STOP KONY 2012 Posters

There has been a decent amount of controversy over the Invisible Children campaign that has gone viral in the past couple weeks.  I fully support the advocacy campaign to raise awareness about Joseph Kony and the child soldiers in Uganda, Africa.  Invisible Children has been raising awareness about the kidnapping of over 30,000 children who are then forced to become murderers.  Invisible Children have been spreading the word for several years now but finally created a viral campaign.

If any of you would like to plaster these 11x17 posters up the night of April 20 along with the rest of the country, please let me know how many you would like.  I will be selling my illustrated posters for $1 each if you are in Laramie.  If you would like them mailed, just add shipping.  Leave a comment below for more info or head over to my ETSY shop. 

If you would like to purchase the kit from Invisible Children, check out their link here.

Check out the STOP JOSEPH KONY 2012 video that went viral below

The Good Mule: Artist Statement

This past weekend I was fortunate to be able to attend The Good Mule 2012 Conference as the Featured Visual Artist. I participated last year so was pretty excited about being invited to be the artist. See more of my thoughts from The Good Mule.

I am currently finishing up my last semester at the University of Wyoming and will be graduating in May. I will be graduating with a in Fine Arts and a second major in Humanities and Fine Arts (HUFA) as well as a minor in Graphic Design. My areas of emphasis for the HUFA degree are Philosophy, Religious Studies, African American and Diaspora Studies, and Art History. My dream job is to have an art studio where I can continue to create art and work with people through teaching, art therapy, and graphic design lessons.

The pieces that are on display come from a couple different bodies of work and addresses a variety of topics. These topics include LGBTQ issues, Christianity and the LGBTQ community, African American religious culture and history, Native American reservations, and poverty.

Make it Plain is my most recent body of work and focuses on African American Religious history and culture with the goal of helping people understand religious figures such as Malcolm X and James Cone. Make it Plain will be up in the 234 Gallery during the Shepard Symposium. If you would like to see the entire show, this would be an excellent opportunity.

My next body of work will be dealing with sex trafficking and modern day slavery. Be sure to check out my blog and Facebook page to track the progress of my upcoming work and learn more about individual pieces and the research that went into their creation. The URLs are on my business card.

I am certainly up for discussion about concepts, inspirations, the bodies of work these individual pieces come from, collaborations, sales, or art and activism in general.

To learn more about the Good Mule check out their website.

Phenomenal Woman

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelou

Who Taught You to Hate Yourself?

Although King and Malcolm had their differences (theological and social) I would like to share a poster I created featuring the famous Malcolm quote "who taught you to hate yourself" in honor of Martin Luther King day.  Malcolm and King were both extremely important leaders in the African American community and the Civil Rights movement and both deserve to be honored.  The goal of my art exhibition was to create dialog about race, religion and the significance of African American history.  King and Malcolm both succeed in pushing this same conversation forward.

The famous "Who Taught You to Hate Yourself" speech by Malcolm X.

Below is an example of how young children have been taught to hate themselves through the images they see and what they are told.

Another video on the topic (great for parrents)

Tweet

World Water and Haiti

I created this poster in response to my Haiti trip.  The community we were in was incredibly fortunate.  They had their own well (about 1000 people) so that they had drinking water within in a couple miles; however, the kids would pick up our water bottles and pretend to drink.  It was adorable, as you can see.

The idea of a Haitian child pretending to drink from a water bottle creates a sense of cognitive dissonance.  When we look at how many children die each year from bad water and realize that Haiti ranks last in the world for drinkable water.  60% of the population does not have safe drinking water and a child mortality rate of more than 13 times that of the United States (10% of that is attributed to water related skin ailments and dysentery which lead to dehydration).

 
World Water Day is March 22nd, 2012.  Learn more about the world water crisis at the UN site or water.org.

Water and golf courses

You are Invited!!!

Dear blog reader,

Who: You are one of the first few people to be cordially invited to my next art show.

What: This show is still in progress but will be addressing topics in the realm of African American history and African American Religious culture. The current goal is to look at the American history that is often left out of our education and use it to help people understand the historical context that various American heroes such as Malcolm X and James Cone were responding to.

When: The show will be up from November 8th through November 17 (possibly a bit longer).  The opening will be Thursday the 10 from 6 - 8pm.

Where: The University of Wyoming UpGallery.  In the Fine Arts building.

Here is the Facebook event page and my art page for those of you who use FB (you don't need a FB account to view the pages).  Feel free to RSVP. 

