"abundance" mural

My inspiration for the mural titled “Abundance” stems from the current food apartheid that Parramore is unfortunately facing right now. 1 out of every 5 Black households is situated in a food desert with very little of any access to supermarkets and locally grown foods - how can we change this and in what ways could this impact the future of the community?

Many who have passed by the mural have questioned why it does not emulate the food that Tip Top Grocery contains. The overarching idea is to portray a visual that will encourage the community to become more self-sustaining in response to the food desert that Parramore is facing. Did you know that there are 2 local community gardens right here in Parramore?

Let’s connect with these community gardens and educate the community of Parramore about the importance of sourcing local fruits and vegetable. Let’s discuss bringing fresh produce into Tip Top Grocery- making a space in the store specifically for fresh foods.

To touch a little bit on various aspects of the Mural:

The woman with her eyes close looking down is wearing a head wrap filled with fruits and vegetables - she is the symbol of Mother Nature. The headwrap is a symbol of cornucopia to show abundance and a rainfall of food in large quantities. All of the fruits and vegetables that are throughout the Mural are native to Florida - native to the Parramore community (from asparagus to oranges to guavas and muscadine grapes). At the very end of the mural lies an archway connecting the people of the community to the bright and abundant future that awaits. What adorns the archway is a native flower, called Trumpet Vines, a vibrant plant that is apparent throughout the Parramore community.

I couldn’t be more grateful to have been provided this opportunity and become a voice for the community of Paramore. My hopes are for this Mural to push the community in a positive direction and bring forth not only locally sourced foods, but also encourage the people of Parramore to collectively work together in further developing a sustainable community.

One fruitful step at a time!

Tasanee aka VISORIES

Growing up, my mother would always take me to the museums and art fairs in Chicago where I was born and raised. The artwork and the artists that I was exposed to were phenomenal, but where were the artists that looked like me? Where was the artwork that had people of color?

As I grew older, I started dreaming of museums and art events filled with people of color from all cultures and backgrounds. I began stepping out of my comfort zone and drawing what has never been, and still isn’t the norm: Black Culture and Black Stories. This journey has led me to understanding more of who I am as I learn more about stories of the brown and black community.

I’m a minimalist artist who explores the themes of Black Stories in the realms of identity, culture and placemaking/architecture. My artwork utilizes mediums of drawing and mixed media to display narratives of Black existence that are typically kept hidden from us. I use poetry, experiences, memory and historical literature.

I draw using one line - meaning, each piece is drawn with my hand never lifting from the medium that I work with until it is absolutely complete. I specialize in continuous contour drawing, also known as “single-line” drawing. I enjoy the complexity behind the minimal nature of the technique. It reminds me of the Black Diaspora and how blackness is seen as a simple beauty made up of complex histories, essences and backgrounds.