Running Through February

Hey 👋🏾 Hope all is well in your world. We are still very much in the month of melanin celebration and the uplifting must continue.  The manufactured day of love has came and went, the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, Fat Tuesday has ended in the great state of Louisiana and the ashes are placed. We are on the back end of February ladies and gents. I was a part of 2 art shows, and my latest exhibition was well received. I feel like some of the best things have always been packed in this month. The groundhog did not see his shadow earlier this month, which indicates an early spring. Looking forward to the warmth coming a little sooner than later, if I do say so myself. Sadly, this is the shortest month of the year while having some of the best celebrations and components of the year jam packed.

     One of my first things to pay attention to in February is Ground Hog day. Its significant in setting the tone at which spring begins. Falling midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, February 2 is a significant day in several ancient and modern traditions. When German immigrants settled Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, they brought a few customs with them, choosing the native groundhog as the annual forecaster signifying when spring would arrive. “As of this year Punxsutawney Phil has made his prediction for 2024 Groundhog Day. The honorary groundhog did not see his shadow Friday morning, predicting that there will be an early spring.”

https://abc7chicago.com/2024-groundhog-day-watch-how-to-punxsutawney-phil-prediction-live/14378740/#:~:text=Groundhog%20Day%202024%3A%20Punxsutawney%20Phil,see%20shadow%2C%20predicts%20early%20spring&text=PUNXSUTAWNEY%2C%20Pa.,will%20be%20an%20early%20spring.

It’s been a long time since there was an early spring and I am looking forward to pulling out the warmer clothing a little bit earlier. That is, if all goes as planned and our furry friend indeed issues in some higher digits in the weather department.     

The day of love came and went for me this year, like any other day. It was filled with plutonic exchanges and a whole bunch of puppy talk. I try to avoid social media on Valentine’s Day because of all the rigamarole. The marketing, the blasting, the sadnesses, and the overall performative nature of the day.   I was consumed with recovering from Fat Tuesday and reclaiming my space in the house on that Wednesday , while the catholic community received their ashes to signify the commencement of lent.  I usually get to watch the parades fairly close from home while eating and drinking with friends; this year some of my older art works rode right on by (pictured below).

The chamber of curated content is something Im working on, and below are some cute views of me and Peanut Butter in the Elevè Social House in Atlanta as an ode to V-Day. You can tell she was over my foolishness while there, but I was still able to get a few nice shots.

  A few hours before Super Bowl LVIII began, I was getting ready for one of the biggest events in my life. The Fancy Exhibition was completed and in gallery by end of the closed door unveiling of the final painting. February 11th a large amount of my loved ones gathered to celebrate art and my healing process. Painting really helped me process the loss of my mother, and sharing a large canvas dedicated to her memory with the world was the perfect way to commemorate her impact on my life. The visual is reflective of her debutante in 1974. My grandmother designed the pattern, and put together this intricate dress I had only heard about, and never laid eyes on. Thanks to the power of the internet, a post went pretty far and I was able to find pictures of the dress and meet a long lost cousin. The direct inspiration for the last piece in my collection. Well in this exhibition. The Fancy Exhibition. It’s a lot I can say about these pieces and its all forthcoming in March Madness. Opre_tv came out and got some amazing footage from the day. Please check it out ⬇️ below #weoutchalouisiana

The full version of this interview will be posted next month...

The exhibition is on display at Parc Village in Lafayette,La.

After the celebration came to a slight end and all the tears stopped, I was able to catch the amazing Usher concert that happened to be in the middle of a Super Bowl. Great to see how talented he is and how prevalent the music still is amongst everything else around. He brought out a nuThe Chiefs won the game, so kudos to those that were cheering them on. Me and my village were definitely more in tune with the performances and visuals.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPR3CyVN4/

As the month with some of the most flavor comes to an end I hope you are taking the time to care for your self. We often get lost in what is going on around us and lose sight of self. So as your eyes look at each word I would like you to unclench your jaw, take a deep breath, and take a moment to congratulate yourself for an accomplishment. You did that. Time is forever going to pass, lets remember to be kind. Happy February.