Commentary, Music, Visual ArtLeave a comment

The New Black Renaissance: Alex Smith On Afrofuturism And His Many Artistic Endeavors

Evan M-C

My collage style comes from designing fliers for punk shows in the 90s! I started booking shows because I wanted to participate, wanted to be more tangibly involved with the music I was listening to, and I just kind of fell in love with it. The flier was like, the packaging for the show, was this artistic representation of the moment you were curating, like an album cover. So it all stems from wanting to create a unique visual idea for events I was planning, and it just evolved over the years and spilled out until it became its own thing. Continue reading The New Black Renaissance: Alex Smith On Afrofuturism And His Many Artistic Endeavors

Visual ArtLeave a comment

Taylor McManus, a Black-centric Body-Positive Artist Championing the Redefinition of Beauty Standards

Tim Gustave

Taylor McManus is a body-positive illustrator in a world where many are ostracized based solely on their physical appearance, McManus is a force of good, bringing to the forefront full-bodied, naturally curvaceous, and unashamedly, beautiful Black women in each oeuvre. Continue reading Taylor McManus, a Black-centric Body-Positive Artist Championing the Redefinition of Beauty Standards

FashionLeave a comment

Mama Kea’s Handwoven Footwear Will Pull on Your Heartstrings

Tim Gustave

Mama Kea is a Johannesburg, South Africa-based footwear company that is quite the contrast to the fast fashion brands of today in its approach, each pair of woven shoes are made by hand and equipped with a comfortable sneaker sole. They’re made in conjunction with elders and millennials working symbiotically, and some pairs don African pride colors that mirror both nature and the flags of sovereign nations. Each shoe is more unique than a haute couture brand and is way more sustainable than any sneaker made in a factory. You can even get your own pair with your own color selection and pattern! Continue reading Mama Kea’s Handwoven Footwear Will Pull on Your Heartstrings