Celebrating The Momster at Vision & Sound 2024
Yes, 2024! Since I was MIA for a year, I’ll be catching up for the next few posts on just a few of the most significant happenings of last year. So bear with me ya’ll 🙂
Mom has been a featured artist in Visions and Sound since 2019. Visions and Sound was founded in 2016 by Michael Cunningham, Artist and Chef, and his wife Norma, along with Bernadette Carroll, West Valley Arts Council Executive Director. They wanted to bring a greater awareness of African-American Art representation to the West Valley. Mom loved participating in this annual event and was very excited V&S partnered with Sedona Arts Center in 2022. I made more trips to Sedona 2022-2023 than I have the entire 20+ years I’ve lived in Arizona, lol! So with her heavily on my mind last February, I drove up to be there to participate on her behalf, dressed in one of her signature, custom-made jackets, and the jewelry she always wore with it.
For 2024’s Visions and Sound Collab with The SAC, and the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at ASU, I was asked to attend their closing symposium to receive a special tribute they’d prepared for my mother. They created an award in her name and presented it to the first recipients. Mom always told me that while most artists only receive recognition after they’re no longer here, their greatest goal is validation. So I’m sure she’s smiling from above.
It’s taken some time, but I’ve finally re-organized her pieces and created a gallery for her for the second time, only this time in my new home, which I’ll share more about at a later time. Things were moving so fast after she passed, and still a year later then when I was moving, that I didn’t realize I hadn’t yet gone through a huge storage container of a hodge-podge of things relating to her artwork. Like remnants of all sorts of artistic services she provided when I was a little girl. In the 70’s mom did a lot of graphic artwork for various companies. She actually hand drew, with pen and ink, the wig booklet pics, (before paying a photographer and a model was a thing). She did signs for churches, calendars for varied companies, and always created her own letterhead. She did it all!
And yes, that’s me she drew in the calendar. I remember sitting for that drawing and not being too happy about it 🙂 I still haven’t completely gone through that large bin, but I’m working on it, because I want to take up the mantle of continuing her legacy. And while there are going to be some legacy pieces that will be “for display” only, there are some pieces that will be for sale. I have to go through everything so I have a better grasp on where to take her work next. I’d love to possibly obtain a grant and start a foundation in her name. That may be a little challenging considering our current political climate, but it is something I’d like to seriously consider. Perhaps her pieces can be included in traveling shows, as I’ve seen other artists do. We’ll see. Although it may be a ways off, stay tuned!
Good morning Ingrid!
Thank you so much for sharing a segment of the beautiful life and tremendous artistic gifts of your mother. It’s been a pleasure an honor that you made a lot of us inclusive to this journey. Look forward to seeing and hearing more.
P.S. Don’t let the current political climate bother you. I tend to view it as a divine disruption that’s providing a unique opportunity for what you call “Transition and Reinvention” to usher in the new. Isaiah 43:19
Peace & Blessings
Pierre
Hi Pierre, thanks so much for taking the time to check out the post! When you’re a little kid, you don’t have the same appreciation for extraordinary things your parents are doing. You just want to go outside and play, lol! And thank you so much for that perspective on this current political state. I will keep that in mind as I continue to trust God.