Artwork Series
Black Roses
Inspired by The Carnegie Mellon Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion Black Roses talk based on Harold Green’s book of poems Black Roses: Odes Celebrating Powerful Black Women, this photo series, Black Roses, highlights the themes of the discussion, the Black women experience, and is a literary representation of giving Black women their flowers. This photo series is not the sob story of Black women but our story of resilience, power, and grace that black women will always have. The photoshoot was done over 3 days, used 4 models, and over 50 flowers!
Pillars of Futurism
Afrofuturism – an expansive field that involves reclaiming our lost history and creating our own identity through the African diaspora. The echo of enslavement is everywhere, but the power we harness from it is what Afrofurism exposes. There are a lot of complexities of what it can mean and feel to be an African American, this unclear search for an untraceable history. What is someone's history without knowledge of their past, or a foundation to build from? How do we define our reckoning and find beauty, power, and celebration through centuries of struggle?
Remember
Much of nostalgia is an image in our minds. As Boym said, “Modern nostalgia is a mourning for the impossibility of mythical return, for the loss of an 'enchanted world”. Almost a fantasy that we conjure up, whether we believe it to be real or not. But just because the memory may be secured from reality, what can make it feel real is the environment. The environment holds memories even if your nostalgia isn’t about a place.
Carnegie Melanin
Presenting the designs for the new Carnegie Melanin Merch, launching in the Fall of 2025! These hand painted designs were created by sophomore fine arts student and Creative Design & Content Student Ambassador for the Center, Quinn Bryant. After a visioning session with Ms. Shernell Smith, Executive Director of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, Bryant was commissioned to paint representations of each of the current eight Black student organizations within Carnegie Mellon University.