“My definition of self-care is discovering your likes in every part of your life and making sure you set out time to do the things that make you happy.” -Diamond Bradley
Women’s History Month is almost over, but their contributions to our history and society continue to grow each day.
The Divine Feminine: Self Care Series continues celebrating women’s contributions to society through art. On Saturday, March 24, several women artists demonstrated their art pieces at the O.P.E. Gallery in Atlanta.
Curated by Diamond Bradley and Natalie Uribe, the exhibition portrayed the artists’ views on self-identification as women and their journey to self-love in today’s society. Stephen Jenkins and Netta Rakestraw also had their hand in the execution of the exhibit.
The name of the event was chosen by Bradley, who was inspired by Mac Miller’s fourth studio album, The Divine Feminine, and Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series. Weems is an influential artist who works with fabric, text, and digital images. Her contribution to society is best shown through her work in photography.
“I feel like it embodies the ultimate woman. It doesn’t matter what she looks like, but how she makes others feel. I wanted to put my twist on it, so I called it The Divine Feminine: Self Care Series,” said Bradley.
The Divine Feminine: Self Care Series took two months to put together, according to the curators, and finding the perfect space was made easier through the help of social media.
“I found O.P.E. Gallery on Instagram after a few of my friends posted about a show they went to. I also used to get my haircut at the SWAG Shop where the owner of the gallery, Luchero, cuts hair. He allowed me to view the space and I knew it was perfect for the show,” said Bradley.
Uribe mentions that Bradley did most of the pre-work (idea, name, and advertising) but the two worked together to make the artists’ pieces the main event.
One of the artists showcasing her pieces was Georgia State University student Adjoa Burrs. She inserted an Issa Rae painting called “Secure as F***.”
“My Issa Rae painting portrays the necessity as a woman for us to embrace who we are and to reject the standards that media tries to put on us to be a certain person,” said Burrs.
For Burrs, this event “brought together the concept of diversity within women …”
Uribe hopes people took at The Divine Feminine: Self Care Series as a “positive and uplifting energy for people to admire and buy beautiful work by women artists.”
A toast to Women’s History Month through the contribution of art, Bradley hopes to take the Primary movement (a community for Atlanta creatives to connect, showcase, and promote their passion) to the next level with her Melanin Pop Up Show that will celebrate Black creatives.
Check out the work from the artists and vendors below:
