“We have always been, we will always be, we will always build.”

Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Office commissioned one 4 x 8 foot wood panel in honor of Black History Month.

My project is inspired by Sugar Shack by Ernie Barnes. Here the viewer sees a scene of Black and Brown creatives at the peak of a successful crowdfunding party. Drag Mother, Musician, and Organizer, Taylor Alxndr, yells towards the audience in glee while JSPORT is DJing on stage. Drag Queen Dotte Com death drops center stage and is getting nothing but applause. All the while, we find many local Queer folks dancing, kissing, and playing in the crowd. At the center of the crowd is an affirming circle where dancers display their talents.

“We have always been..” showcases and honors Atlanta’s vibrant queer and DIY culture as this integral community has been historically undermined with ongoing gentrification. Atlanta is an amazing city with one of the most dynamic and diverse Black queer hubs in the country - where radical imagination paves the way for necessary critics and explorations of societal norms. DIY spaces provide a stomping ground for queer communities to be loved, imagine alternative worlds, and implement healing practices. It is these practices of self expression that are the foundation of our culture. With the ongoing gentrification in our neighborhoods, much of our culturally significant gathering spaces continue to be under threat of removal. Regardless, the Black creative scene prevails and rebuilds better with each iteration.