Hope to see you there!

A Sneak Peak at My Next Show: African American Art

Here are some snippets from some of the poster work for my next show.  Right now it is looking like only one of these posters will be used.  I have several ink and wash drawings (mostly graffiti style) as well as some more posters.  I would also like to design a black hair care line as well, but I am beginning to wonder if it will work with the specific theme of Black Theology that I am leaning towards.  It could certainly work in that black beauty ties directly into the Malcolm X quotes I will be using.  It is also possible that I will create the work and not put it in this specific show.....I guess we will see.   I still have about two moths to see it all come together.  And you will just have to wait.

Inspirational Social Justice/Artist Posters

"James Cone's Jesus" and "Malcolm X: Who taught you to Hate Yourself"



Grace is Queer

From the time I was quite young, I have been passionate about helping others. I have also been blessed with artistic talent. I believe that making a difference in people's lives is one of the most important things that I can do with my artwork. The top several posters are my work and the bottom ones are some that have inspired me. I hope you enjoy.

Incarceration

Church and State

GRACE

Keep reading to find some inspirational posters designed by a variety of artists.
Click the link below the image to find the artist or get more information.

Native American Posters

In response to all of the drama back home in Rapid City, South Dakota (link to the most recent drama), I figured that I would post my tribute to the first Americans.
There are memorial services for the officers this week.
If you are in the area, please do show some support.
If you don't have any idea what is going on,
just pray for the community and those who have suffered loss.

See more information about these posters at FeliciaFollum.weebly.com

  The links below the images link back to some previous posts about the individual posters.
The posters were in an art show back in April.

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African American Posters and Visual Research

Though not up yet, 

the posters will be under my Social Justice category as well as the African American category.  

After my show in November 2011, all of the work will be up. 

Be sure to check back.  

If you sign up for my mailing list you will get to see images before the show.

My process typically includes a ton a of research.  I spend hours at the library reading about the topics.  I research online (blogs, websites and forums, even Wikipedia).  One of my favorite aspects of research is what I can't visual research.  It can include anything from looking through an old art history book to walking around downtown and looking at trains and the graffiti.  I also have a ton of photographs on my computer and a photography blog that I look through.  Here is some of the research I have been doing for my most recent body of work and upcoming art show.

1. Graffiti photographs - the graffiti all inspiration for a specific work(s)...

Racial Sterotypes

Here is an older graphics project. It is from a class that I took with David Carson.  We spent most of the class on one series of projects.  The assignment was to create a lecture that we would give about ourselves or our art work.  My talk and book were all about the myriad of racial stereotypes and prejudices that I have seen and experienced.

This 24"x36" poster was accepted into the AIGA Denver's Annual Student Exhibition in 2009.  

This quote is from my grandma.  When she found out that I was getting married she was overjoyed, not because I was getting married, but rather because I wasn't marrying a "nice white boy."  She then continued on about why she was glad that I was not marrying a black man.

Both my parents are white yet I am black, and maybe Native American (but I didn't know that was even a possibility until I was in college).  When I was little, kids would ask why I was black...

African American Social Justice Poster Series and More

I am currently in the process of brainstorming and researching for my solo show in November. The show will be focused on African American culture, history and politics. I am looking at creating a poster series as well as an ink and wash section. The posters will address individual topics such as hair in the African American community, Black theology, and hate groups like the KKK and their impact in everyday life (mine included). The ink drawings will be about individuals that have played a large role in African American history.

Here are seven topics that I researched a couple months ago and plan to use.

In addition to those listed above, there are several names, events, and issues that I would like to research more. Here are six.
Haji Malik Shabaz
Angela Davis
Mumia Abu-Jamal
Al Sharpton
Tyler Perry
and
Tuskeegee

I will share some of my visual research in the next couple weeks...

Grace is Queer Poster Series

This poster series is based on the topic of the lack of grace in the church. To learn more check out my Grace is Queer website I created, visit my religion blog, or visit my art and design website.  Click the image to see more about the concept behind the specific poster.

Productive Playtime and Profitable Passions

Over Spring Break I went to the Golden Key National Honour Society Regional Summit (This is the official terminology). One of he sessions that I attended focused on how you can do the things that you love doing and build your resume at the same time. My list from the workshop included things like arts/crafts, snowboarding, hiking/camping/backpacking, rock wall, riding my bike, working with people, blogging/journaling, yoga, and networking. Many of these interests could translate into leading art lessons with kids, graphic design projects, photography projects or volunteer work and community service.

