmade, including the pine needle baskets, made by my sister who learned the craft from the granddaughter of a slave who learned it from her grandmother.

“Umoja!” Grace yells. “That’s my candle.” She carefully lights the central black candle.

“And that means Unity,” I remind her.

“Kujichaguilia,” Jasmine says, careful not to say “Goochee-Goo-Ya” as she did as a child. “It means Self Determination.”

“Ujima: Collective Work and Responsibility,” Renee says.

“So you’ll be doing all the chores?” I deadpan. Nobody responds.

“Ujamaa, which is Cooperative Economics,” Jens says, stealing a cracker from the bowl.

“Does Etsy count?” Tashaasks.

“Sure does!”

Snow hurries us on to her candle. “Nia. Purpose.” She has dropped by on her way to work and wears her uniform instead of a traditional dashiki.

It’s my turn now. “Kuumba, Creativity. By the way, how are everyone’s gifts coming along? Do we need a craft store run?”

The kids look guilty. While everyone no doubt has a plan for the handmade gifts we give each other on January 1st, I have a feeling they’re in the Kuumba stage and don’t have much Nia.

“Imani,” my husband Danny says. “Or Faith. And then we name our ancestors.”

“Kutoa Majina. For honoring those who have gone before us, maybe they’ve died, maybe they no longer live with us, but they’re a part of us anyway.” The kikombe cha umoja, or cup of togetherness, is filled with sparkling apple juice and set front and center during the seven days of Kwanzaa. But tonight, we pass the cup and everyone names someone who has influenced their lives. We drink a toast to them.

“And then Jens' drums!” Grace says.

“And what part does bingo have to do with all this?” Jasmine asks, cynically.

I smile. “The first year you lived with us, Aunt LeeAnn came from Montana to visit during Kwanzaa. She brought a bingo set as a family gift, and little gifts for you all. We played bingo with the gifts as prizes, so you could each pick what you wanted. We just kept bingo in from then on.”

“Actually, aren't there lots of games of chance played during holidays and festivals all over the world? So, I’m pretty sure there is an African tradition somewhere that would translate into something like bingo,” interjects Tasha.

“Leave it to a Pagan to rationalize bingo during an African holiday,” Jens laughs.

Jasmine won’t be put off, however. “Mom, come on. White parents, black kids. Hel-loo! How does Kwanzaa compute in a family like this? Most families don’t celebrate this, why do WE?” Grace looks up expectantly – she senses a story coming.

“Jasmine, we celebrate Kwanzaa because I am the mom, and I said so.” “Yes, Mom,” she answered in mock obedience, rolling her eyes. “Can we play bingo now?”

“Help me with the food, and then I get to call the numbers first!” We set up a buffet of southern food and spicy African dishes. As the kids pick their bingo cards, and find pillows to sit on, I look around at my family, and find myself completely content in life. This is how a family holiday is supposed to be.

“Bingo!”

Further Resources:

http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

http://www.swagga.com/kwanzaa.htm