Lula's Dress

As I have been working through the Heart and Soul project there has been a voice that I have not talked about yet. It is a voice that is sometimes hard to hear. It is a voice that for me, is communicated through silence and prayer. The voice of the ancestors, of my great grandmother who has guided me, the grandmothers of the Womxn I photographed who brought their own signs to allow us to feel they were with us. Whether it was a flower that showed up to speak to me or a burning feeling in my blood that I could not shake, our ancestors were speaking through us. They want us to heal. They want us to make things right, to forgive ourselves and to find our way back to love.

As I sat down to write this I lit a candle for my Grandmother Mabel who has always been someone I could feel deeply when I needed her. I put on her animal print coat that usually just sits in my closet, and I asked her to give me strength. My heart has been so heavy as I have a tendency to carry the weight of the world. Boundaries are difficult for me, I have so much work to do, still. The one thing I can’t stop myself from doing is feeling other people’s pain and joy, sorrow and hope. My sister tells me the world is going to swallow me whole, sometimes I believe her. A dear friend reminded me yesterday, when you need help, ask for help. Our ancestors are there for us, they are waiting to be acknowledged.

When I described what to wear to our shoot to Crystal I simply said wear what makes you feel powerful. Crystal instinctively brought her Grandmother Lula’s dress to our shoot. She told me how she thinks about how beautiful she was wearing that dress at holiday gatherings. When she put it on, her own beauty blew me away. I could feel Lula’s power with us. Yesterday, Crystal sent me a photo of Lula in the dress. I opened it up today and lit a candle next to Grandma Mabel for for Lula. I closed my eyes and sent them so much gratitude for their guidance and love.

Here is a photo of Lula and some film photos of Crystal in Lula’s dress.

Heart and Soul Mothers and Daughters

Crystal and Taren opened Cream and Sugar Coffee Shop close to where I live right around the same time I started this project. I as so thrilled to support a locally owned spot. When I went in for my first cup of coffee there I met Crystal and I fell in love with her kindness and openness to share with me. She also owns a spa called Grace and Grit. She was one of the first people I asked to feature in Heart and Soul project. She became the link that connected me to half of the Womxn I photographed. I am so grateful for Crystal.

Her daughter Bailey who has a jewelry business called Area 50Seven was at the shop when I met Crystal. I asked her to also be part of the project. I loved the idea of having a mother/daughter entrepreneur duo. Crystal’s business partner Taren, who also owns Sweet Petit Deserts also agreed to be part the project so I decided we could make their shoot a fun Mother/Daughter day so I invited Taren to bring her daughter Brooke to join us.

The four Woman were so fun to photograph. Here are a few of my favorites from the day. I cant wait to share the final painted pieces very soon.

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commissioned by Artworks and funded by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to make mini murals created with painted photos that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.

Heart and Soul Annie Ruth

Today is an extra special day to celebrate this absolutely amazing Woman, it is her birthday! One of the first things I learned about Annie Ruth before I met her was about her beautiful smile! I was greeted with that smile as soon as we connected at Washing Park for her photo session. She is a true Renaissance Woman, her journey with art began at three years old, since then she has done tremendous work using art and expression to help the community grow in a positive direction. I feel very fortunate to have her included in the Heart and Soul project and to have spent time getting to know her.

From Annie Ruth’s website

“Annie Ruth is an award-winning visual artist/poet who creates work that celebrates the human spirit. She studied graphic design at the University of Cincinnati, College of Design Architecture and Art and served eight years in the United States Air Force Reserve, working and training as a graphic technician. She is a trailblazer who has received critical acclaim for her work in the community. She fuses her artistic talents with arts education and collaborates with major cultural institutions and museums to bring art directly to communities throughout the United States and abroad. Annie Ruth has exhibited in major national and international museums, institutions and venues including the National Afro American Museum & Cultural Center, Cincinnati Museum Center and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Her commissioned works are in the collections of Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Children’s for Children/Procter & Gamble the Presbyterian Foundation, and numerous other corporate and private collectors.

​Combining acrylic, mixed media and collage, she often fuses several styles of art such as surrealism and expressionism. She describes this style as "spiritual portraits"-- capturing the essence of what she creates. The compositions utilize symbolism, vibrant color, accompanied by poetic verse. Annie Ruth has also gained acclaim for the artwork she has created for numerous children's picture books, which she wrote and illustrated.”

Annie Ruth has a number of exciting things coming up, head over to her Facebook page today to bid on lamps created by her Mother. She is raising funds to get her Mother more crafting supplies. She is also hosting an inspirational virtual tribute honoring women and sisterhood., Dada Rafiki: Conversations Oct. 30, 2020. Her Facebook page has become one of my favorite to follow as she does a lot of live cooking, gardening, and sharing. I have been learning a lot from her.

Thank you for sharing your love with the world, Annie Ruth! I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commissioned by Artworks and funded by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to make mini murals created with painted photos that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.

Heart and Soul Ewaniki

Ewaniki is one of the most empowering Woman I have met. I remember leaving our session feeling so impressed by her innate ability to give and help people become the best version of themselves.

2020 is a big year for Niki, after 17 years as Director of the African American Cultural and Resource Center at UC, where she helped thousands of students throughout her career, she has decided this will be the year she grows her own personal business even more. Ewaniki and her husband, Brandon run an amazing company called Soul Palette. They offer on sight and virtual art lessons, paint parties, group collage pieces, and custom murals. Their goal is to share art and empower others by helping them tap into their creative side.

She called this the year of her Awakening, I feel so fortunate to be able to give her beautiful photos to document this new chapter in her life. Congrats Ewaniki! I am so excited to watch you and your family soar!

