Description of Work

It's Not Always in Black and White - 2022 - Interactive Website - NFS

Artist's Statement

“It’s Not Always in Black and White” is an interactive website that explores the struggles I’ve faced as a black, lesbian woman. This piece features events that happened when I was in an unhealthy relationship in high school, from late-2016 to mid-2017. The work combines CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and HTML with digitized images that I drew on paper, using black colored pencil.

At the time of these events in high school, I would usually be drawing at my desk with my phone right next to me when I would get texts from her. Drawing helped me to process the challenging events and emotions I was experiencing. The desktop photo in the background is of the same desk that I had in high school, and I used that image along with the cell phone and notebook drawings to create the visual interface. By reading the conversational texts on the phone, and interacting with elements on the page, viewers can more clearly experience the things I went through and not just see them. I want the user to understand the emotions I felt and be able to have their own emotions about what they’re seeing and interacting with.

I created this piece because racism is a topic that’s very important to me. It’s a topic I have not done many pieces on. The kinds of things happening in my piece, have happened to me recently as well. It continues to happen to me and other people of color, and I wanted to raise awareness of that. I want people to interact with my piece and get a better understanding of what LGBT+ black people may go through. I hope for my audience to go through this piece and feel a sense of sadness for how this world is currently and to long for the world to be a better place for everyone. I want them to be surprised by certain aspects of my project. I have never done a piece more personal. 

If you wish to purchase any of these pieces, please contact the gallery director, Jacqueline Nathan (jnathan@bgsu.edu.)