We believe as an artist we are blessed to see the world in a way that others cannot, and it is our job to use said gifts to present these inconsistencies back to the world with our work, in hopes to create a better society and community than the way we found it. Having that understanding and that objective as is exactly how Black'd Out Books was created.
Through The Black’d Out Books program, I want to provide a space where only Black voices are being heard and being felt. I want to provide text that are speaking about the Black experience. Text where ain’t is a word. Text where they say Finna is a part of the dialect. This program will function very similarly to a Free Library, but there is a more intimate exchange. The patron will bring a book written by a Black author and will suggest a topic or interest they would like to read. Based on that, we will then select a book for them.
Understanding the demographics of Ames and Des Moines, I wanted to find a way to provide resources to Black communities that encouraged and provided them with stories. Under the guise of The Buxton Initiative, this project falls in line with the mission and objectives of the organization. These free Black Libraries will highlight the incredible authors and philosophers prolific in Black thought and narrative.
We are creating a series of three 10ft large Black obelisks that will be located in Black populated spaces in the center of their community, their parks. With the selection of the space, we wanted to make sure that the library is not only in an accessible location, but also in a space that by design conjures this notion of togetherness. Since these sculptures house and celebrate Black thought and stories, We see it acting as a sacred space with invites the spread of the Black experience through literature but also its function to the citizens as a possible meeting place or location from the family cook-out and social justice meetings.
Another important function of this project is to bring high contemporary art to Black spaces. It is so often that Black people have to leave their own communitites to see art that is about them or that contain their image, and I believe in the importance of bringing the art to them. Everyone has a right to see high art and I believe it is time to decentralize the museum and its our duty to provide the work to the people who are the audience.
