CULTURE
21 MAKERS + CURATORS TO FOLLOW IN THE DISTRICT COMPILED BY M.K. KOSZYCKI Whether a creator, artist, curator or any of the titles the individuals on this list hold, they’re all integral parts of the creative fabric that make up the District. They shared their creative ethos, where they unexpectedly find inspiration and advice for other creators for our Arts & Culture issue this month.
NABIL ABDULKADIR
Advice to Other Creators
Keep making art, and trust that the things that are interesting to you are worth your efforts.
44:21 Co-founder
Ethos
The ethos of my work can be described as community-oriented storytelling focused on narratives that normally go overlooked.
Unexpected Source of Inspiration
The most unexpected place I find inspiration is in music. Albums are a journey to me. When I discover a new project, I fully immerse myself in the world of it, both sonically and visually. By the time I leave their world, I carry a lot of the influence with me.
Advice to Other Creators
The advice I would give to other creators is to follow your intuition and not let outside influences and pressures dictate the direction of your art.
Follow @howzitfunnies on Instagram for more on Cohen’s work.
AMIRA EL-GAWLY Manifesta + St. Plant Founder
Ethos
Bringing meaning, love and beauty to the fore of our daily lives at home and at work.
Unexpected Source of Inspiration In silence, among the trees.
Advice to Other Creators
Follow Abdulkadir @4421.co and @nabilabdulkadir on Instagram.
Be thoughtful, and yet don’t overthink it. And definitely don’t think about what anyone else might be thinking about what you’re thinking.
CHARITY BLACKWELL
Visit www.manifesta.co and www.stplant.co for more information, and follow her businesses on Instagram @manifestaco and @st.plant.
Spoken word artist | DC SCORES Director of Creative Arts and Education | Busboys and Poets Director of Poetry Events
Ethos
I utilize my art as a tool for learning, healing and activism. The amazing organizations I work for give me a platform as an artist to amplify my message and work.
Unexpected Source of Inspiration
The most unexpected place I find inspirational is an empty church.
Advice to Other Creators
Do not feel confined to society’s definition of success as a creative. Visit www.charityblackwell.com and follow Blackwell @charityjoyceblackwell on Instagram.
ANDREW COHEN Artist
Ethos
I draw things I think are funny, but other people find creepy.
HALIM A. FLOWERS Visual artist | spoken word performer | businessman | author
Ethos
My art is an expression of advocacy for unconditional love.
Unexpected Source of Inspiration
I find inspiration always from water, whether it’s by the ocean or river, washing dishes in the sink or washing my hands, or even using the bathroom (ha ha ha).
Advice to Other Creators
Create from a fearless space to bring to the world something that has never existed in a loving way. The world needs expressions of love that know no bounds, and not carbon copies of the things already produced that have failed to communicate love comprehensively. Visit www.halim-flowers.com, and follow @halimflowers and @ideallionaires on Instagram and @therealhalim on Twitter for more on Flowers.
Unexpected Source of Inspiration Antique magic textbooks. 42 | MARCH 2021
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT. Nabil Abdulkadir, Charity Blackwell, Brittany M. Greene. Photos courtesy of subjects. Halim A. Flowers at Plain Sight gallery. Photo by Rich Kessler Photography. Amira El-Gawly. Photo courtesy of subject.