CC Mercer Watson standing next to ELIZABETH IN OZ: 2057
MOSAIC TEMPARS CULTURAL CENTER
MARCH 27 - AUGUST 16 TH TH 2025
MINNEAPOLIS MN
LittleRock AR
A FUNDRAISING CHAIR AT THE TABLE
Wonderful news! My role on the Governing Board of Directors for alt Chicago ( said as "alt space Chicago") has expanded and I’ve been named the new Fundraising Chair. alt Chicago's mission is driven by Art. Faith. and Community. I joined the board to assist in expanding the reach of our mission and create more impact with our programming. From creating beautiful murals on the west side of Chicago, providing justiceimpacted young people their first jobs, and ensuring that the Austin Community is not left behind in the fight to ensure an environmentally safe neighborhood, alt Chicago is a powerhouse, and I am thankful that I get the opportunity to support a worthy organization.
ALT _ NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT, TOO!
alt Chicago celebrates its 5th anniversary of serving the Austin community. In a time when many nonprofits struggle to find their footing, I’d love for you to join me in supporting our bold mission.
You can learn more about the organization and donate to our cause by clicking the title of this article.
Give them a follow @alt Chicago and tell ‘ em CC sent ya!
#Art #Faith #Community #Chicago #Nonprofit #Board #GrandOpening #Support
AHERO’SJOURNEY
There are so many moments of my life that parallel with The Wiz. A funky, soulful 1970's cult classic that was a musical was an adaptation of the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz. The main character and the protagonist of the story, Dorothy Gale, is an
orphan that lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Blown into the cosmos by a powerful tornado, Dorothy finds herself in the land of Oz and desperately trying to find her way home. To me, this story is quintessentially one of the most epic hero’s journey and it is in that space I began to fuse the concepts of Black navigators and way finders into my latest body of work, THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED: AN ODE TO THE GREEN BOOK. This work is paying homage to the hero’s journey of African-American roadsters across the United States from the 1930s to present day. Inspired by my own cross-country trek to deliver artwork to SooVAC in Minneapolis, Minnesota, my favorite movie of all time, The Wiz, I blend the radical grit of Negro travelers, guided by The Green Book, and that of The Emerald City, a coveted destination, as each person who begins their odyssey must navigate new territory and find their way home.
THE GREEN BOOK OF POEMS is a collection that accompanies the exhibition of THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED: AN ODE TO THE GREEN BOOK. It documents the hopes, dreams, disappointments, and joys that are directly related to life in The South and traveling on the road, be it stateside or abroad. This collection also celebrates black life, love, grief, and expectations of respect. THE GREEN BOOK OF POEMS is dedicated to those that take the road less traveled. Be transformed in the next few pages with an excerpt from THE GREEN BOOK OF POEMS that has images from the current exhibition gallery.
Tubman
African wax fabric, vinyl, glittered velvet, metallic brocade, metallic cotton, quilted cotton, vintage cotton, vintage buttons, gingham, sequins, metal, custom enamel pin
DON’TLOOKBACK
THERE’SONLYONEWAY, WE’REGOINGTODAY, ANDTHAT’STOWARDSFREEDOM, IFYOUJEOPARDIZEMYBAREFEETINTHECREEK, FORLASHINGANDRATIONS, IWILLSHOOTYOU, IWILLBOOTYOUYOURHINDPARTS, IWILLNOTBEDRAGGEDINTOTHEDOLDRUMSOFDENIGRATION, MYLIFEISTOOGREAT, THESTARSGUIDEUSTOVICTORY, THEANCESTORSCARRYOURWEIGHT, UNDERFLOORBOARDS, INATTICSTIGHT, INTHEBARNWITHCATTLE, I’LLRESTTONIGHT, KNOWINGTHATTOMORROWBRINGSAPROMISEOFANEWLIFE, THERE’SONLYONEWAY WE’REGOINGTODAY, ANDTHAT’STOWARDSFREEDOM, IFYOUJEOPARDIZEMYBAREBREASTSONMYCHEST, FORSCRAPINGSANDRAPINGS, IWILLSHOOTYOU, IWILLBOOTYOUINYOURHINDPARTS, IWILLNOTBEHEMMEDINTHEHELLOFOPPRESSIVEHALLUCINATIONS, MYLIFEISTOOPRECIOUS, THEDRINKINGGOURDQUENCHESMYTHIRST, THEGAWDSCOVEROURSCENT, NOSNAKE, WILDDOG, BOAR, ORBEARCANSTOPME,
READ THE ENTIRE GREEN BOOK OF POEMS HERE
I’LLRESTTONIGHT, KNOWINGTHATTOMORROWBRINGSAPROMISEOFANEWLIFE, IWILLGOBACKANDGET, ASMANYTHATCANFITONMYJOURNEY, ONLYTHOSETHATHAVETHEGUMPTIONTOFACETHEHURDLES, OFTHISLIFEONTHEROAD, THERE’SONLYONEWAYTHAT WE’REGOINGTODAY, ANDTHAT’STOWARDSFREEDOM, IFYOUJEOPARDIZEMYFREEWILLINTHISLIFELIVED, IWILLSHOOTYOU, IWILLBOOTYOUINYOURHINDPARTS, IWILLNOTBEBAPTIZEDINABRAGGADOCIOUSBONDAGE, IFYOUTURNAROUND, IWILLGUNYOUDOWN, ICAUTIONYOU, DON’TLOOKBACK.
