Category: East
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Magdalena Story
Magdalena Story Magdalene V. Story, 92 years old, has been sewing quilts most of her life. This pattern was made from quilting pieces that had been cut and stored in an old trunk that belonged to her mother, Mattie B. Preston, who passed away in 1972. We are unable to date as to when the…
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Dawn Smith
Dawn Smith “I am a native of Johnson City, TN. I am a crafter at heart. I learned to sew at an early age, completing my first outfit at 8 years old. In my teens, I taught crafts to the younger girls attending Bertha Ellis Girls Club. I received my B.S. degree in Food Systems…
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Shai Perry
Shai Perry Shai Perry is a Kansas-based, black bi-racial woman, artist, mother, curator, and consultant. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from East Tennessee State University, where she studied sculpture and cultural anthropology. She is the Gallery Coordinator and Adjunct Art Instructor at Kansas City Kansas Community College, while pursuing a Master of…
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Donna Olujani
Donna Olujani Donna Gillespie Olujani’s creative journey harmoniously blends passion, dedication, and artistic innovation, epitomized through the intricate art of sewing. Committed to crafting exquisite bags, she utilizes materials from cotton and faux leather to natural cork leather, African print cotton fabric, and African wax fabric. Within her realm of bag design, Donna’s artistry shines.…
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Doniqua Joyner
Doniqua Joyner “In a world of challenges, a graceful figure emerged, embodying a quiet yet unwavering strength. They moved with a unique power that embraced vulnerability, intuition, and the art of gentle boldness. Amidst chaos, “Sacred Imperial Threads-Majestic FILA’s” stood- symbols of this ethos. Adorned intricately, these shoes weren’t just footwear, they embodied the resilience…
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Jason Flack
Jason Flack Jason Flack is an award-winning urban folk and expressionist painter, community leader and speaker. He is native to Johnson City, Tennessee. His work has been heavily influenced by personal life experiences as well as many cartoons, comic books and music. He has been drawing for over 30 years, painting for over 10 and…
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Pam Faw
Pam Faw “I started in second grade and winning first contest really got me into art. At The Bertha Ellis Girls club on Chilwowie, I got more support and got to attend a summer class at ETSU in art. I have drawn most of my life and with recent retirement her time. I like different…
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Javan Collie
Javan Collie “I paint to escape! To travel to unseen and distant lands to uncharted parts of the universe. My inspiration comes from the years I’ve spent watching the world around me go by while I stood in the mist and stared. I’ve Traveled billions of miles in the only vehicle I’ve ever owned known…
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Akintayo Akintobi
Akintayo Akintobi “The themes in my paintings reflect a hybrid of my experiences in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria and a western environment. I explore meaningful relationships and experiences with my family by making art that is personal and cultural but also universal. My recent body of work explores carving a new identity while juxtaposing…
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Lydia Wilson+
Lydia Wilson Johnson City native Lydia Wilson was well-known for creating rustic folk art out of reused materials. Those works included her iconic sculptures, which Wilson once described as “visual voices” that reflect life struggles, social concerns, character traits and personal experiences. Using stitching, embroidery and other techniques, she was able to turn just about…
CRAFTING BLACKNESS 