Archive of Softness III

Black femme's and genderqueer folx will hype you up the hardest period. Especially when its one of our own.  Our senses are acute, they have to be for us to survive. So we recognize the determination, passion, and shine of one another when other people refuse to. So for me, London was paradise because I was surrounded by black queer femmes. On the weekends I'd go out to parties like Pxssy Palace and when you're on the dance floor the entire space is so affirming because you see yourself reflected all around you. 

 I want to create connections when you look at my photos, I want them to build temporary shelters for you. Traveling around the world has only deepened my need to continue capturing the beauty and diversity of black femme and genderqueer people. So much of travel especially as a black queer femme is about isolation- being the only one. So there's something special about capturing the beauty of people like me. Wherever we go we flourish and I love traveling around the world and capturing that.

The first person I shot in London was Zoe. We met because I almost lived in their artist group house. When I went to visit for a walk through I realized I knew one of the other housemates from DC. Despite not moving in I developed a friendship with the people in the house and I miss all the times spent chilling in their living room.

Our photo shoot took place in the Woodbury Wetlands in East London which has two reservoirs and is a great location for a run. You never feel entirely separate from the housing estates and steel towers hallmarks of London. They jut out high over the horizon always reminding you where you are. I didn't get to see much nature while I was in London. Except for some time in a few parks. My favorite being London Fields. 

The second London addition to my Archive of Softness was an American friend and artist living in London doing furniture design. We met through a very good mutual friend that I went to college with. It was really fun getting to reconnect in London. 

Our photo shoot was in Victoria Park. When I arrived kids were playing football, runners we're out for their evening rounds, the sun, however, was not as active. The light was flat and tepid wind swept across the field carrying with it the early signs of fall. As always photographing with natural light its like a game your playing with the sun. You have to devise a way to make it work with whatever the sun gives you. And the sun forever on its own schedule would peak its head out whenever it felt like. But I came through and  captured my two favorite shots of the day when the sun decided to grace us with her presence. 

See other photos from this series! 

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Fashion Meditation IV

By now I'm used to the constant stares. The consumption of my body in Tokyo is a mix of laughter, astonishment, and jealousy. My ideal expression of a transgender non-conforming identity is a mix of what would be read as masculine and feminine. However, recently I have been leaning more towards the femme. 

 People tell me I look like a referee in this dress, from Eloquii, and in my head, I'm calling fouls on gender normativity. The long braids bring out the feminine features of my face while the facial hair provides a sharp contrast. These flowers are directly next to a busy traffic intersection and many drivers were forced to do a double take as they drove by. 

I think my desire to prevent a feminine identity stems from the fact that this is all so new to me. I embraced my genderqueer identity last year and only in the last couple months have I been able to find femme affirming clothing that fits me. 

Even though I've found a couple brands I still have major holes in my closet, like only owning one skirt.  I was forced to wear jeans because searching for the perfect denim skirt is one of the hardest things in the world. This scarf, from the British brand Blazon, is so colorful that it needs something neutral to weigh it down. It occupies the position as my second favorite scarf in my wardrobe.  The light blue cotton button up from Asos keeps the look clean.

What surprised me was that even with such a masculine look, I still got stares on the train. Don't forget to subscribe below so you never miss an addition to the Archive. 

L.A. Museums

The soft echo of footsteps bounce off the walls of the museum- a sound I know all too well. Being from DC, museums are everywhere and I have come to enjoy the world-class art my city has to offer. Museums can tell you a lot about a city as long as you ask the right questions. Where are the museums located? Are they free? Whose stories are being told?  In DC most of the museums are free. However, in LA almost all of the museums having some kind of fee, which I found to be surprising. Check out http://www.welikela.com/  for their monthly list of free museum days, so you can be sure to see great art on a budget. 

The first free museum day took me to The Getty. High on a hill, overlooking the rest of the city is where this mammoth art center lies. A graceful tram carries you from the parking lot around the hill to a stunning view of the city. LA fell below me just as rush hour was in full swing. 

I wasn't prepared for how large The Getty's campus was there is a sculpture and rose garden in addition to the five main buildings.

  My favorite exhibit was Latent Exposures. This photography exhibition showcased multipart photographic works. I was particularly enamored with the photography of William Leavitt seen below, and Liza Ryan. 

The next museum I ended up at was the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, LACMA. An iconic museum known for its insta worthy Urban Light installation. LACMA struck me by how tactile the museum was. There were so many ways you could physically interact with the space. One of their exhibitions was an exploration of Native Art through Mexico and South America. The standard white box gallery space was shaped to look like red and tan rocks undulating in a cabin. 

Urban Light installation. 

The final museum was The Museum of Contemporary Art, MOCA. It was a rainy day in LA and I was not in the mood. The spell was immediately lifted in Mickalene Thomas’s exhibit Do I Look Like a Lady. Two large screens grabbed my attention, they played on a loop, images of black female performers the audio and visuals no longer in sync. I became joyous seeing the visuals of Josephine Baker with the comedy of Mo'Nique. The setting was similar to my grandmothers living room. Rugs decorated the floor; comfy chairs lounged against a wall; books were scattered across the room. Mickalene’s work centers a complex meditation on black female identity and how they are represented in the media.  Something that I am trying to do in my photography project BlackFemmeMagic.

While I do believe D.C. has some of the best museums in this country, I have to say LA has a great scene. The most ludicrous part was that I didn’t even make it to some of the other institutions like the Broad. No trip to LA is complete without viewing the abundant and enriching museum scene.