Natasha Marin is a Seattle-based conceptual artist, published poet,[1] and activist with roots in Trinidad and Canada, whose work focuses on people, community, and healing.[2][3][4] She is best known for her project Reparations (website),[5] for her conceptual art project and book called BLACK IMAGINATION,[6][7] and for her book “Black Powerful: Black Voices Reimagine Revolution,”.[8]
Marin was listed as one of 30 women who "Run This City" by Seattle Metropolitan magazine in 2018.[9]
Black Imagination art project edit
Black Imagination is Marin's conceptual art project and book of the same name. The project began with an art exhibit in January 2018 called “Black Imagination: The States of Matter,” at CORE Gallery in Seattle. That exhibition was followed by two more exhibitions under the Black Imagination moniker: “The (g)Listening,” and “Ritual Objects.” Each of the three audio-based, conceptual art exhibitions in and around Seattle were designed to amplify, center, and hold sacred a diverse sample of Black voices.[3]
Motherland edit
MOTHERLAND, another in Marin’s Black Imagination series of art exhibitions, was shown at Vermillion Gallery in April 2022.[10] Exploring belonging and displacement, the exhibition included “Cloth Mother,” a sculpture representing spirits and ancestors made of raw cotton, cowry shells, tribal, kente, and Ankara fabrics sourced directly from the motherland.[11] Cloth Mother was created in collaboration with visitors while Marin was artist-in-residence at the Burke Museum.[12]
Black Imagination book edit
The Black Imagination project also took the form of a book of poetry, reflections, and stories curated by Marin called “BLACK IMAGINATION: Black Voices on Black Futures.” The book was launched at Hugo House in Seattle in January 2020,[13] and published by McSweeney's in February 2020.[14] The book received national attention, with The Paris Review stating, “The thirty-six voices in the book are resonant on their own and deeply powerful when woven together by Marin.”[7] The book was also reviewed in the Los Angeles Review[14] and was recommended by Jason Reynolds on PBS NewsHour.[15] Interviews with Marin about the book were featured on KUOW-FM “Speakers forum: Black voices, origins, and futures,”[16] and on KEXP-FM, “Sound & Vision: Natasha Marin on Black Imaginations,”[2] complete with a playlist of origin stories from the book. The audio version of the book was narrated by Tony and Grammy Award winner Daveed Diggs, and Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe.[17] Gloria Steinem said that she “never experienced an art object like Black Imagination.[18]”
Black Powerful book edit
“Black Powerful: Black Voices Reimagine Revolution,” Marin’s second book, was published by McSweeney’s in 2022, with cover art by sculptor Vanessa German.[19] The book is a collection of reflections from over one hundred Black voices exploring resilience, joy, and triumphs of Black people everywhere. It was highlighted by City Lights Bookstore in an interview with Marin.[20]
References edit
- ^ Marin, Natasha (2009). "Adolescence, or Through the Fire". Feminist Studies. 35 (3): 523. ISSN 0046-3663. JSTOR 40608389.
- ^ a b Fox, Emily (August 30, 2020). "Sound & Vision: Natasha Marin on Black Imaginations". KEXP. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ a b Beason, Tyrone (August 20, 2018). "Joy, peace feed black revolution in artist Natasha Marin's new West Seattle exhibit". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Imperial, Aileen (August 23, 2018). "Artist Natasha Marin flips the script with Black Joy". Crosscut. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Ng, David (August 4, 2016). "Artist launches Reparations website and 'social experiment' on white privilege". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Harrison, Mia (April 24, 2020). "Black Imagination: A tool to decolonize one's mind". Chicago Reader. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ a b "Three Possible Worlds". The Paris Review. June 18, 2020.
- ^ "Black Powerful: Black Voices Reimagine Revolution". The McSweeney’s Store. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ "30 More Women Who Run This City". Seattle Met. January 31, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ "Opening April 7, 2022, 5-9pm: Motherland – Natasha Marin : Vermillion :: email@vermillionseattle.com :: 206-709-9797". Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ "motherland". blackimagination. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ "The Story of the Cowrie Shell". Burke Museum. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ "Book Launch: Black Imagination by Natasha Marin". Hugo House. January 24, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ a b Spencer, Rochelle (16 September 2020). "Review: BLACK IMAGINATION Curated by Natasha Marin". The Los Angeles Review.
- ^ Brown, Jeffrey (June 24, 2020). "Summer reading lists for young people at a time of crisis". PBS News Hour. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ O'Brien, John (February 18, 2020). "Speakers forum: Black voices, origins, and futures". KUOW. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Perez, Lexy (2021-03-09). "Daveed Diggs, Lena Waithe to Narrate 'Black Imagination' Audiobook Production". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ "Black Imagination: Black Voices on Black Futures". The McSweeney’s Store. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "Black Powerful: Black Voices Reimagine Revolution". The McSweeney’s Store. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "5 Questions with Natasha Marin, Author of Black Powerful: Black Voices Reimagine Revolution". City Lights Booksellers & Publishers. 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2023-02-06.