A Conversation with Artist Bianca Dorsey

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A conversation with artist Bianca Dorsey

Published On Thursday, January 27, 2011 Byadmin. Under: AfroBlazers, AfroSprituality, AfroStyles, AfroTrans, AfroXcellence.

By AfroFutures Writer Tantra-Zawadi| USA

Regeneration - 2006 - Acrylic on Silk with Pearls

Recently, I had the pleasure of spending time with Bianca Dorsey, a beautiful and gifted world artist. Bianca also spoke about the importance of exploring the techniques of our ancestors to create art that endures. Afrofutures welcomes Bianca Dorsey.

Bianca Dorsey was born in 1970 in Alabama and began to travel the world at a very early age. Although she presently resides in Brooklyn, New York, she has always considered herself a citizen of the world. Since she was a child, Bianca loved to create drawings, crafts and later sculptures, jewelry and paintings.

“I use my paintings to show Black women and women of color how beautiful they are, how strong & empowered they are and how spiritual they are. I do this by painting everyday Black women as goddesses so they can see the light within them. The images in my paintings come to me in visions.
My medium is often silk or wood and mixed media because I enjoy the absorbency of these mediums. I often attach gemstones, fabric and other media to bring the energy of these objects into the paintings. The paintings are intended to inspire reverence, peace and a heightened spiritual awareness for all.”

-Bianca Dorsey

Bianca began creating jewelry in 1984 when she fell in love with metalworking, which she manifested in both steel sculptures and silver jewelry. More recently, she has become attracted to gemstones with their beauty, dimensions and metaphysical properties.

As the granddaughter of a master gardener, Bianca has always been enamored with the beauty of nature, which is apparent in her use of texture and organic forms in her jewelry. Bianca is a descendant of two multi-faceted artistic families which include: Seamstresses, ceramicists, jewelers, quilters, leather workers, musicians, ship builders, graphic designers, house builders, illustrators, photographers, etc. Her family also has a long tradition of receiving very direct spiritual guidance. Bianca Dorsey is given spiritual direction in the creation of all of her art, including her art jewelry – Amajewelryfuses all of these influences to become Bianca’soffering of light!

Fire agate and silver lotus leaf pin/pendant

AF: What inspired you to create your first work of art? You were born into a family of various artists. Who were your early influences and what type of art were you exposed to as a child?

BD: I have been making art since I’ve been on the planet. When I was a little girl I used to go to crafts classes with my Mom and we always made lots of things together at home. I have always drawn and I also used to design clothes. My mother is a photographer, my father is a musician and my grandmother is a professional seamstress who can make anything. I have an aunt who is a graphic designer and calligrapher, and another who is an actress and an illustrator. These were my primary influences.

My mother took me to major museum exhibitions like the Tutankamon show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Picasso exhibition at MoMA. We looked at many cultural treasures in Korea like temples, historic gates and artwork. I took an Oriental painting class with a Korean teacher who spoke no English. My father’s military career allowed us to move around a lot and experience various cultures.

The Devine Eye

AF: You are truly an alchemist Bianca. I have witnessed your ability to take gemstones or metals and turn them into creations that are one of a kind. Tell us how you got your start in jewelry making and why you choose to work with gemstones?

BD: I began making jewelry in high school – creating welded sculptures and at the same time, I fell in love with metal working and fire and organic textures and forms. I originally worked with metal primarily. I attended the Arts Magnet High School at Booker T. Washington in Dallas, Texas and it was like going to Heaven! This school introduced me to jewelry making, sculpture, painting, weaving, printmaking, ceramics, and drawing from models. I enjoyed myself immensely and it was wonderful being surrounded by such creative souls and visionaries. Some of my more well known classmates are Roy Hargrove (jazz musician), Erykah Badu (Neo-soul singer), Christian Schumann (1995 Whitney Biennial) and Elizabeth Mitchell (Cast of Lost).

About 13 years ago, gemstones chose me. I didn’t choose them. I get a lot of spiritual guidance from them and am drawn to their colors, texture and energies. They have been given to me as a tool for healing and inspiration. They are light. I want people to know what they are capable of experiencing and manifesting and the stones help them look inside. I am excited to be a tool of Universal Light!

In a very real sense my jewelry can be compared to a medicinal pouch where your medicine can be seen and enjoyed by everyone and felt by you. I get a lot of spiritual guidance in my life and in my work. I listen to spirit guides, my intuition and my heart in manifesting my creations. Meditation keeps me spiritually centered so I can be open to receiving guidance about my work and my life.

AF: How do you prepare in terms of research, medium and presentation? I understand that you sometimes make your own paint. Tell us more.

BD: Many of my recent paintings have been channeled and presented to me whole. Then, I look for images that approximate what it has been suggested for me to do. Sometimes I have some unusual items to locate to include in or on the painting.

A spirit told me some years ago that it would be beneficial for me to learn to paint in the way that the ancient Egyptians painted. So I now have small collections of books and other references with information about mediums, stone and plant pigments and a multitude of recipes. I’ve made gouache, oil and acrylic paint primarily with the ingredients in a mortar and a pestle.

New York City is a city of museums. This allows me to easily find materials used since ancient times because there are art supply stores that cater to the army of restorers of ancient artwork. These stores are an invaluable resource.

AF: I’ve seen you work with a variety of materials. Let’s talk a little about mixed media, acrylics and your creative use of silks.

BD: I grew up working in all kinds of media. I feel like if it can be made with your hands, then I can manipulate it and create something. My whole family feels like that.

I truly enjoy working with metal. It touches my soul. As for silk, I began to paint on cotton fabric as an art teacher with my students, and eventually came to use silk. Having lived two years in Seoul, Korea I have a lot of Asian influence in my artwork that reflects my life. The way I mount my paintings on silk with a border of silk or another fabric, is like an Asian Thangka (a Tibetian silk painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort). Tibetans, Chinese and Japanese artists have done this for millennia with their various types of paintings – but especially the spiritual paintings. The most important thing when I create a piece is staying true to the vision or following where I’m led to go.

AF: I had the distinct pleasure of taking a peek at your project about Haiti. Please tell us a little about it and what moved you to work on this installment?

BD: I did triptych (a painting consisting of three panels), about the earthquake in Haiti. It shows a woman finding solace in people in spite of living in a tent city. It shows a man walking over rubble and through chaos but collecting bricks, gold, books and other needed material to rebuild. It shows a woman of spirit thriving in a rebuilt and green Haiti of the future. I want the piece to provide light and hope.

AF: Let’s talk about your perspective on creating art that is “lasting.”

BD: Many artists in their quest for free creative experimentation don’t give any thought to how well their pieces will last. Sometimes their pieces fall apart, change color or disintegrate. This can alienate clients from art in general and it completely takes them out of the art market of galleries, auction houses and museums where artists might potentially achieve some longevity with their artwork.

AF: Bianca, I am intrigued by your statement “Some people buy cars and some people buy art.” Let’s explore this for a moment. Why buy art?

BD: As a college student, I visited this gallery on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to see a Diego Rivera exhibition. After telling me the price of a small painting, the dealer said: “Some people buy cars and some people buy art,” and it stuck with me. I thought it was a mind opening statement.

People can easily envision themselves buying a car; no matter what their financial situation is. They see it as something that is normal and within the realm of possibility. Many people don’t see owning art as normal and possible.

People should buy art that they love…art that feeds their soul…art that engages their imagination…art that excites their creativity.

AF: What are your thoughts about the pricing of art and affordability? Is affordability an important factor to the artist? What are some of the ways that art can be purchased and enjoyed without going into debt?

BD: Artists at different stages in their careers, in different markets and with a different fluency of skill, have a varied and evolving price structure. Affordability is relative, but almost everyone can afford something. There are many African-American artists who under price themselves out of concern for affordability to potential African American clients. Many of these potential clients are not used to the prices of artwork or the valuation of African American artists. They expect to purchase this art for nothing. This undervaluing feeds this expectation.

Some artists opt to sell their work for the extremely low prices their community expects them to sell their work for – rather than sell their work for the current market value and build their career as an artist step by step.

No one should buy art or anything else they can’t afford. Almost everyone can afford to buy art from someone. Not being able to afford something and not believing the art is worth something are two very different things.

AF: What is the climate for today’s artist? Can you walk us through the process of how your work is made available for viewing and purchase?

BD: The art market is shakily starting to get on its feet after being knocked down by the economic collapse.

My paintings are shown in various gallery and museum exhibitions. Some shows are juried exhibitions and some are by invitation. My jewelry is currently shown primarily on my website and in craft fairs, but it will be shown in galleries and museums in the future as well. On occasion I have an Open Studio weekend, where people can come and see all I create in my studio. I am always available for individual appointments however. People can learn about the art and purchase it on all of these occasions.

AF: What is next for Bianca Dorsey? Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share with us?

BD: I am working on a series of spiritually inspired paintings and embroidery at the moment and creating jewelry for my booth at the American Crafts Festival at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on June 18th and 19th, 2011. In the near future I intend to work on some spiritual children’s books, calendars, and dolls. I am always looking for a good opportunity to exhibit my art. I have been in various group shows, but right now I am focused on creating a great body of work.

