Embracing Community Through Art and Connection
These past few months have been a whirlwind of creativity and connection, culminating in the opening of my Close to Home exhibition at the Queens Museum in May, five iterations of my new To Know One Another social practice project, and a behind-the-scenes talk and studio visit with in Situ Artists Catalina, Cameron, and myself. Your support, whether in person or in spirit, has made this journey incredibly rewarding. Community means everything to me, making each moment of this process more enjoyable and meaningful.
Alhamdullilah, after completing so much work in the studio, I’m excited to switch modes and get out into the city more. One of the things I love most about being back in New York, after living overseas in Egypt for six years, is spending time in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, where I grew up. Last week, I hung out in the neighborhood with my twin sister, who still lives there.
Cultural Roots and Community Vibrancy
East Flatbush holds a special place in my heart, not just because it’s my childhood home, but also as a major hub for the Caribbean Diaspora. My parents hail from Trinidad and Guyana, and this area is rich with Caribbean culture. As an adult, I love and appreciate going back to my neighborhood and just enjoying the vibes. Caribbean people know how to chill out and have a good time! One of my favorite things about Caribbean culture, aside from the delicious food, is the value we place on enjoying people’s company in a slow, unhurried manner.
We call it liming—the art of doing nothing. It’s important to lime, especially when we live under systems that constantly push us to produce or consume.
While liming in East Flatbush last week, I was proud to see that despite the gentrification of Brooklyn, my old neighborhood is holding down the culture with so many nice new Caribbean-owned businesses, restaurants, and organizations like CaribBeing that align with the tastes of Caribbean Americans of my generation and celebrate who we are. My Metem film is the first project I’ve done specifically about my family’s Caribbean culture.
I’m happy that there are places right in my community where I can easily envision collaborating to present my short film. I’m excited for the opportunity to share Metem with you in my Close to Home exhibition and, inshaAllah, at other venues soon.
Metem is an African word, and though Guyanese people no longer speak Ghanaian Twi, the language is preserved in the naming of foods. This preservation of African culture through language and cuisine is a testament to our enduring heritage.
If you haven’t watched Metem yet, it’s featured in my Close to Home exhibition at the Queens Museum. The exhibition is free and open to the public, except on Mondays and Tuesdays when the museum is closed.
Art That Reflects and Connects
Through my artwork, woven with threads of cultural significance and personal identity, I am offering a reflection of your own multifaceted experiences. It celebrates the intersectionality of being a Black Muslim woman, a child of immigrants, and a creative, providing representation where mainstream narratives often fall short.
I hope that engaging with my artwork fosters authentic connections for you and those you love. It creates a space where you can engage with art that resonates with your values and experiences, free from superficial or transactional relationships. This authenticity is essential in a world where genuine connections are hard to come by.
Join Me at the Museum
To Know One Another will be back later this month and I’m thrilled to invite you to join me. This intimate setting will provide a deeper look into what brings our humanity together. We’ll sit down for some Egyptian style mint black tea, and talk about what inspires and motivates us, and what shapes our deeper understanding of the world. I understand how balancing work, family, and personal interests can be challenging. These gatherings center our participation and time together, we’ll be liming at the QM! Your support and presence mean the world to me. I look forward to sharing more art, stories, and moments with you in the future.
