#WeekendCoffeeShare – And So It Begins

Weekend Coffee Share is a time for us to take a break out of our lives and enjoy some time catching up with friends (old and new)!

Grab a cup of coffee and share with us! What’s been going on in your life? What are your weekend plans? Is there a topic you’ve just been ruminating on that you want to talk about?

Nice to see you all again. There has been so much going on in the word, and trying to figure out what I can do in it all has been a challenge. So I’m continuing with my (not totally passive) work of spreading information when I can, helping to educate when I can, and continuing to cheer-lead those who are able to really be out there. One of the things I’ve been doing has been checking in on Twitter a bit and looking for BIPOC authors who I can help promote, and keeping an eye on Instagram for black weavers and fiber artists to support.

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Purples and hues of blue. I have to honestly say that I really enjoyed working on this piece. It was like being back in art class. I allowed the yarn to speak to me and tell me when to add it. I think I will do more color work pieces like these.

A post shared by Gregory Stitch (@gregorystitch) on Jun 10, 2020 at 10:10am PDT

This artist I found out about some time ago, but I just love his work! So creative! And you don’t often see so many full pieces done in crochet.

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The River And The Forest . . . “Owners of the Earth.” Acrylic and on indigo dyed Adire oniko 72” x 98.” . . . They are owners of the world, with power over life and death, Ile, Iya Nla, Ala, the great mothers, The earth itself. She is love and wrath, creation, and destruction; she nurtures you in life and eats you in death. She does not suffer fools; there is no injustice she tolerates. She is your mother, and she is mine, she is all Black mothers. When I heard that George Floyd cried out for his mother as they forced his face to the ground, and his pleas entered the earth, I couldn’t help but think of all of this. I thought of Darnella Frazier, who was forced to see such traumatizing violence. I think of her tears touching the ground as she witnessed an abomination against the earth itself. I thought of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Aubery, Sandra Bland, Tony McDade, Emitt Till, Layleen Polanco, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, the millions of names we know, and millions of names we don’t know. Then I thought of their mothers. I thought about all Black mothers, earthly and celestial. I think of their immeasurable grief, their justified anger, and their sanctified wrath. . . . #ile #yoruba #adire #blackart #blackpower #blackwomen #blackisbeautiful #blackispowerful #painting #Bostonartist #indigo #supportblackart #iyanla #iyami

A post shared by Stephen Hamilton (@theartofstephenhamilton) on Jun 11, 2020 at 3:58pm PDT

This is a new (to me) artist whose work I have found super amazing!

I’ve been drowning (a bit) in my summer coursework, but trying to get on top of that because Monday is the start of my new job and my library internship. I’m excited about both of them, but know it’s going to take some real focus to keep up on all my other work. Some things will likely be let go (Big Book Reading Challenge, I’ll see you another time), but some I’m going to hold to.

Like the Juneteenth Readathon that I came across.

Text: June 19-20. Juneteenth Readathon. Friday - Black Authors. Saturday - BIPOC Authors.

I think I can do this because I’ll be able to wrap some of my academic research reading into it! I’ve been enjoying the added challenge of seeking out BIPOC academic authors. I am also hoping to get some non-academic reading done on one of those days but… priorities.

What have you been up to this week? How are you holding up? Are you making sure to take time to take care of yourself as well?