STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEMS: THE BEARDEN PROJECT EXHIBIT: XENOBIA BAILEY

I am so very honored and proud to be a part of the Studio Museum of Harlems 100 year Celebration of the Birth of Romare Bearden, in 

THE BEARDEN PROJECT

(please check out the online link to the brilliant artist in this exhibit)

http://thebeardenproject.studiomuseum.org/xenobia-bailey/

Romare Bearden’s work is very inspirational to me as a practitioner of the evolution of the Aesthetic of Funk in the African-American lifestyle. I appreciate the way he used collage in a poetic way to tell the African-American story through a very funky, tribally strong, New World, fine art aesthetic.

I like to study the historically haunting quality of his technique that echoes his burden. His design sense is very original in the composition of heavy colors, raw shapes, and at times conflicting patterns of the printed cut paper. I really like these unexpected unions and artistic “reaching.”

I love the continuum that his collages have to African-American quilt-makers and musicians. Mr. Bearden constructs everything in his artwork as if he is patching together the idea of the New African in North America.

His work is like another imagination of the journey mapped in our own mind’s eye and hands.

The work that I created for this project is titled Endless Love: Conjure Kit. I too am artistically “reaching” in this work, using some of the same recycled materials as Mr. Bearden. My statement and desire is to conduct the powers of nature, found objects, trash, and creativity, for deliverance into a civilized planet, where our humanity makes us better custodians of the earth.

GREAT JOB STUDIO MUSEUM!!

A SNEAK PREVIEW OF XENOBIA BAILEY'S STUDIO MUSEUM OF HARLEMS INSPIRATIONAL RECYCLED ALTAR WINDOW DESIGN TO BE INSTALLED THIS FALL

GREETINGS WORLD... SORRY FOR THE LONG BREAK... I HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY WORKING ON A VERY EXCITING PROJECT WHICH I WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT SOON.

BUT... IN THE MEAN TIME, HERE IS A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE RECYCLED INSPIRATIONAL DOMESTIC ALTAR PROJECT THAT I CREATED FOR THE WINDOW OF THE STUDIO MUSEUM OF HARLEM'S GIFT SHOP WINDOW FOR THIS COMING FALL.

THIS WHOLE PROJECT WAS MADE FROM FASHION MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPER, CARDBOARD BOXES, GLITTER & GLUE.

I INCLUDED IN THE ALTAR, ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS THAT I HAVE EVER READ, ON HOW THE STOCK MARKET WORKS, TITLED: BOLD MONEY BY THE POWERFUL, BRILLIANT & CREATIVE MELVIN VAN PEEBLES... AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THIS BOOK NEEDS TO BE REPUBLISHED... IT DEMYSTIFIES THE WHOLE STOCK MARKET SYSTEM, SO THAN THE EVERYDAY PERSON IS ABLE TO BE A EDUCATED ACTIVE TRADER... I'LL PUT IT LIKE THIS.... IF I CAN PLAY THE STOCK MARKET AND TRIPLE MY (LITTLE BIT OF MONEY) MONEY IN 3 MONTHS, ANYBODY CAN... YOU JUST HAVE TO CAREFULLY READ THIS BOOK, STUDY THE MARKET (WHICH CAN BE A VERY EXCITING VENTURE) AND MAKE EDUCATED DECISSIONS...

VERY BRILLIANT, UNDER EXPOSED AND VALUABLE BOOK... IT SELL ON AMAZON.COM FOR A COUPLE OF DOLLARS.... NOT A BAD PRICE FOR WHAT THIS BOOK CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR FINANCES...

VAN PEEBLE IS A SAINT FOR THIS PROJECT IN MY EYES.

ANOTHER VERY POWERFUL BOOK, WORTHY OF THIS HUMBLE INSPIRATIONAL ALTAR OF GRACE, IS RUSSELL SIMMONS LATEST ENLIGHTENING BOOK TITLED SUPER RICH. THIS IS THE MOST INSPIRING INSPIRATIONAL BOOK THAT I HAVE EVER READ IN MY LIFE...

I LOVE HOW THIS IS A TRIED AND TRUE TESTAMONY OF A HARD WORKING SPIRITED INDIVIDUAL FULFILLING HIS LIFE... I MUST SAY, THE LANGUAGE CAN BE A LITTLE RAW FOR SOME FOLKS, BUT,... THIS IS THE 21st CENTURY, MALCOLM X, HUMANITARIAN, URBAN WORD, ENLIGHTENING BOOK... WHEN EVER YOU LOSE SIGHT IF YOUR VISION OR GOALS AND SPEAK THE WORDS... WHAT NEXT?... CHECK OUT THIS GOLDEN PAVED BOOK, OF CONTEMPORARY SCRIPTURE... !!!

THESE TWO BOOK ARE JUST A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE ENPOWERING OBJECTS-OF-INSPIRATION THAT ARE A PART OF THIS HUMBLE INSPIRATIONAL ALTAR OF GRACE, MY GIFT TO THE WORLD.

MY DEAR FRIENDS LITERARY AGENT MARIE BROWN DONATED HUNDREDS OF NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLISHER MALIAKA ADIRA DONATED HUNDREDS OF FASHION MAGAZINES FOR THIS PROJECT.

THANKS YOU SO VERY MUCH TO THE BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING A VITAL PART OF MY LIFE!

THE SIMPLE FOLDED RECYCLED PAPER FLOWERS & FANS ARE MADE FROM THE MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, SCOTCH TAPE, GLUE, GLITTER AND A WHOLE LOT OF IMAGINATION AND PATIENCE.

THE LONG SILENT HOURS OF CONSTRUCTION WAS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE IN IT SELF.

THIS IS A IMAGE OF THE ALTAR IN MY MESSY STUDIO BEHIND A CHAIR... I WAS LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT A RECYCLED THRONE-OF-POWER WOULD LOOK LIKE...

I HAVE COLLECTED CARDBOARD BOXES IN PREPARATION FOR FINALLY CREATING MY PAPER MACHE FURNITURE.... I PLAN TO START CONSTRUCTION THIS SUMMER.

MY OASIS FOR CARDBOARD BOXES FOR MY ALTARS IS COSCO... THE POSSIBLITIES ARE ENDLESS...

THE GRAPHICS ON THE BOXES REALLY GOT MY IMAGINATION SPINNING...

AS I STUDIED THE BOXES... SOME STOOD OUT MORE THAT OTHERS.

BACK IN MY STUDIO... WITH MY BLADE... I STARTED CUTTING AND GLUEING.


I REALLY LOVED EXPLORING THE DECORATIVE ARTS WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS...

I WILL DEFINATELY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THESE RECYCLED ALTARS... WHEN EVER TIME PERMITS, THAT IS!!










I WILL BE SURE TO POST WHEN THE ALTAR AND COMPLETED AND INSTALLED IN THE STUDIO MUSEUM OF HARLEM THIS COMING FALL

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

PEACE!

STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM, TARGET FREE SUNDAY: DEEP GREEN RECYCLED ARTS OF ADORNMENT WORKSHOP WITH FIBER ARTIST XENOBIA BAILEY

July 10, 2010: STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM WAS ONE OF THE MANY PLACES TO BE IN NEW YORK THIS PAST SIZZLING ART SUNDAY.

I ARRIVED AT THE STUDIO MUSEUM WITH ALL MY SAMPLE NEWSPAPER FLOWER SAMPLES AT 10:00AM, EVERY ONE WAS QUIETLY PREPARING FOR THE START OF A FUN FILLED DAY

I WAS SO VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER ONE COULD ASK FOR. THEY WERE SO VERY EAGER TO LEARN AND THEY WORKED WILL WITH THE VISITORS.

THE WEEK BEFORE THE FREE TARGET SUNDAY, I SENT SOME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE THE NEWSPAPER FLOWERS TO THE STUDIO, SO THAT THEY COULD BE READY FOR THE WORKSHOP.

HERE ONE VOLUNTEER IS SHOWING THE OTHER VOLUNTEER HOW TO MAKE THE FLOWERS.