AN EVENING SWIM 2025
5 ft. 11 1/2 in. x 6 ft. 4 1/2 in. 36 hours hand-stitched
Metallic brocade, African wax fabric, vinyl, marine vinyl quilted cotton, glittered velvet, custom enamel pin
ANEVENINGSWIM
BLACKBODIESFLOATINOPENWATER, BUOYEDBYANOCEANOFDIABOLICALPAIN, WEHAVEACOMPLICATEDRELATIONSHIPWITHSALTANDSEA, FRESHRIVERSANDCREEKS, PENNYWISE, WEALTHANDSTUPIDITY, “DOWNHERE,WEALLFLOAT”, ACROSSOCEANSONBOATS, ORSNEAKINGIN, FORANEVENINGSWIM, TOFEELTHETHRILLOFACCESS, APOOLCLOSEDOFFTOUS, AWORLDCLOSEDOFFTOUS, JUSTFORBEINGBLACK, JUSTFORFLOATINGONOURBACKS, INOPENWATER, MAYBEWEDROWN, MAYBEWEKICK, MAYBEANYTHINGCANHAPPEN, HOWEVERWENEVERUNDERSTANDAWORLDLIKETHIS, WEFORMGILLSANDWINGS, TOTHESKY, OROCEANTRENCHES, WERETREAT, WHILEOURGRANDMOTHERSDREAMOFFISHESTHATNEVERCOMETOBE.
READ THE ENTIRE GREEN BOOK OF POEMS HERE
PYRE
THECHORUSOFFLAMESSANGCRACKLINGHYMNS, HELL’SHALLELUJAH, ABLACKBODYONTHEPYRE, THEYMADEUSWATCH, ASITEANDSMELLI’LLNEVERFORGET, ABLACKBODYALCHEMIZEDINTOASH, BURNEDLIKETRASHFORBEINGBLACK, LASTTHINGIREMEMBERBEFOREMYNECKSNAPPED.
READ THE ENTIRE GREEN BOOK OF POEMS HERE
Metallic brocade, African wax fabric, vinyl, marine vinyl quilted cotton, linen, sequins, custom enamel pin
11 ft. 1/2 in. x 5 ft. 8 in.
51 hours hand-stitched
ELIZABETH IN OZ: 2057 2025
Metallic brocade, quilted metallic cotton, African wax fabric, vinyl, cotton, gingham, chenille letters, custom enamel pin
ELIZABETHINOZ:2057
INSTANTLYICONIC, ACRISPWHITESHIRTDRESSWITHABLACKGINGHAMSKIRT, AYOUNGGIRLWHOTOOKTHELONGESTWALKOFHERLIFE, THEMOBISFICKLE, ANDTHEYSPIT, ANDTHEYSCREAM, ANDTHEYCURSE, ANDTHEYFOLLOW, CLICK–CAMERAFLASHES, SPIT–PEOPLESPAZZING, BEHIND HER CAT SHADED EYES ARE REMINDERS NOT TO LET THEM SEE HERCRY, WARRIORSDON’TCRY, THEYCLUTCHTHEIRBOOKSCLOSETOTHEIRCHEST, LIKEARMOR, PARTTHESEAOF WHITEHOTANGER, WITHANONYXCOOL, STAYCALM, DON’TRUN, JUSTWALK, HERSTEPSAREPEDESTALSOFPOWERFORALLTHATFOLLOW, DEARGAWD, MAKEMEELIZABETHECKFORD, SOICANWALK, WALKFAR, FAR,FARAWAY, FROMANYTHINGTHATWISHESTOENDME, THEPAST, THEFUTURE, ITCOULDALLBETHESAME, IFWELETHISTORYKEEPREPEATINGTHISWAY, BUTWEDON’T, WESCRAMBLEBOARDTOTHEFUTURE, TELLBILLIONSOFYOURSACRIFICE, ANDTHENWESEEYOU, AT15YEARSOLD, ANDNOW, STANDINGINYOURPOWER, AHERO’SJOURNEY, ANDINOURSTORIES, WEALWAYSWIN.