AF: In a few words, what is the Bianca Dorsey experience? How can our readers contact you?

BD: The Bianca Dorsey Artist Experience? I’m just me; however, I wish for others to get in tune with or a glimpse of their higher selves through my creations.

Bianca Dorsey

RESUME

Bianca Dorsey

Education: Fashion Institute of Tech 1992-2000
New York, New York
Master’s Degree in
Gallery and Retail Art Administration

Pratt Institute 1988-1992
Brooklyn, New York
Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Sculpture

Solo Exhibitions:
2006 The Lives of Goddesses, Curated by
Carol Blank, Bklyn, NY
2000Fruits of Our Labor, Satta Gallery, Bklyn,NY

RecentGroup Exhibitions:

2010 Rising Suns, the Dash Gallery, NY, NY

2009The Color of Words: Brooklyn Working Artists Coalition, Bklyn, NY
2007 Connections: Brooklyn Working ArtistsCoalition, Bklyn, NY
2006Holiday Craft Exhibiton, Pen & BrushGallery, NY
Transformations: BWAC, Bklyn, NY
Dream-a-licious, Williamsburg Music Center
35th Annual Contemporary Black Artists In
America, Great Neck Library, NY
2005 Brooklyn Working Artists 25th Anniversary

Commissions:
1997 Adinkra Cloth Original Designs and
Manufacture used on Title Panel
Commissioned by X-Plus for
Permanent Display for The Horace M.
Peterson III Visitors Center of
The Jazz Museum at 18th & Vine
Kansas City, Missouri

Publications:
2007 Dorsey, Bianca, “Asia in the Mix,” The International Review of African
American Art, Volume 21,no.3, pp.42 – 50, 2007
2005 Cammock, Agnes,”DiscoInferno,”SUEDE 2,
No.2.p.31, 134 April 2005
2003 Joy, Nya, “Essentials: Too Hot to be Cool,”
The African 1, No. 16, p.15-17
March – April 2003
2000 Harris, Juliette, “The Black-Indian Connection in Art:

American Portraits, Soulscapes & Spirit Works,” The
International Review of African
American Art 17, No.1, p.40, 2000

Collection:

Museum of Contemporary African Diasporian Art, NY

158 Responses to “A conversation with artist Bianca Dorsey”

B.O.B. Mathissays:

January 27, 2011 at 10:15 am

What a brilliant article!!!
Thank you for showing the world the beauty of this genius and obviously multi-talented young artist, Bianca M. Dorsey. It seems like she is delicately creating each piece of art from her soul. God has given her so many skills and so much talent that He must hold her hands as she produces each creation. What a gift! What a touch!
It is true that some people by cars and/or paintings; basicially, people buy what they want. Artist who are sincere about their talent create pieces that are PRICELESS.
Please feature her again. Thank you.

N'TirzahAmmann al Rephaimsays:

January 27, 2011 at 10:56 am

This is such a great read! As a whole it is inspiring, informative and engaging. I really enjoy your interview style; the questions you asked are pertinent and thought provoking. Bianca Dorsey’s artistry and committment to the upliftment of womb-men is particularly touching! I was also sobered by some of her comments, especially as to how artists undermine and de-value their work because of what they feel are “community obligations.” This is true for artists across all genres, and very poignant for all artists in our desire to be valued and appreciated.

Thank you Tantra-zawadi for giving us inspiration,and exposing us to these beautiful artists that make such a difference in the world- it is so needed!!!!!

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January 27, 2011 at 6:43 pm

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Ruby Swareysays:

January 27, 2011 at 7:25 pm

Thanks for good article. Hope to see more soon.

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January 27, 2011 at 11:45 pm

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ArnoldoBroeckelsays:

January 28, 2011 at 6:03 am

This is a super post and I completelyagree, you have a great blog in general. I will for sure come back to your blog and read more later.

Visitorsays:

January 28, 2011 at 7:42 am

Never knew that it is like that. Live life and learn.

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Tarasays:

January 28, 2011 at 12:09 pm

Wow, Bianca! You can have a good friend for five or six years and have no clue to the origins and depths of their beauty and creativity. I am very illuminated and inspired by the dialogue of this article and direct a prayer for increased clarity and destiny-merging toward the both of you ladies. Also, planning a long lasting body of work is the sign of great genius. I can relate. May we all.

Biancasays:

February 3, 2011 at 8:14 pm

Thank you! How kind you are…

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Travel Guide Bookssays:

January 28, 2011 at 9:46 pm

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