Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Faith . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Faith , appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My artistic journey is an autobiography for the senses. Every emotion of loss, grief, hope, and acceptance has found its moment on a canvas or a poem. During my performance art apprenticeship in 2023 with the Parts or Pieces V2 Gallery with ArtWoks, I had to blend creativity and movement, which was new for me as someone who lives in their mind, so I started wondering what brought me there, to that moment. And that was the essence of my final performance piece.

Hangin’ On! is a reflection of the world as I see it, capturing the essence of life in the city streets and the dynamic nature of personhood. The work delves into the intersections of race, identity, and the ever-evolving dynamics of urban life. Through a blend of visual elements and symbolism, the viewers are invited to contemplate the complex narratives woven into the urban fabric and Black life. The exploration of shoefiti – shoes suspended on electrical wire, represents both a tribute to resilience and an exploration of memory within the cityscape. The work pays homage to life’s highs and lows, and offers reflection of the Black spirituality and the diaspora’s ability to endure.

Here, I remembered the transitions between place, time, and life and death, and how they bring us to the now. During the performance, I became a storyteller, sharing the migrations of myself and my loved ones. I tied each shoe to the clothes line with a new insight before returning to my seat and pouring more lemonade in my cup. Eventually the journeys come to an end and my cup runneth over, a sentiment of gratitude and joy that represents having more than enough for one’s needs and appreciating the blessings in life while honoring the trials of our people through a libation that makes lemonade from life’s lemons.

Faith , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Faith Marie is a Black woman from Dayton, now residing in Cincinnati, OH, holds a B.A. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a Master’s in Public Health from Ohio State University. She is fervently dedicated to harnessing the power of art and nature to foster self-awareness, well-being, and justice. Faith sees language as a tool for empowerment and consciousness-raising, channeling this belief into her poetry, which delves into themes of identity, personhood, heritage, and observation.

The sudden passing of her paternal grandmother, the matriarch of her family, in July 2020, marked a pivotal moment in Faith’s life. In her quest for connection and meaning, she turned to ancestral veneration and spiritual practices, shaping a sense of personhood beyond the confines of racist and colonized ideologies. This journey rekindled her passion for art, particularly oil and acrylic painting, where she creates abstract self-portraits and pieces reflecting nature and Black female identity. Her mixed media work uniquely incorporates repurposed objects such as pennies, erasers, seashells, magazine clippings, mirrors, and cotton, adding depth and texture to her creations.

Faith’s work explores the profound connections between art, nature, and mediumship, facilitating communication between people, places, experiences, and emotions. She is developing a curriculum that employs creativity and nature as pedagogical tools to enhance well-being, boost self-esteem, and build cohesive communities that celebrate both similarities and differences. Central to her art are themes of how we embody our environments and relate to nature. She interrogates how everyday materials can transcend their conventional uses, reflecting the status of marginalized and empowered individuals alike. Through her art, Faith seeks to evoke in both the creator and the viewer a sense of the body, mind, and spirit as simultaneously abstract and concrete entities.

One of her notable initiatives, HeartSpace, originated from a desire to reconnect with ancestral ties to nature, particularly for Legacy African Americans, women of color, and youth. Additionally, Faith has developed a creative-driven substance use prevention program targeting adolescents, aimed at fostering learning and active participation. This project has been instrumental in the establishment of ArtWurx, an innovative artistic peer support program at Equitas. ArtWurx serves as a platform for individuals of color to explore their creativity and ignite meaningful conversations about health and wellness.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I have to constantly unlearn the fear of being perceived. As a Black woman, there is a gendered and racial stigma of aggression and unfriendliness that has followed me from girlhood. It makes one think they’re presence is undesirable, especially when you don’t see yourself in the room, even when other people look like you. When studying abroad in Uganda and China, I saw a different side of myself that was outwardly curious, expressive, and engaging. Since then, I’ve made a commitment to be more open with others and to challenge myself to try new things which has led me to the artistic opportunities that I’ve enjoyed in the last couple years. The most reoccurring advice I receive is to be your genuine self and mediate doubt with affirmation, and you’re likelier to find alignment in a space that receives you with ease and vice versa. Easier said than done, better done than not.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing my artwork being enjoyed by others. Whether its a small flea market or my first exhibition, it’s always interesting to hear how people interpret the art and which may elicit a different kind of understanding when I look at it again. When I perform my poetry peace, I take great satisfaction from the quiet that falls on a room. I’m a thinker, and I want other people to observe intently and look inwards. It reminds me that my voice is powerful and that people want to hear the things I have to say, even when they’re deeply vulnerable or angry.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @isitrevolutionn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-lewis-058271179/

Image Credits

The two exhibition photos with the painting are credited to ©William Jones, All Rights Reserved. The rest were taken by me