Reflections of an Artist: Black Doll, White Doll, which do you prefer?

A while ago I came across this short film directed by a young 17 year old girl named Kiri Davis called "A Girl Like Me" produced by Reel Work Teen Filmmaking a free after school program supported by HBO that Kiri attended. In this film Kiri reconducted the "doll test" which is and experiment originally done by famous husband and wife psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark which was used in the desegregation case Brown vs. Board of Education. The Clark's Doll experiment, found that black children often preferred to play with white dolls over black dolls, and when ask to fill in a human figure with the color of their own skin they frequently chose a lighter shade than was accurate. The Clarks saw that the black children viewed white as good and pretty, but black as bad and ugly. The Clarks viewed this as evidence of internalized racism caused by stigmatization. Now over a half a century later the outcome remains the same. Black children are still prefer the white dolls over the black Dolls and we are still seeing the same color issue as we did before.

After viewing this documentary I for one was a little confused about the whole thing. I guess I never really knew how serious this color issue was in our very own race this day and age. I mean, is that whole brown bag theory still going on today?Am I missing something here? What is going on in the minds of our youth and what are we as a society doing wrong to make them fell this way about themselves? Now we must ask ourselves what can we do to change it and actually stand up and do something about it? Mood: Ruminative

Reflections of an Artist: In Honor of Dr. King

Today I wanted to take the time out to remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and dedicated this blog in his honor. As a child I can remember every year around this time, in honor of Dr. King, a special would come on television and me and my family would sit and watch it for what seemed like hours on end. I can remember seeing this kind of small man who spoke with a mighty and powerful voice that made him larger than life. A voice with a spirit of triumph and determination, like no one could ever make him loss his ground. A voice so profound that when you heard it, you couldn't help but to sit quiet and listen because you knew that what he was about to say was important. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has had a major impact on this country and still does today and for that he will never be forgotten. Thank You Dr. King Mood:Stirred

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Creative Ambition: Nikki Chu

While reading an article in Jewel Magazine, (like always) I notice the most beautiful interior designed by a women named Nikki Chu. After reading the article I decided to google Nikki Chu and stumbled across her website at http://www.nikkichu.com/ and was inspired by her Bio.
Nikki Chu first arrived on the scene as a fashion designer, designing everything from men's ties to vintage clothing. Some of her design can be seen on some of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood like Hillary Duff, Mischa Barton and Kelly Osbourne, and more. You've also probably seen her appear on the Tyra Banks show sharing some of her fashion expertise.

After seeing how well Nikki had taken on the fashion industry with her designs, her celebrity clients not only asked her to design their clothes but their interior spaces as well. Nikki Chu has designed interiors for celebrities like Tyra Banks which was featured on one of my favorite reality show America's Next Top Model, Tisha Campbell and Duane Martin, Boris Kodjoe, Gabrielle Union, Mo'Nique and more. Some of Nikki Chu's interior designs can be viewed every month in the Luxe section of Jewel Magazine. You can also catch her on "Mail Order Make-over on the Fine Living Channel and on "Mobile Home Disasters" produce by Steve Harvey on the WB network.

Nikki Chu has taken on both the fashion industry and the world of interior and exterior design, but she didn't stop there. Nikki Chu recently launched her new lifestyle collection called none other than "Nikki Chu" providing both Accessories that includes watches, belts, purses, jewelry, make-up bags and luggage and a Home line creating things like candles, and skin care products. To learn more about Nikki Chu's designs and products and to see more of her work visit http://www.nikkichu.com/ Mood: Inspired

"Each product I create is a true reflection of my personal style."

"My philosophy and mission is to create an affordable luxury brand that combines fashion and lifestyle into one. This is the Nikki Collection" ~ Nikki Chu

Colors For Color!

I've decided to display some of my favorite cosmetics for all my sistas out there who have the slightest idea of what make-up to choose, and have made the mistake of choosing the wrong colored foundation only to come out looking like a pumpkin with that horrible orange glow, this blog is for you. After all your face is like a canvas. What will you paint?


L'OREAL TRUE MATCH
Choosing the wrong color foundation is something we've all experienced before I'm sure. To bad at the time you probably thought you looked HOTT, and later discovered, in a old photo that you looked a HOTT MESS. With L'OREAL's true match you can't possibly go wrong. It's supper blendable foundation literally( not literally but it seems like it ) changes to match your skin tone.

MAYBELLINE

Mabybelline XXL one of my favorite cosmetics, give you the added length and volume without the clumps or the pricey cost you'd pay for false eyelashes. I never leave home without it.

L'OREAL H.I.P.
L'OREAL H.I.P. which stands for high intensity pigments is the perfect item for those of you who enjoy that bold look you get from MAC eye-shadow but for less than half the price. The intense color stays on all day long.

L'OREAL TRUE MATCH BLUSH
Who said black people don't blush. Well now you can with L'Oreal's super bendable blush. Use to add a rosy finish to your face.

L'OREAL H.I.P BRONZER
To achieve that luminous glow that you've seen on some of the hottest celebrities, L'OREAL H.I.P Bronzer is a must have. I absolutely love this product. It gives me a sun kissed glow all year round.




