Carrie Mae Weems, a pioneering visual artist known for her deep exploration of identity, power and historical narratives, has once more pushed the boundaries of art along with her latest work, . Produced by Shore Art Advisory and hosted on the Institute of Contemporary Art, it masterfully combines live music, spoken word, and video work to tackle the nuanced dialogue around monuments, memory, and racial healing.

This project is an element of a bigger meeting organized by One of manya corporation dedicated to advancing racial equality and constructing a more inclusive South. Weems’ connection to EPU, which has long worked to dismantle divisive narratives and challenge systemic racism, sets the stage for a conversation that feels each timely and timeless. “I have been working on the concept of contentious sites for several years,” Weems explains. “The show is an opportunity to meet artists and learn about the complex narratives surrounding monuments, especially in a place like Richmond.”

The importance of Richmond because the inaugural site of this show can’t be overstated. Once the center of the Confederacy, this can be a city whose monuments have sparked nationwide debate. Weems has long been fascinated by the symbolism of monuments, often asking in his work how public spaces can reflect painful histories and still function places of healing. For , The removal of Confederate monuments in Richmond becomes each background and topic.

At its core, this system is a multimedia experience intended to initiate dialogue. Weems collaborated with local and national artists, each bringing their very own interpretive perspective. Richmond’s Destiny One Choir provided hauntingly beautiful music, and renowned musicians Nona Hendryx, Jawwaad Taylor and Craig Harris added layers of sound that enhanced the performance. Harris, an achieved jazz trombonist known for addressing issues of social injustice through his compositions, led the band in a rating that was each reflective and emotionally charged. Spoken word by Carl Hancock Rux and Esther Armah offered powerful narratives that Weems skillfully combined with video installations.

“It gives the work a fuller dimension,” says the artist concerning the multidisciplinary approach. “We can express these ideas through music, visually, through poetry, and when we put them together we create something completely different.” By combining these forms, Weems allowed viewers to experience the complexity of her art on many levels.

Jazz and spoken word offer an immersive listening experience that deepens audience engagement. “Our lives would be nothing without music,” says Weems. “Sound is the heartbeat, the first utterance, and music shapes the rhythm of our lives.” For Weems, the use of sound was not only a creative selection, but in addition a fundamental part of conveying its emotional and mental weight. “Music gives pace and movement to the work, to the word,” he adds.

One of the predominant topics is who shall be remembered and the way. Weems, all the time aware of her family history, shares a private narrative about her grandfather, Frank Williams, within the show. “What happens to a man who has been honored in some way, but no monument has been erected in his name?” – he asks. This query, asked each to ourselves and to the audience, becomes a broader inquiry into the role of monuments in shaping collective memory.

Weems took the message beyond the stage through community art. In conjunction along with her Richmond debut, she designed 4 billboards displayed throughout the town from September 23 to October 20. Billboards with photos of empty pedestals and inquisitive phrases encouraged viewers to reconsider the aim and impact of the monuments. “I don’t tell people what to think,” Weems explains. “Rather, I present a set of considerations that may be important to their thinking and values. It is an encouragement for dialogue.”

As he prepares to travel to New York and Washington, D.C. in early 2025, Weems is open to the project moving forward. He plans to collaborate with other musicians, reminiscent of pianist and composer EJ Eyre, to experiment with music while maintaining his initial focus. “I know this version works”, award-winning Creative says, “but I’m willing to take a risk and experiment with different ways of interpreting these ideas.”

Ultimately, Weems sees her role as each an artist and a provocateur. “I hope to foster dialogue, even with those who disagree with me,” he says. The importance shouldn’t be in offering answers, but in asking questions on who and the way we remember, and concerning the values ​​we decide to guard in public spaces. This unforgettable and multi-layered performance encourages us all to reconsider the contested histories that shape our present.

Amidst the headlines and rumors, Megan Thee Stallion is able to share her side of the story. The recent documentary, premiering October 31 on Prime Video, offers fans an unfiltered have a look at the girl behind the enduring character. Known for her daring and fierce presence within the music industry, she now invites audiences to see her life through a more sensitive lens.

Directed by Nneka Onuorah, the documentary delves into Megan’s journey, stuffed with intense highs and equally significant lows. From her meteoric rise in 2019 with “Big Ole Freak” to private tragedy and public criticism, this chronicles her determination to beat challenges and take control of her own narrative.

