Wine-O'Clock

Want to know my secret super power?
I am a sommelier. I love to pair wine with food, music and art.
Wine makes EVERYTHING better.

Big Mouth Statement

This body of work is a collection of one sided conversations. As a woman, I find it is often easier to make my way in the world by keeping my mouth shut. To simply grin and bare it when haters, well meaning friends or co-workers say or do something incorrect or insensitive. As a child, my father would say to me, “Better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt”. So in keeping my mouth shut, I learned, to be seen, and selectively heard. With 'Big Mouth', I am all of it. The sass, the crass, the erudite and more than that aware. Aware of the language used to quiet me down. To remind me of what is and most importantly, what isn't being said.

My status as “other” does not always grant the luxury to express, to correct a slight or present an alternative point of view. To be vigilantly self aware as a woman of color, and know the right time to speak, speak up or even how to frame my words so that they can be heard as I am intending them to be received. Sharing my uncensored opinion can quickly get me labeled as being “too big in a room” or worse an “angry black woman”. When that happens, full stop. I am disappeared. My opinion, my 'hand' is dismissed outright. In the past I would dim my light; and from that warm and uncomfortable place - I’d stopped correcting people who mispronounce my name.

It’s Thee-duh.

As frustrating as it is to constantly edit myself for the sake of others; I have my art as a vehicle for my voice to be heard, into perpetuity. So maybe it is for my sake. The things I wish I said or could say, the things I say under my breath or the affirmations I use to remind myself that my voice is relevant even when I think no one is listening. Even when no one is listening.

Thanks to Big Mouth... look who has the last word now.