HERE'S JAMIE WHO RUNS THE STUDIO MUSEUM GIFT SHOP, LEARNING HOW TO MAKE A FLOWER.

I WAS SO VERY HAPPY TO MEET THESE YOUNG TALENTED VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE A TOTAL JOY TO WORK WITH. THEY REALLY HELPED ME OUT A GREAT DEAL AS THE CROWDS GROW AS THE DAY WENT ON.

HERE AMALIA MALLARD THE PUBLIC PROGRMS COORDINATOR OF THE STUDIO MUSEUM, IS GIVING THE LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS TO A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS.

THIS WAS A FIRST FOR ME TO BE WORKING IN THE COURT YARD WITH A LIVE JAZZ BAND PLAYING, "HOW HOT IS THAT"!!!

REAL MEN CAN PROUDLY MAKE FLOWERS!!!!

ONE OF THE YOUNG ARTIST, PUTTING FINAL TOUCHES ON HER FLORAL CREATION.

YOUNG ARTIST AND HER MOTHER ADORNED WITH HER FLORAL CREATIONS.

ANOTHER MANLY-MAN-CHILD WHO MADE A WONDERFUL CREATION OF FLORAL DELIGHT FOR HIS FAMILY.

FATHER AND DAUGHTER NEAR THE END OF A LONG CREATIVELY ACTIVE DAY LOOKING OVER THE FLOWER MAKING INSTRUCTIONS.

TWO FAMILIES IN FRONT OF THE STUDIO MUSEUM GETTING BALOON SCULPTURES CREATED BY THE TARGET CLOWN.

THE STUDIO MUSEUM HAD OVER 1,000 VISITOR THAT DAY,...

I REALLY HAD TO PACE MYSELF BECAUSE I HAD YET ANOTHER EVENT TO ATEND THAT EVENING!!!

I FINALLY POSTED XENOBIA BAILEY'S 17 DAYS CREATIVITY UTOPIA WORKSHOP AT JOHN MICHAEL KOHLEN CULTURAL CENTER, IN SHEBOYGEN WIS. OCT 1-17, 2009: PART 1

I DID SO MANY WORKSHOP AND THERE WAS SO MANY AMAZING WORKS OF ART CREATED DURING MY STAY, I HAVE TO DO A PART 1 & 2.


I JUST AM GETTING MY BREATH BACK FROM AN AMAZING 17 CREATIVE FILLED DAYS AT THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER CULTURAL CENTER IN SHEYBOYGEN WISCONSIN.

THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF LAKE MICHIGAN THAT I WOKE UP TO EVERY MORNING. EVERY MORNING I WAS TEMPTED TO TAKE A DIP, (I HAD MY BATHING SUIT WITH ME).

THIS IS THE ENTRY OF THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER CULTURAL CENTER. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZINGLY, CREATIVELY FUNCTIONING CULTURAL CENTERS THAT I HAVE EVER VISITED.

THE BRILLIANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LIVING LEGEND, IS RUTH DE YOUNG KOHLER, I CAN'T BRAG ENOUGH ABOUT THIS WOMAN. I AM SURE THIS CULTURAL CENTER IS ADDING TO THE BRILLIANT CREATIVE MIND POOL OF THIS NATION AS WE GO INTO AN ERA OF NEW CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS.

THIS IS THE DOORWAY TO MY DOMAIN FOR 17 DAY, I HAD ADDED THE TITLE UTOPIA LAB TO THE ALREADY "THE ARTERY", WHICH I LOVE THIS WORKSPACE.

I CAN'T CALL IT THE HEART OF THE CULTURAL CENTER BECAUSE EVERY SPACE I WALKED INTO WAS THE HEART OF THE CULTURAL CENTER... EVEN THE BATHROOMS!!!!...