“I was really tired of people telling my story for me and giving my life their own voice and I wasn’t doing it,” Megan tells ESSENCE. “So I just wanted to give people a real-time insight into what I’m really going through.” This feeling sets the tone for the documentary, where Megan sees a likelihood to tear down the facade created by others and reveal her true self.

Onuorah, who has previously directed projects corresponding to , brings a real approach to the film, allowing viewers to follow Megan through her real-life experiences without the filter of staged interviews. “It’s not a group of people sitting in a chair and talking about it,” he explains. “I did it on purpose because I want to show the process of finding power within yourself.” The documentary highlights not only famous moments within the Texas rapper’s profession, but in addition moments of introspection and resilience that shaped her into the girl and musician she is today.

The documentary follows Houston’s Megan’s rise to international recognition and the challenges she faced along the way in which. After releasing the now iconic “Hot Girl Summer,” Megan continued to rise, eventually winning a GRAMMY for her remix of “Savage” with Beyoncé. However, her public success was overshadowed by profound personal losses, including the deaths of her mother and great-grandmother. “I definitely got emotional when I remembered how sad I was at the time,” Megan said, “but it made me happy to know that I made it through that phase and now I’m here.” This perseverance, reflected in her triumphs and trials, forms the backbone of the narrative.

Recognizing Megan’s passion for anime, Onuorah creatively integrated animation to symbolize Megan’s internal struggles, providing a visual representation of her psychological battles. “Everything that was internal to Megan’s story, I told it through anime,” Onuorah says. “not just because he loves anime, but because I felt like we could really sense what was going on in the subconscious.”

In addition to chronicling Meg’s success, the documentary also addresses the extraordinary public scrutiny she faced, particularly following the 2020 shooting incident with rapper Tory Lanez. For Onuorah, her character’s journey represents the broader struggle of girls, especially black women, to have their voices recognized. “The feminist in me wanted to give Megan a safe space to be,” she notes. “In this misogynistic world, women’s voices are often silenced and I feel my goal is to amplify women’s voices.”

Megan also hopes viewers will see her story as a call to empathy and humanity. “I hope people learn to be more kind. “I hope people just learn to treat other people better,” she said, expressing her wish that the documentary would challenge viewers to look beyond her public image and acknowledge her humanity. is a testament to the TSU graduate’s unique journey, a chronicle of triumphs and challenges that reveal her strength and authenticity. It’s a story not only about fame, but in addition about resilience, showing that, as Megan says, “I’m human. Stop talking to me like I’m not.

As audiences prepare for this long-awaited release, Onuorah’s vision carries a critical message. “I hope people take away from this documentary the belief that they should speak up when they feel silenced and that there is power within them,” she says. “And Megan is a perfect example of that.”

Last night, Sabrina Elba attended the 2024 CFDA Awards in New York City to have fun fashion’s biggest event designers of the yr. Her halter knit dress – designed by the one Black CFDA nominee and recipient of the American Womenswear Designer title, Rachel Scott Diotima– he complimented her gold jewelry and timeless, autumn look.

“Awards season typically falls in the cooler months, so there are a lot of beautiful fall colors on the carpet,” Elba tells ESSENCE about her maple, monochromatic shades. “It’s also the season for change, and people tend to change their hairstyle or do something fresh and go for elegance.”

Combined with a brown, highlighted cut, model S’ABLE Laboratories Preparation of the founder skin began 24 hours before the event. “I always use Qasil exfoliating mask the day before,” Elba says of her A-beauty product that offers her a moonlit glow. “This will give me a really good exfoliation and make me look really bright and glowing the next day.”

Then he uses it Rooibos micellar fluid as a base for the remaining of your skincare routine. Antiseptic Tonic with black seedsproof against discoloration Moisturizing baobaband botox without toxins Okra Face Serum Follow the makeup application preparation steps. To complement her skin-first routine, a makeup artist Vanessa Eckels He got here in with Hourglass Veil moisturizing skin tone then he touched it Vanish concealer for airbrush.

Eckels barely set her complexion Vanish Airbrush pressed powder within the shade Tan and a soft, radiant and golden bronzer and blush from Ambient Lighting Palette Volume II. The shades paired well with a matte brown cat eye and a neutral pink lip for a fall look. Final result? A melange of pale yellows, coffee browns and soft gray eye shadows.

To complete the look, she used the smaller side Veil powder brush with reliable technology. “I pressed and rolled the brush into the center of my face fix makeup for a super smooth finish that is a must for special events,” says Eckels. As this yr’s awards season involves an end, Sabrina Elba’s beauty moment is a telling sign of holiday beauty to come back — and tones value adding to our wishlists.