Melissa Joseph: D.C. Artist Making Waves in Global Art Market

By Andrew S. Jacobson WI Contributing Writer

The nation’s capital is influencing the global art market with the inclusion of Melissa Joseph in a group exhibition at Charles Moffett in New York this summer. An educator for six years in D.C., teaching both in DCPS and at Georgetown Prep, Joseph has infused her work with a narrative that is deeply connected to her time spent living and teaching in the District.

Joseph's narrative, steeped in her experiences as a person of color, in a rural Pennsylvanian household, then significantly shaped by her urban D.C. years, forms an integral part of the "Kinship" theme in the exhibition. Her compositions, borne out of textiles and other craft materials, invite viewers into her personal realm, depicting her rural upbringing, extended family abroad, and her diasporic life.

Curated by José Chavez Verduzco, the exhibition titled "Genius Loci" probes into the spirit of place, showcasing the artistry of 18 diverse artists.

Chavez first crossed paths with Joseph's unique work at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery’s “Wonder Women,” show, where her unconventional painting "Smells like Pre-Teen Spirit," crafted from felted wool, caught his eye. Struck by her alchemical process of turning wool into narrative, Chavez became an instant fan.

A chance meeting with Chavez at a reception dinner further solidified his admiration for her work. As Chavez recalled, the opportunity to understand her artistic practice and observe her process of using fibers as pigments was transformative. The respect and tenderness she infused in her felt works while translating archival photographs was a distinctive perspective he wished to showcase in "Genius Loci."

Given Joseph's proliferative artistry over the past year and her boundary-pushing approach to painting, Chavez felt privileged to include her in the exhibition. Even as she readies herself for a solo presentation with REGULARNORMAL and group shows at James Fuentes, Galleria Poggiali, and the British Textile Biennial, her District-infused work continues to resonate with audiences globally. Visit, "Genius Loci," which opened on July 5, to experience Joseph's moving lens that has captured the essence of her personal journey from D.C. to the heart of New York City. WI

A firefly is an insect, but it is not a fly. It is a beetle.

Beetles have two pairs of wings. The front pair is stiff and protects the soft back wings, which are used for flying.

Standards Link: Life Science: Students know animals have structures that serve different functions in survival.

People use their lungs to get oxygen from the air. A firefly has small holes on its abdomen that let in oxygen.

Fireflies need four things to glow. Three of those are chemicals it has in its body. Circle every third letter to discover the fourth thing it needs to glow.

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In Japan, there fireflies are Princess. One legend says

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Some species flash short, quick flashes. Others stay lit longer. Others have longer dark times between flashes.

The male flies around flashing his light. The female stays near the ground and flashes “answers” to the male’s flashing messages as he flies above her.

Fireflies also use their flashing lights to scare off predators and to warn other fireflies of danger.

Use a light stick, often found with sporting goods, to demonstrate how chemicals can mix together to create light without giving off any heat.

Glow Little Glow Worm

What are glow worms? Hold this page up to a mirror to nd out!

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A re y lights up the world in two of its four parts or stages of its life cycle.

Like all beetles, re ies have four stages or parts to their lives. These are larvae, pupa and adult

More Than One Spells Confusion

One firefly is spelled f-i-r-e-f-l-y. More than one is spelled f-i-r-e-f-l-i-e-s

Do the math to label this diagram.

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Practice using descriptive words in stories to add color. Clip five adjectives from the newspaper that could describe a mystery. Use these words to write a story about a detective solving a mystery. Be creative!

To make firefly plural you change the y to i and add es

Look through the newspaper for five nouns that end in y Change each from singular to plural. Then, look for five plural nouns, and change them to singular nouns.

Write Words Wonderfully

An alliteration is a series of words that start with the same letter. Can you come up with one or more alliterations?