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Wa Na Wari presents:“BLAXIDERMY Pink -N- Nails” by Pamela Council
“It Should Be Coo For A Lil Bit” by Breyahna Monet Coston, a.k.a. “Breeze”
“An Emotional Rollercoaster” by Nana Frimpong Oduro
On view from July 27 through October 27, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 27, 2024, 6-8pm
Live music and refreshments will be offered. Free event.
Wa Na Wari is proud to present the art of Pamela Council (New York), Breyahna Monet Coston, a.k.a. “Breeze” (Seattle), and Nana Frimpong Oduro (Accra, Ghana) on view from July 27 through October 27, 2024.
Gallery Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 2pm-6pm
Friday: 5pm-8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 11am-5pm
About the artists:
Pamela Council
Exhibition Title: BLAXIDERMY Pink -N- Nails
Pamela Council said, “BLAXIDERMY Pink is a space dedicated to my 14-year-old self. I am thanking them for the moment of clarity when they picked up their field hockey stick in self-defense to put a stop to the years of child abuse they experienced. I am offering them the hair product they knew best as a child, Luster's Pink Lotion, as a salve for protective styles. I am offering them ‘Relief’ tiles inspired by their favorite sneaker bottoms to thank them for walking away. With multiple fountains filled with Pink Lotion, custom cowrie shell ouroboros ‘protective style’ rugs, and silicone panels referencing sneaker outsoles, this fragrant and welcoming space is an offering of gratitude for tweenage resilience.”
Pamela Council was born in Southampton, New York in 1986.
They are an interdisciplinary artist using sculpture, writing, and performance to create multisensory dedications. Unlike typical memorials, these dedications, including Council’s series Fountains for Black Joy, mine history then use dark humor and bright color in acts of veneration that honor the unsung while critiquing hierarchies of power.
Council coined the term BLAXIDERMY, a portmanteau of Blaxploitation and taxidermy, to describe their distinctive Afro-Americana camp aesthetic, which marries the absurdity and horror of the precarity of Black life in a colorful exploration of the material, cultural, and metaphysical. In this world, Council’s transformation of everyday forms and materials is playfully cathartic — sneaker outsoles, hair lotion, and acrylic fingernails toy with long-held structures of care and value.
Pamela Council has created commissions for The Studio Museum in Harlem, Times Square Alliance, and VOLTA NY. Council’s exhibition history includes Aldrich Art Museum, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, UTA Artists Space, New-York Historical Society, MoCADA, The Luminary, Williams College Museum of Art, and The New Museum for Contemporary Art as part of Simone Leigh’s Black Women Artists for Black Lives Matter.
Council has been awarded residencies at Joan Mitchell Center, MacDowell Colony, ISCP, Bemis, Mass MoCA, Red Bull, Wassaic Project, MANA Contemporary, and more.
Pamela Council is an alumnus of Columbia University (MFA), and Williams College (BA), which awarded Council the 2022 Bicentennial Medal as a distinguished alumna.
They are a recipient of the 2017 Joan Mitchell Painters & Sculptors Grant, 2020 Harpo Foundation Grant, and a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship.
Website: pamelacouncil.com
On Instagram: @pamelacouncil
Breyahna Monet Coston, a.k.a. “Breeze”
Exhibition Title: It Should Be Coo For A Lil Bit
Breeze said, “My body of work delves into the realms of alternative medicine, mental health, and healing through the lens of the inner child. Through my art, I aim to capture the essence of disappearing neighborhoods, corner stores, coffee shops, houses, and natural ecosystems, shedding light on their often overlooked histories and narratives.
Drawing inspiration from my Black and Creek Nation heritage, I incorporate elements of native horticulture and holistic healing practices into my paintings.
My exploration of psychedelic mushrooms and their potential benefits for mental health serves as a powerful statement on the limitations of traditional pharmaceutical approaches to
depression and addiction.
In a society where access to alternative forms of healing is often restricted, I strive to challenge the status quo and advocate for a more inclusive and diverse approach to wellness. By highlighting the rich tradition of psychedelic plants and their spiritual significance in indigenous cultures, I aim to spark conversations about the potential for holistic healing and personal growth.
Through my art, I invite viewers to reconsider their perceptions of mental health, addiction, and healing, encouraging them to explore new perspectives and possibilities for personal transformation.”
Hailing from the vibrant cities of Seattle and Tacoma, Breeze has quickly made a name for themselves as a dynamic force in the thriving Pacific Northwest art community.
Before fully embracing their passion for art, Breeze honed their keen eye for detail and precision as a skilled barber. Their artistic journey also led them to Yale, where they delved into the complexities of art theory and technique, further enriching their creative repertoire. With a diverse skill set that encompasses mural work, canvas art, and sculpting, Breeze effortlessly transitions between mediums, crafting pieces that are both mesmerizing and one-of-a-kind.
Shaped by their formative years at Garfield, a prestigious arts-focused high school in Seattle, Breeze’s artistic vision is deeply influenced by the beauty of the natural world. Their creations
exude a sense of awe and reverence for the interconnectedness of all living things, inviting viewers to contemplate the profound mysteries of existence through their art.
Website: Breyahnamonet.com
On Instagram: @BreyahnaMonetPaints
Nana Frimpong Oduro
Exhibit Title: An Emotional Rollercoaster
Nana Frimpong Oduro said, “My art is a way to bring feelings and emotions to life. Also my art comes from a place I don't know but I feel like a vessel used to create all this art. Mostly, I say the creator of my art lives inside me and outside of me and I am just the vessel used to communicate what he wants to say.”
Nana Frimpong Oduro is a surreal and editorial photographer and creative director based in Accra, Ghana.
He likes to communicate emotions and life observations through art. His art mostly intuition driven where he describes it as “Him being a Vessel of a Higher Power” who uses him to create art. He likes to use his art to inspire every form of art like; poetry, painting, music etc. Favoring human subjects above all else, Frimpong channels his emotions into each and every piece or work assigned. Frimpong’s
passion does not stop at his own exploration and creative development; he pays it forward and teaches other aspiring photographers whenever possible. Ultimately, he hopes that his work can speak to people, just as music does. He is inspired by his environment.
Frimpong is self-taught and began shooting 2018 with his Tecno W3, snapping self portraits and street photos in Accra. He has graduated to using bigger cameras (though he still loves shooting on his iPhone). Frimpong has worked with clients like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Daisie, Blk Odyssey and others.
Website: nanafrimpong.myportfolio.com
On Instagram: @frizzlemadeit
ABOUT WA NA WARI:
Sited in a fifth-generation, Black-owned home, Wa Na Wari is an immersive community art project that reclaims Black cultural space and makes a statement about the importance of Black land ownership in gentrified communities. Our mission is to create space for Black ownership, possibility, and belonging through art, historic preservation, and connection. Referred to as a "container for Black joy,” Wa Na Wari incubates and amplifies Black art and belonging while providing a safe space for organizing and movement building. By renting a house from a vulnerable Black homeowner, and giving that space back to the Black community, Wa Na Wari is an active model for how Black art and culture can combat gentrification and displacement.
Website: wanawari.org
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/wanawariseattle
On Instagram: @wanawariseattle
Wa Na Wari is located at 911 24th Ave. in Seattle's historic Central District.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Wa Na Wari, 911 24th ave,Seattle,WA,United States