SLATROP; Understanding the Creative Process as A Method of Portal Opening (BoAG)
The vision and the curation behind the first of the Blacks of Are.na Gallery (BoAG) series.
Hi BoA family!
My name is Makéila NéVette and I am a writer, photographer, collector and digital curator based in Alabama.
I am excited to bring you SLATROP, a virtual exhibition exploring Black art as a source of connection and reflection, which will be launched May 30th. You can RSVP to attend here. It is my pleasure to collaborate with the team as a guest-curator to bring this exhibition to life!
As the curator for the exhibition, I wanted to build the vision from Loc’s initial inspiration.
Loc’s interpretation of the word reflection inspired me to consider the medium for the reflective surfaces we see in everyday life: mirrors. As an artist, mirrors exist beyond a physical form, reflecting light to convey a portal of reality. Mirrors exist within each of us, allowing us to find deeper connection to each other by recognizing ourselves within art. From that came the concept of our art serving as portals that connect each of us to a greater creative consciousness, allowing for infinite exploration of expressions of self.
The naming of this exhibition was born from my desire to create a name that is a legible reflection of the title “PORTALS.” When we look at our reflection in a mirror, we see a flipped form of ourselves. That form is a version of ourselves that we are familiar with, but it is not an identical reality of our physical form that others get to experience. The same can be translated to art: the experience and relationship the artist has with the creation of their art is similar to what the witness gets to experience, but it is not entirely identical. In that I thought it would be best to create an inverted form of the phrase “PORTALS” as a reflection of a form that you as the witness are experiencing in this moment while reading the breakdown of the creation of the exhibition, and eventually when you experience getting to explore the published exhibition.
SLATROP is a virtual exhibition that explores the phenomenon of Black art as a source of reflection: first for the artist, second for the witness. Within this reflection, two portals are created: one amongst the ritual of creation, the second amongst the ritual of witnessing. The presence of these portals creates a phenomenon that allows both individual and collective Black creation and experiences to exist within an infinite continuum, allowing for creative tethering to serve as a spiritual technology and cultural preservation.
Portal 1:
The process of reflection begins with the act of creation. The ritual of alchemizing one’s ideas into a perceptive form requires the space for all iterations of self and ideas to exist as guides towards a finished product. Within this space the first portal is opened, granting the artist the opportunity to explore all expansions of self, to inform their work in order to engage their audience.The artist draws from self, ancestral memory, but must also surrender oneself to the work, in order for the work to be shaped and molded in a fashion that does justice to itself. All facets of this ritual require reflection and acceptance of such. The goal is to find a balance between those reflections so that the final piece does not feel shorthanded. This portal is not restricted by any medium, nor is it restricted by the time it takes to complete the work.
Portal 2:
Once the work has taken form, and is accessible to others, the second portal begins to open.The art becomes the next medium for reflection, calling the witness to explore individual interpretations, experiences, and collective consciousness. It serves as a physical form to communicate a deeper cosmological connection for individual and collective Black understanding and imagination. When inspired to the point of creation, the witness becomes the artist, creating another portal that contributes to infinite rituals of reflection.
Examples of portal continuums we’ve witnessed:
Faith Ringgold
Faith Ringgold’s work has informed and inspired generations of Black artists to remain dedicated to the voice and unwavering to their cause. Her work highlighted Black life and the intersections of our existence. In her work, Black artists have been able to see themselves through a collective understanding as a Black person surviving in America, a Black artist centering Black narratives, and a Black artist creating from the depths of their spirit. From this portal, we can see a few other Black women artists who allowed Ringgold’s work and passion to guide them to their own ritual of creation, shaping a greater understanding of their own passion.
Tschabalala Shelf
“Ringgold’s ability in Tar Beach to capture both the mundane and the utterly fantastical aspects of Black American life has always stuck with me and shaped my worldview.” (Self, 2024).
Bisa Butler
“I saw a Black woman just like me who made brilliant work that hung in galleries and museums. Seeing Mrs. Ringgold’s art made me believe that my aspirations were not just dreams — that they could be and were already being achieved.” (Butler, n.d.)
Dawn Williams Boyd
“Faith Ringgold is the reason I am making the kind of art that I am today.” (Ghosh, 2021).
Sources:
Butler, B. n.d. “Faith Ringgold (1930-2024). Artforum. https://www.artforum.com/columns/bisa-butler-faith-ringgold-1930-2024-554677/
Ghosh, R. 21 Aug, 2021. “Dawn Williams Boyd: Faith Ringgold Inspired Me to Change My Art.” Elephant. (https://elephant.art/dawn-williams-boyd-faith-ringgold-inspired-me-to-change-my-art/_
Self, T. 2 Sep 2024. “Remembering the Righteous Anger and Joy of Faith Ringgold.” Art in America. https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/columns/remembering-faith-ringgold-tschabalala-self-1234716193/
SLATROP is an artist-first digital exhibition curated to honor Black creation as a means of reflecting Black expressions, experiences, and culture. This project will be housed on a digital platform within a complete digital gallery. The exhibition will remain a living, accessible, digital portal that grants viewers the opportunity to interact with the work remotely, and the artist an opportunity to share their work with a global audience. There is no cost to entry,. It will serve as a public space indefinitely.
You only need two things to access the gallery: the gallery link and a working device. The platform allows you to use both keyboard controls, touch controls, and physical movement to explore. You can walk around as if you are in a virtual reality to walk up to the work. You can also navigate all clickable pieces and return to the gallery space at any time!
I am excited to work with Loc to bring this exhibition to life! Amongst our brainstorming, we thought it would be a dope idea to announce this as an opportunity for Black artists who use Are.na to showcase their work.
Remember to RSVP for the gallery launch on May 30, 2026 so that you receive the access link and are notified for when it goes live!
A warm thank you to the Blacks of Are.na team (and a special thank you to Loc) for presenting the opportunity to collaborate with the community.
Best,
Makéila NéVette
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