THEY LET ME REDESIGN THE WALLS, SO I DESIGN A MURAL ON PHOTOSHOP WITH HIGH AND LOW AQUA PYRAMID'S WITH INSPIRATIONALLY HIGHLIGHTED PEAKS, (EACH PEAK IS GOING TO HAVE A RED ROOSTER STENCILED ON THEM, THIS IS A ONGOING CREATIVE COMMUNITY PROJECT), I WENT TO THE PAINT STORE, PICKED OUT SOME COLORS THAT WOULD BE SOOTHING TO WORKING TO WORK IN AND WHEN I WALKED INTO THE NEW UTOPIA LAB EVERYTHING WAS READY.



THE "ARTERY" WHERE MY UTOPIA LAB WAS OPERATING, IS RAN BY OME OF THE HARDEST WORKING YOUNG WOMAN IN THE STUDIO ART BUSINESS. THE MIGHTY, DIVINE YVONNE MONTOYA.

THIS CARDBOARD HOUSE WAS BUILT, I CALLED IT THE "INSIDE/OUTSIDE HOUSE". I WAS WORKING WITH CONCEPT ART WITH THIS PART OF THE UTOPIA LAB PROJECT.

THIS IS THE VERY FIRST BRILLIANT YOUNG ARTIST THAT STARTED TO WORK WITH ME IN THE UTOPIA LAB. SHE WAS THE FIRST TO TEST OUT THE RECYCLED NEWSPAPER CROWNS I DESIGNED. SHE WAS A GREAT INSPIRATION TO ME. SHE IS STAYING IN THE "INSIDE/OUTSIDE HOUSE, THAT HAS GREEN GRASS AND BLUE SKY ON THE INSIDE.

SHE IS STANDING NEXT TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE SIGNS THAT READ "THINKING HAT AREA, IMAGINATION UNDER CONSTRUCTION", THAT MEANT EVERYONE HAD TO CREATE THEIR THINKING HAT/CROWN, AND BOY-O-BOY DID THEY CREATE SOME OUT OF THIS WORLD CROWNS.

WE HAD INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES COMING INTO TO STUDIO, AND WE HAD GROUPS. THE CENTER WAS CELEBRATING A ANNIVERSARY MY FIRST SUNDAY THERE, SO THERE WAS NONE STOP ACTIVITY.



I WAS WORKING WITH ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, SENIOR CENTER, AND OTHER YOUTH AND ADULT GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITIES.

I WANTED TO WORK WITH AS MANY GROUPS AS I COULD, IT WAS SO MUCH FUN SEEING EVERYONE CROWN THEMSELVES.



THE CONCEPT THAT I WAS WORKING WITH WITH THE CROWNS WAS FOR EVERYONE TO BE THEIR OWN MUSE, WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET PAST THE CROWN PROJECT. BUT IT WAS A GOOD EXERCISE ON BEING INSPIRED BY WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE IMAGINE OURSELVE.

THIS BEAUTIFUL SELF CROWNED SENIOR HAS CELEBRATED 92 YEARS OF LIFE, SHE GAVE ME THE BIGGEST HUG...

THE KING SITS BEFORE US...


THIS IS A GROUP OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM MILWAUKEE THAT CAME FOR A CREATIVE WORKSHOP, AND THEY JUST TOOK OFF ON THEIR OWN AND CREATED THESE DYNAMIC HEADDRESSES, CROWNS AND LIKE I SAID.... THEY TOOK THIS WORKSHOP OFF THE CHARTS!!!!... AND THEY KEPT ON GOING...

THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER CENTER HAS A ENDLESS STORAGE ROOM FULL OF MATERIALS, SUPPLIES AMD TOOL. WE WERE DOING A LOT OF RECYCLEING, USING NEWSPAPER FOR THE BASE CROWNS OF THE CROWN THAT I DESIGNED.

BASICLY WE HAD A ROOM FULL OF MATERIAL, I SHOWED A GROUP OF TEACHERS HOW TO MAKE ROSES OUT OF NEWPAPER, AND AFTER THAT, GLITTER, NEWSPAPER, POM-POMS, CUT CUTS OF COLORFUL CONSTRUCTION PAPER WAS FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

...AND WHEN THE GLITTER AND FEATHERS SETTLED, EVERYONE HAD THESE AMAZINGLY FUN CROWNS.