Today I’d like to introduce you to Engaging Collections:

“Engaging Collections is an online journal and emerging creative residency at the intersection of art with libraries, archives, and special collections.

Engaging Collections facilitates artists through funding, resources, and advocacy in the making of public artworks which address underrepresented histories, non-dominant narratives, and community-based legacies.

Our mission is to fund underrepresented artists to share untold narratives through creative initiatives that build community.”

Director lydia see founded this initiative with support from a Z. Smith Reynolds “All for NC Fellowship.” As you will see on the EC “About” page, I am a collaborator on this project, which, due to you-know-what, had to quickly pivot from the planned launch of a public art residency to creating and launching a digital one.

The digital residency is now underway, and I am so impressed with what has been shared thus far by the first EC resident artist, Honey Simone (click for more about Honey and links to her journal entries to date), and I particularly enjoyed this video update on her process:

Those of you who know of my love of history and art and my passion for an inclusive, collective narrative, will understand why Engaging Collections gives me such joy and hope. There is potent power in the process of bridging the past and the future as we journey in uncertainty. You can follow the Engaging Collections journal on their website, as well as the great content they are sharing on Instagram. I look forward to watching this work unfold.

Healing in Community: Grief and COVID-19

Another thing that has touched me recently is Michelle C. Johnson‘s interview of my dear compa, Marisol Jiménez. The interview is part of beautiful series Michelle is doing under the theme, “Healing in Community: Grief and COVID-19.” As Michelle describes it, “This interview with Marisol Jiménez is everything. Her words will penetrate your spirit. Marisol speaks so eloquently about what it means to be in love. In love in the way bell hooks talks about love. All of the grief, loss, trauma, vulnerability, evil, ugliness, resilience, heartbreak and opening. That kind of love.”

Be prepared to be moved by this profound conversation:

Enjoy these offerings, and take care, beloveds.

****

You can subscribe to have new posts delivered via email for free (sign up in sidebar or below if you are on a device). If you find this site valuable, you can become a patron on Patreon starting at $3/month or you can make a one-time or monthly donation via PayPal. You can contribute on Venmo to Ami-Whoa. Thanks for helping sustain this resource on community action towards collective liberation.

****

photos from the engaging collections website