I would now like to use the chart we were given to see where some of my more random projects (which I have posted in this blog) could fit into my grand scheme of being a an artist (photographer, illustrator, and/or graphic designer).

Click below to see my final chart and to read more about being a scanner (or to learn what the term refers to).

Incarceration

I did a project that focused on the Indian Reservations in the United States. These areas seem to get ignored but several of the reservations have living conditions comparable to the ghettos in Haiti. Those who live on PR do live on $1 - $2 per day. It is clear that there are many problems on the reservations and it is difficult to come up with a solution.

What do you think of when you see this poster?  Do you Agree with the message you see?  Does it fit the ideas that our country was built on?

What experience do you have, that you can relate to this?

Unemployment

Pine ridge has an unemployment rate of 85% or higher.  Any place with an unemployment rate at 9% is considered  extremely impoverished. 

The average income on the reservation is between $5,000 and $7,000 per year per household.

The average household has between 8 and 16 people living in a small house (often less than 5 rooms total, including living room).  That is at most less $2.4/day and the low end is 85 cents/day. 

View my website for the whole project and more information about Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Spirits

Did you know that there are towns in the United States with the one purpose of selling alcohol to, and killing Native Americans. White Clay Nebraska is one of these towns.  The population is around 14 people and they sell $4 million worth of beer a year to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  The town has nothing but liquor shops. 

There are many racist and ignorant stereotypes that surround the Native American population in the town that I grew up in (Rapid City, South Dakota).  The term "Lazy drunk Indian" is a phrase that you hear on a daily basis.  It is important to remember that the term is applied to any homeless or drunk person regardless of their race.  A story about the racism back home. 

I am not really sure what can be done about the alcohol problems and the race problems associated with both.  My response was to create this poster to help make the point and raise awareness about Alcoholism and towns like White Clay Nebraska.

First Americans

This poster looks at the irony of who was here first and who is getting the shaft on their education. Do I blame the system? Yes, to a point…  It is clear that schools can do things to help everyone graduate at more consistent rates, yet these actions are not being taken in many areas.

Statistics show that students who participate in Native American enrichment programs graduate at much higher rates than those who do now.  Some schools offer these programs but there are also school out there who do not care about these students and the poverty that surrounds them.

An example of this is the Superintendent from the school district that I grew up in.  He would refer to the school on the poor side of town as his "poor little school" and rumor has it that he also said "poor little Indian school."  I never heard the second one, but this can help us all understand that schools are not equal and there are people who have the power to do something about it, but don't.

In addition to the schools there are many problems that surround the Indian reservations and other populations with high drop out rates.

There are factors like being seen as a traitor and getting beat up by your family and friends for going to school (and more-so for going to college), there is the problem of gang involvement.  Being born into a gang is common on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian Reservations, in South Dakota.  (I am sure that there are others but these are two of the top three worst counties in the US and I am the most familiar with them.)  When you are born into a gang that is truly all you have.  When you get out you loose your family and your friends, end up half dead in a hospital, and are left with nothing.  Situations like this do not help the schools or the learning environment. 

I am not here to tell individual schools what to do to increase graduation rates and student interest, I am here to raise awareness about the fact that something needs to be done in many areas of United States.

Diabetes: Solutions?

This poster discusses a couple possible actions that can be made to begin the transition to a healthier Native American (and other high risk people groups).

Those living on the reservation do not always have access to the healthiest and best quality foods.  I a large amount of the food is highly processed and uses unhealthy ingredients.

Corn Syrup is one of these unhealthy ingredients that is in a lot of low quality foods.  I found a restaurant on a reservation (I think that it was in Arizona or New Mexico) that grew their own fruits and vegetables.  The goal was to help the community begin to eat healthier. 

In addition to eating habits, some solutions include taking care of your body and over all health.

Even though it is simple to place all of these solutions here and claim to know the answer, the problems surrounding the reservations are much more complex.  The more you learn about the situations and the history, the more complex the problems become.

Do you have any other tips for those who may be at risk for Diabetes?

Diabetes: The Problem

When you begin to look closely at some of the Indian reservations in the US, you begin to see that there truly is real poverty in America.  This is one of six social justice posters in a graphic design series all about the Indian reservations. 

What are some reasons for the high diabetes rates?  Some solutions to specific causes will be addressed in another poster...