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commisioned by Artworks and funded by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to make mini murals created with painted photos that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.

Heart and Soul Nancy

What is more inspiring than a 96 year old Woman whose smile still lights up a room? Nancy has lives a wonderful life. She was a dietician and a substitute teacher. After that she traveled the world. Spending time with her reminded me to live life the the fullest. Her home was covered in art from her travels and photos of her family. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to meet this absolutely wonderful person and to include her in the Heart and Soul project.

Thank you to Crystal of The Voice of Your Black Cincinnati for connecting me to Nancy.

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commisioned by Artworks and funded by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to make mini murals created with painted photos that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.

Heart and Soul Sesheta

Including a Doula in the Heart and Soul project was top on my list. I discovered Sesheta of Me&She Doula via a mutual friend. Her light shines bright. She showed up in the most beautiful yellow dress and opened up her powerful, loving heart without restraint.

A Doula is trained to provide guidance and support to Mothers and newborns during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Doulas remind us of our power and sometimes remind others of it too. Doulas educate and advocated for Women. They help you make informed decisions about your birth experience while providing emotional and physical support. Doulas are Angels. I had a wonderful Doula at the birth of my son, it was one of the best decisions I made. <3

Doulas and Midwives are especially important for Black Woman and Woman of Color as they are 3 times more likely to die while giving birth than White Women. Some contributing factors are access to appropriate and high-quality care, missed or delayed diagnoses, and lack of knowledge among patients and providers around warning signs. Most of these deaths could be prevented. With age old stereotypes and myths about Black people having a higher pain tolerance or thicker skin still believed by half of medical students, it is no wonder why we have so many senseless deaths. Research racism in medicine and you will come across some very heartbreaking evidence that there is much work to me done to rid the medical field of institutional racism.

From Me&She’s website…

”My fire for birth work was ignited a few years ago when I began studying herbalism. I began little by little uncovering and unearthing the trials and tribulations of being a woman, being a woman of color, and being a woman of color who’s pregnant. Such prevalence deeply troubled me and gave me a drive to be a force to combat such troubles. I’ve had the opportunity to grow up in a household that held strong to the values of femininity and understood the emphasis of sisterhood and community very early on. With this, I was granted the opportunity to take a step further and train to be a Doula under The Mothership in 2018. I have made it my goal, passion, and mission to be an ally, asset, and pillar for the women of my community through womb and birth work. I am deeply excited and blessed to have been called upon to do the work needed to bring health back into my community, even more so to be able to assist and join hands with women while walking through pregnancy.”

Including a Doula in the Heart and Soul project was top on my list. It was so wonderful spending time with Sesheta and her family. Her Power and Love shines so bright.

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commisioned by Artworks and funded by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to make mini murals created with painted photos that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.

Heart and Soul Schera

When I told my partner about the ‘Heart and Soul ‘ project, he immediately connected me with his friend Schera. He raved about how cool she is and how he thought we would get along. He was not wrong. As soon as Schera walked up, I felt like I was hanging with a life long friend. We walked around Covington discussing life and love. We went deep, fast. I appreciate her opening up to me. Schera is an attorney and Rugby player, amongst many other things. Her power felt good to be around, I can’t wait to hang with her again someday.

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commisioned by Artworks and funded by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to make mini murals created with painted photos that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.

Heart and Soul Nia

I met Nia many years ago when she hired me to photograph her wedding. She is an entrepreneur, a coach, a mother, and huge inspiration to me. She runs a natural skin care line called Flora Lee named after her, grandmother. I have been using her products for a month and I love them.

Body language is one of the subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways we communicate. I ask almost everyone I photograph to use gestures of some kind. I usually allow them to choose the gesture by offering suggestions, sometimes I ask them to simply close their eyes and reach for the sky. I am able to answer questions in my head by witnessing gestures. Are they giving or receiving. Are they asking for something or offering something? Are they simply letting go? The viewer then gets to experience the gestures for themselves and determine how it makes them feel.

When I photographed Nia a few months ago, things in the world were tense. Things today are still tense. If you have Black friends, please know things have always been tense, and they are exhausted. Mentally, physically, energetically exhausted. Don’t expect them to explain their feelings to you, just support their feelings. Don’t expect them to tell you what to do, research for yourself and please do something.

I asked Nia to use gestures to help release some of the tension she was feeling. I really enjoyed watching her open up to the sky and to get lost in movement. I highly suggest using gestures everyday to help express what you need to say without words. It is good to keep energy moving, especially when it is negative energy. Screaming works too, I have a few photos of that coming up in future posts.

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commisioned by Artworks and funded by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to make mini murals created with painted photos that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.

Heart and Soul Aprina

I met Aprina through a dear friend. She is an amazing singer, activist, and mother. She uses her music to help evoke change the community. I have watched her push forward with all of her heart and it is so inspiring to see. Throughout this project a common theme that came up has been about ancestors, elders, lineage, and history.

We live along the Ohio River which was the physical line between the North and South during the civil war. Many people sadly lost their lives on the journey across the river to escape slavery, many people changed the trajectory of their lives by making it across. Aprina shared a re-occuring dream she has about the Underground Railroad. I asked her if the dream was bad. She lit up and looked across the river and told me no, in her dream, she always made it across. We both got chills, this is so powerful and symbolic.

I am very grateful to start I got to start the project off with such an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing with me Aprina. Thank you for all of the work you are doing to help the community heal.

Connect with Aprina via her Fracebook page Aprina’s Revolutionary Love or on Instagram @aprinasrevolutionary_love

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commisioned by Artworks and funder by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to create mini murals that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.