My Personal (Black?) History: Why I want to be an Art Historian

WATCH: Monet Is the Root of All Evil

In 1991 Jasmine Guy played the role of Whitley Gilbert Wayne on A Different World (a The Cosby Show spin-off based on Denise Huxtable’s experiences at Hilman College). Whitley was my first art history teacher. I always had a love and appreciation of art from a very young age, but Whitley made it glamorous. After she graduated from Hilman and became an art buyer for E.H. Wright, I realized that the pictures, sculptures, and crafts that I made had not just sentimental but monetary value. Whitley was brilliant and enthusiastic about art and its history. She was the first art nerd that I ever knew.

At Whitley’s debut as a curator, she was excited to reveal the work of an emerging artist Novian Winters. However she did not expect that Novian’s paintings would draw such controversy. A Hilman College donor made a (racial) assumption that a painting of a black mother and child was steeped in social deviance and therefore an insult to the iconic images of the Madonna & Child; so, he demanded its removal. Whitley wouldn’t sell out for the cantankerous donor and stood for her principles: “Art should challenge our assumptions about ourselves and the world.” Whitley was my hero, an art professional, dressed to the nines, a champion of African American art. I still want to be just like her when I grow up.

Did A Different World change or challenge your perceptions or assumptions about careers or college life?

V-Day is for Lovers: The Sci-Fi Geek Edition

There's something for everyone this Valentine's Day. Here's another DIY project for Valentine's Day cards designed by artist Katie Cook.

V-Day is for Lovers...

Kate Gabrielle of Scathingly Brilliant is offering the sweetest free printables in honor of Valentine's Day.
So, click on over and print a few a few of these for your honey♥

And for those of you who think that Valentine's Day is just for couples, think again! Love yourself FIRST! Print some for your mirror or fridge and gush over just how awesome you are.

Fly on HGTV's Blog: via Fly Girl Blog

Andrea Pippins is of my favorite artist|designers, and now even more of the world knows just how awesome she is!

via flygirlblog.com

Prim & Proper: The 21st Century Remix=Leopard+Polka Dots

Cardigan: Gap | Shirt: Limited | Skirt: Liz Claiborne | Tights: Target | Shoes: Steve Madden
  Bracelet: Betsey Johnson | Hair Bow: Made by ME

The Sloppy Seconds, Thirds, & Fourths...

At some point in my hair journey {since I chopped it off and started over in December 2010} I've used each of these product lines by Bumble and Bumble, Frederic Fekkai, and Hair Rules. I was pleased with results of each of them but they were too pricey for the amount of hair on my head multiplied how much I had to use. So I decided to stick with Kinky-Curly. I love the stuff :)

But I ended up with random half-used bottles of expensive elixirs that I didn't want to waste. I always thought that the manufacturer's recommendation to use all of the products of the same group together was baloney. So I decided I would mix up the remaining products to wash, condition, and style my hair. Needless to say, it was a disaster! My hair was matted, knotty, and dry. So tonight I will be taking a few hours to gingerly detangle the mess that I made.

I learned a valuable lesson: Being thrifty does not pay when it comes to my hair.

My Personal (Black?) History: A L♥ve - Hate Relationship with Barbie

Barbie introduced me to fashion through play, but that body was a reinforcement of fascist body standards. The same kind of standards that led someone to believe he could comment on the First Lady's svelte frame as, somehow, deviant.

When I tried to cornrow my Black Barbie's hair it would just unravel, even if I packed it with Blue Magic Hair Grease (risking the wrath of my Mum).  But the clothes are what I loved the most.  If the Barbie Dolls of my generation had Afros like the ones I see now, maybe my collection of dolls wouldn't have ended up bald.

Blazer: American Eagle | Shirt: The Limited | T-Shirt: A Gift from the Mister | Skirt: Gap | Tights: Torrid 
Shoes: Jessica Simpson | Handbag: Kenneth Cole

But even so, Black Barbie is not all she's cracked up to be: