Artist Talk - “Threaded”

"THREADED" - ARTIST TALK  

Moderated By: Denise Zubizarreta

Curated by: Tya Anthony

Featuring works by: Adderly Grant-Lord, Jazz Holmes, Shaunie Berry, Yaz Atmore, and Tya Anthony.

Through the power of multi-generational collaboration, we pay homage to the women that paved the way for our journey and look towards the future with a spirit of creativity, possibility, and empowerment. We explore the idea of living an authentic life and forging our own paths. Our art reflects a deeper connection to our identity as Black women and the rich complexity of our experiences. We draw on emotion and abstraction to bring the Black experience in the 21st century to life, envisioning new narratives that are as dynamic and diverse as the people themselves. In the wake of a global pandemic, we find strength and hope in the power of art to inspire and unite us all.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR:

Denise "The Vamp DeVille" Zubizarreta is a neurodivergent interdisciplinary artist of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, with over a decade of experience in various creative fields. She is currently an arts and culture writer for Hyperallergic and Southwest Contemporary, two leading online publications that offer curated and critical perspectives on contemporary arts and culture.  Denise holds a B.F.A. in Fine Art from the esteemed Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, and is pursuing her Masters in Arts Leadership and Cultural Management (M.A.L.C.M.) at Colorado State University. Her passion for arts and culture drives her to explore and challenge the intersections of post-colonial theory, identity, and traditions in her writing and mixed media works. 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

YAZZ ATMORE

“Art is just conversations with God.” -Yazz  Yazz Atmore is just a scattered brain barefoot babe who likes to dance with words, play in the spirit world & dabble in art magic. Having created her own degree from Metropolitan State University, Yazz obtains a BA in Supporting High Risk Youth through the Arts.   Yazz is a community organizer, creative & educator in Denver, Colorado where she continues to mentor and create with young artists as they explore their lives, stories, and passions through the beauty of art. Constantly, inspired by the youth + community she works with, Yazz continues to develop & deepened her own artistry as an analog collagist and muralist. Her work is heavily influenced by her spiritual journey as she loves exploring the spirit world with God, Ancestors & her Spirit Team. As an expressionist intuitive mixed media artist she creates breathtaking hand cut collage works, with the use of bright bold colors, metallic paints and gold leaf.

SHAUNIE BERRY

Denver based multimedia artist Shaunie Berry is a portrait artist who focuses on capturing the essence of unique individuals and themes within the mundane. Inspired by people and style, she uses art as a form of advocacy and representation. Her bright, energetic work evokes both a sense of calm and excitement. Originally from Kansas City, MO, she is the descendant of black country folk who’s elders passed down a love of growing food and gardening. Common themes within her work focus on roots, culture and pride. Plants are also a common adornment that show up in many pieces.   Shaunie is well versed in mediums of pen and ink, oil pastel and paint to express herself. She is passionate about community, play, teaching and indulging in life's many experiences. She has shown her work in various capacities throughout the Denver area and enjoys expanding her horizons and learning more about people and the world.

ADDERLY GRANT-LORD

Celebrated Visual Artist Illuminating Beauty and History  Adderly Grant-Lord, the recipient of the prestigious Best of the West 2023 Readers’ Choice Art Award, and NAACP Boulder County Distinguished Service Awards is a captivating visual artist hailing from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY) in New York City and a degree in Fashion Illustration and Visual Art from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Grant-Lord's artistic talent knows no bounds.  Her masterful use of vibrant pinks, blues, and yellows breathe life and love into her abstract paintings, evoking a sense of joy and encouraging viewers to explore the true essence of beauty. Through her artwork, Grant-Lord's soul shines, inviting all to experience the profound emotions within.  A trailblazer and visionary, Grant-Lord curated, produced, and exhibited in the groundbreaking Black Futures in Art: We are Not Just History retrospective during Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration and Black History Month 2022-2023. This remarkable showcase, presented Evidence of Who We Are at multiple locations throughout Boulder County, was a testament to hope, vitality, and a collaborative effort with the NAACP to elevate the profiles of unseen and overlooked artists in the region.  Not only does Grant-Lord possess an unparalleled ability to make colors pop and create divine aesthetics, but she also possesses a discerning eye for exceptional talent. She has served as a jury and judge for the esteemed Boulder Arts Festival, a proud member of Boulder Open Studios and NoBo Art District, recognizing and celebrating artists who push boundaries and captivate audiences.  Grant-Lord's abstract/surrealism art has graced the walls of numerous prestigious galleries across the Metro Denver area and Colorado Springs. Her exhilarating and divine pieces have been exhibited at renowned venues such as Creative Framing Fine Art Gallery in Louisville, Thistle Gallery North Boulder, the Dairy Art Center in Boulder, The Collective Art Gallery in Lafayette, West and Main Fine Art Gallery on Blake Street in Denver, The Cottonwood Center for the Performing Arts in Colorado Springs, and a proud member of Boulder Open Studios. Furthermore, she proudly sits on the Board of the North Boulder Art District (NoBo), actively contributing to the local art community.  Her profound impact has caught the attention of prominent media outlets, and Grant-Lord has been featured and interviewed by the Boulder Daily Camera, Colorado University Independent, Longmont Leader, KGNU News-Black Talk, Denver 9 News KUSA, and Denver 7 News KMGH. Through these platforms, she has shed light on the experiences and contributions of Black artists, both locally and nationally.  Currently residing in Lafayette, Colorado, Adderly Grant-Lord continues to push artistic boundaries, exploring the intersection of beauty, history, and identity through her breathtaking creations. Her Abstract / surrealism art is a celebration of diversity, a reflection of the human experience, and an invitation to discover the hidden treasures within us and the world around us.

JAZZ HOLMES

Jasmine Holmes is an artist who creates drawings though a variety of media. She received her BFA from the University of West Florida and her MFA from Colorado State University. Her works are inspired by Consumerism and Western Society’s appetite for Black culture.

Her artworks often critique life within the confines of Eurocentrism and its effects on marginalized folks. The technicolor human form is the center piece of her works. Using her own Creole background as a catalyst, her work both celebrates the many colorful aspects of Black American culture while creating conversation on how it’s consumed and regurgitated by pop-culture.

TYA ANTHONY

Tya Alisa Anthony, Artist, Curator + Photographer, explores themes of social justice, human rights, and identity. She refocuses lost and ignored narratives of marginalized people while shedding light on the social, economic, and natural environments that surround them.

She reimagines dominant culture-driven narratives as an opportunity to explore possible alternate realities. Anthony is particularly interested in removing tropes of traumatic experiences and instead creates objects intended to create autonomous spaces for bodies of color.