118 Delaware artists submitted choreography, folk art, jazz, literature, media arts, music, and visual arts samples to the selection. Seventeen were awarded fellowships.
Three of the artists appear on The Green this week.
For more than a decade, Wilmington’s B Proud has focused on using photography to introduce change. When confronted, B Proud engages:
"I just take a deep breath and have a conversation and show examples of my work and say ‘this is what the trans community looks like’ and I see their heads tilt and they go ‘Wait, what?’ They don’t believe it - I know I’ve cracked the door open a little bit. Maybe it’s a little bit dangerous - maybe not - but it’s more dangerous not to have the conversation."
Claymont artist Tahira drew from her urban upbringing in a large and extended family to inform her storytelling. Today, she finds inspiration in young audiences: "Young people inspire me, their wonderment, their abandonment of pretenses, and other things, ‘cause they will let you know if you’re doing well, they will instantaneously."
Wilmington visual artist Lauren E. Peters turned an early fascination for dressing up into a bold form of expression: "You know, the idea of the identity we project everyday in the world just by costuming ourselves when we get up in the morning. So I’ve slowly pushed into a more vibrant pallet."
The Delaware Division of the Arts Award Winners 23 are currently featured in an exhibit at the Biggs Museum of Art in Dover. The exhibit also travels to Camp Rehoboth Community Center in August and Cab Calloway School for the Arts in October.
For more of the interview with B Proud, Tahira and Laura E. Peters, go to this week’s edition of The Green.
