I’m not always big on sharing my #wip but in the spirit of sharing #howareyoureally I thought I’d share these sketches from my newest project. After several months of focusing primarily on the health and security of my family, it was a huge relief to receive the funds from @qnsarts at the start of May and begin work on some new art. I’m honored to be a recipient of the New Works Grant, and although it saddens me that I won’t be able to present this piece in the fashion I originally intended due to the continuing effects of the pandemic, I’m excited to discover new ways of sharing my storytelling online. I’m grateful to @costa4ny and @aravellasimotas for supporting this grant and so many things I love about my community of Astoria, Queens. I’m also grateful to @astoriaparkalliance and @madsqparknyc for their early and continued support of this project and to the extraordinary @salttreeart for coming to my rescue very early on in the pandemic, when things looked bleak. They are true art heroes. But I especially want to thank Dan Bamba from QCA. As an artist it can be so easy to forget your value in times like these. My work has always been about bringing people together and it has been heartbreaking to adjust to these physically isolating times. But when things looked darkest Dan reminded me of something I hope to share with all artists who might be struggling to get back to work right now. He reminded me that our value is not measured only in the beautiful things we create, but in our ability to solve problems in unique and incredible ways. He made me feel useful in a time when I felt pretty useless, and I will be forever grateful for his support. Some days it’s still hard to make art, as it’s hard to do a lot of things, but when I think of all these people who have shown their love for me - my community, my family, my friends- I’m reminded why I chose this path in the first place and I walk on. This project is made possible (in part) by the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. @nyculture @nyccouncil #walkon #keepgoing #howareyoureallychallenge #queens #astoria https://www.instagram.com/p/CAecL8Xn3wP/?igshid=1w0s8qpt3z1rc
