Billie Holiday was born 100 years ago today. Her rendition of 'Strange Fruit' was one I wrote about in college. It still inspires me. It's a haunting song that I've loved and revered for years. My grandmother used to whistle it sharply through the house as she swept the hall in the afternoon. She looked so much like Ms. Holiday that it used to creep me out, now it just makes me smile. In fact, her most famed song it inspired me to paint a serious of memorial like pieces in dedication and individual acknowledgement of our attempted genocide in American history. Geez, this sounds so serious and heavy (and it kinda is), but my intention within the artwork was to say "I see you." And isn't that what we all want? To just be seen. Acknowledged. Felt. Represented. Heard. Hear my art.
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