CLINIQUE LIP GLOSS
Clinique's beach bunny(which is the name of the color I use) lip gloss is the perfect item to top everything off. I was introduced to this product by my lovely sister- in-law who gave it to me as a gift and it has been the a part of my life ever since. Although Clinique is a bit on the pricey side it's well worth it. One tube can last over a year, believe me I use it almost everyday.

Creative Juices: My Lino's

I've decided to start showcasing more of my work in my blogs. After all my site is called "Artist Statement" and I 'm an Artist. So look for more of my work to come in the near future.Here are a few pictures of my linoleum-cut prints that I did two years ago. Hope you enjoy 'em as much as I enjoy creating them!

Reflections of an Artist: HAPPY NEW YEAR?

Happy New Year?...my New Year happened to be a little bitter sweet. I mean don't get me wrong I had a great time on New Year's Eve. One of my girlfriends had a get together at her house which was a lot of fun I must say, but watching that ball drop to start off a new year was a little sad for me. Didn't 2006 just get here, and there it went. I felt like I didn't get anything accomplished in 06 like I thought I would. I had so many resolutions and goals set for myself and probably only got maybe two accomplished. This year went by so quick... I just got accustomed with writing 2006 behind every date and now 2007 is here. As a kid I use to get so excited about the New Year, and I'd here my mom say "This year I'm gonna do X,Y,and Z, last year I got nothing accomplished" and now I singing the same song. I guess I'm just getting older. This year I'll just have to pick up the pace! Mood: Bitter Sweet

Happy New Year!

Creative Juices: Work in Progress!

In a previous post called "Using My Creative Abilities", one of the things I decided to do was use my creative skills to write and illustrate children's books. Below is an illustration of a book I'm working on now called "I Hate Being A Kid" which is inspired by my niece Khylah! Enjoy, and look for more illustrations on some of my later blogs! Mood: Proud

Dream Girls!

Today I had the opportunity to see the movie/musical Dream Girls with my sister and a few of my friends and I LOVED IT. The music was great, the acting was great, and their costumes where off the hook. Jennifer Hudson gave a phenomenal performance playing the part of Effie. She was the character you kind of hated in the beginning and fell in love with in the end. Not only can she sing but the girl can act. She brought me to tears, especially when she sung that song "You're Gonna Love Me" (I think that's what it's called). She was hands down the best actor in that film. I mean she was so good the whole movie audience clapped for her on numerous occasions during the film. If you ask me and probably everyone else who's seen the film, she deserves to walk away with a few Oscars, not one, but a few.

Jamie Foxx's role was a little different from what we're use to seeing him portray on screen. His character was the most hated character. Eddie Murphy was hilarious as usual. Beyonce was okay. She didn't give anything extra that we haven't already seen her do in her other films like Gold Member and Pink Panther. I was little disappointed with her performance since she was nominated for best actor and we saw her on almost every show possible promoting the movie as if she was gonna give this outstanding performance.

I must say I was a little apprehensive about the film at first, thinking that maybe the media gave it a little too much credit and hyped it up, but it was fantastic. There weren't any moments in the movie where all the action kind of died down and you where left wanting more. It was great from beginning to end. I'm not gonna go into detail about everything for those of you who haven't seen it yet( shame on you!) but all I can say is that I've waited so long for this movie and it was all that and more. Go see this movie! Mood: Excited

Runaway Love

All of my friends and family know that I'm an emotional basket case. I get emotional about anything. If I'm happy I get extremely happy if I'm sad I get extremely sad and it's hard for me to hide the two. For the first time last week I saw the "Runaway Love" video by Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige. The young girls in this video gave such an outstanding performance. Among those young girls is the amazingly talented young actress Keke Palmer who plays a girl living in an emotionally disturbed home who looks for love in the wrong places and gets pregnant.

I was so moved by the music and performances in this video that I begin to cry. It was so hard for me to hold back the tears after seeing the tales of these young girls being raped, beaten, molested, taking advantage of and living in emotional disturbed homes. This video made me realize how these things happen everyday. Sometimes in our own families, in our neighborhoods, to the children we teach, to people we pass by in our day to day lives. Sometimes we sit and we past judgments on everybody we see in the streets actin a fool but never stop to think about what they're going through or what they went through. So next time, instead of passing judgement, stop to think about their situation and what they may be going through and what you can do to help them and others who may be going through the samething. Mood: Moved!

True Beauties!

Ever since I was a kid I loved watching old African-American motion pictures from the 50's 60's and 70's. Films starring people like Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Diahann Carroll, Lena Horne, Lola Falana, Tamara Dobson etc. I enjoyed hearing them sing, watching them act, and the seeing their hair styles and the clothes they wore back then. Clothes so inspiring that even the most noted fashion designers can't help but to recreate them all over again today. Sometimes I hardly ever knew what the movie was about back then. All I knew was that I loved seeing all the beautiful faces that looked like me and the way these movies capture their true essence and undeniable beauty. Back then you saw "True Beauty" not some airbrused, nip tucked faces, but genuine beauty. Even now as an adult I'll curl up on the sofa and watch an old film to recapture the inspiration I recieved as a child. Mood:Elated!