READ THE ENTIRE GREEN BOOK OF POEMS HERE
3 ft. 5 1/2 in. x 2 ft. 8in. 36 hours hand-stitched
SUNDAY SCHOOL: DENISE McNAIR 2025
Quilted cotton, stained glass film, velvet, vinyl, satin, vintage cotton, vintage buttons, custom enamel pin
BLACKEXPECTATIONS
BLACKBODIESDROWNONOCEANFLOORS, ANDBLEEDONCONCRETESTREETS, BLACKBODIESROTBEHINDIRONDOORS, ANDLIVEATCITY'SEDGE, DEADEND, DEAD,
BLACKBODIESATTHEBOTTOMOFTHEOCEAN, BLACKBODIESPILEUPUNDERLAWENFORCEMENT, BLACKBODIESBEWHYTHEMGUNSTHEYTOTING, BLACKBODIESGOTOSTORESTHATWON'TOPEN, BLACKBODIESSIT-INATCOUNTERTOPS, BLACKBODIESHAVETROOPSTOWALKTHEMINTOSCHOOLS, BLACKBODIES,FROMLICORICETOLEMONDROPS, BLACKBODIESBOMBEDINCHURCHVESTIBULES, BLACKBODIESMAKEMONEYINMISSISSIPPI, BLACKBODIESHANGFROMPOPULARTREES, BLACKBODIES,HASHTAGBLACKBODIES, BLACKBODIES,POLICEPOUNDBLACKBODIES, BLACKBODIESARETOLDTHEYHAVENOTHINGTOLOSE, BLACKBODIESARETOLDWHATTODO, BLACK BODIES, "KEEP YOUR HANDS UP", "KEEP YOUR PANTS UP", "KEEP YOURLEGSCLOSED","KEEPYOURHAIRSHORT", BLACKBODIES,LETUSRECLAIMTHEAUTONOMYOFOURFLESH, BLACKBODIES,LETUSSEEKTHEAGENCYOFOURSOULS, BLACKBODIES,NOMATTERWHATWEARETOLD, LETUSRELEASEOURSELVESFROMOPPRESSIVEEXPECTATIONS, OURVOICESAREACHORUSOFJUSTICE, OURJOYISRESISTANCE,TOO, OURSTRUGGLEISNOBLE, OURVICTORYISINEVITABLE.
READ THE ENTIRE GREEN BOOK OF POEMS HERE
MRS
LET’SJUMPTHEBROOMTODAY, APORTALINTOANEWWORLD, MARRIAGEANDMAGIC, MARKEDBYGNARLEDWOOD, EUCALYPTUS,FEATHERS,BABY’SBREATH,STRAW,ANDTWINE, ACAMEROONIANPASSPORTMASK, ANCESTORS, BLESS’EDBE, OURBODIESBINDTOGETHERINANANCIENTLOVESPELL, CASTINFREEDOM, FORTIFIEDTOWEATHERANYSTORM, ANDWEKNOW, HOWSPECIALTHISBROOMIS, SNAPPEDFROMTORNADOWIND, TOSSEDABOUTTHEYARD, PULLEDFROMDEBRIS, ABURIEDTREASUREAMONGBROKENTREES, DEBARKEDANDSEALEDWITHANOINTEDOILS, ACONDUITFORANELECTRICUNION, LET’SJUMPTHEBROOMTODAY, THESAMEHANDSWEHOLD, PULLBACKTHEFOLDSINMYDRESS, WETAKEADEEPBREATHANDTAKEABIGLEAP… ONE, TWO, THREE! SILVERSLIPPERSONAYELLOWFABRICROAD, FLESHYKISSESTOSEALTHEDEAL, WE’SMARRIEDNOW! WE’SMARRIEDNOW! ANANNOUNCEMENTINANOTHERDIMENSION, TIMETRAVELINGLOVERS, WHATAMYSTICALMYSTERYLOVEIS, ANDYET, ITISTHEMOSTTRUETHINGTHATEXISTS, SOHAPPYTOBEINTHISMARRIAGE, ANDMAGIC, WITHYOU.
OPPOSITE PAGE
JUMPING THE BROOM 2023 9ft. 1 in. x 6 ft. 7 in. 171 hours hand-stitched
READ THE ENTIRE GREEN BOOK OF POEMS HERE
Quilted cotton, vintage cotton, vinyl, African wax fabric, mesh, pearls, turquoise, gold, custom enamel pins (Watson and Duafe), sequins, velvet, mudcloth
YELLOWFABRIKROAD 2023 23ft.1in.x5ft.1in.
400hourshand-stitchedandmachinestitched Africanwaxfabric,vinyl,velvet,mudcloth,quilted cotton,vintagecotton,gingham
LISTENtotheArtistTalkatSooVAC
EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD 2025
2 ft. 4 in. x 2 ft. 1 in.
23 hours hand-stitched
African wax fabric, vinyl, velvet, mudcloth, quilted cotton, vintage cotton, gingham, custom enamel pin
tradition, and ancestral craft. As the ED and Found(HER) of this organization, and an artist myself, it is my personal mission to use my craft to see the work of A BLACK SPACE through. Please consider donating, by clicking or scanning the QR code below, to support our newsletter, programs, and emerging community outreach to lend our support where needed. Also, if you ’ re looking to expand your art collection, consider buying some of my fine art prints HERE. Available at M2 Gallery, located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Be sure to catch the exhibitions IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE STARS and THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED: AN ODE TO THE GREEN BOOK while the work is on display. And Issue 34: Arkansas. 20% off using through June 30 . th
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Quincy Watson
Azuree Holloway for Quiltfolk Magazine
CC Mercer Watson
