Welcome to 'The Truth in This Art' hosted by Rob Lee, where we are honored to have the visionary Artist join us today to delve into the captivating world of visionary art with Velvet, the creative force behind AfroVelvet, an artistic platform that seeks to reimagine the Black experience from an inside perspective. As a designer, art director, and performance artist, Velvet skillfully weaves together imagery, wearable art, and music to produce groundbreaking productions. Her work is driven by themes of love, healing, and community, and she passionately embraces the role of a "transmocrifier," allowing her personal growth and transformation to shape her evolutionary art. From captivating installations featuring live music, dance, and body paint to rendering visual and wearable art that offers glimpses into future landscapes for the diaspora, Velvet's artistic endeavors continually inspire and captivate audiences. Using a diverse range of materials, from fabrics to vinyl and moving blankets, she brings her profound visions to life, leaving a lasting impact on the world of art and culture.

Throughout this episode:

• Explore the evolutionary nature of Velvet's art and how it beautifully reflects her personal growth and transformation.
• Expect a compelling discussion on the profound impact of art in bringing communities together, fostering healing, and driving positive transformations.
• Velvet delves into the thought-provoking realm of African American art, challenging categorizations, and advocating for the appreciation of art's pure creation.
• Discover Velvet's inspiring journey as a black woman in the art world, as she shares how she courageously paved her own path despite challenges.
• Tune in to hear about Velvet's notable projects, Catalyst and 100% Cacao, which boldly showcases black women and share captivating stories of transformation and individuality through art.

Step into the realm of creativity and imagination with us - don't miss out on this captivating journey into visionary art with Velvet. Her art is evolutionary and reflects her personal growth and transformation. Velvet's work focuses on themes of love, healing, and community, and she often incorporates live music, dance, and body paint into her installations. She draws inspiration from various sources and uses a range of materials, including fabrics, vinyl, and moving blankets, to bring her visions to life. Velvet believes in the power of art to bring communities together and promote change. She sees community as a broader concept that includes people from different backgrounds and perspectives, and she believes that healing and transformation can only occur when everyone comes together. Velvet is passionate about challenging the categorization of African American art and believes that art should be appreciated for its pure creation, rather than being confined to labels. She has faced challenges as a black woman in the art world, but she has always paved her own way and refused to let anyone tell her no. Velvet has created several notable projects, including Catalyst and 100% Cacao. Catalyst showcased black women in roles that they are not normally associated with, while 100% Cacao is a larger project that aims to tell stories of transformation and individuality through fashion, music, and theater. Velvet's ultimate goal is to inspire black and brown individuals to embrace their true selves and see themselves represented in various forms of art and media.

Mentioned in this podcast
AfroVelvet's website
Velvet's Bandcamp

Artists In Residence is a partnership with Truth In This Art & Four Ten Lofts.

Four Ten Lofts

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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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