We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rhonda ‘ Shakur’s Carter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rhonda ‘ Shakur’s thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Arizona’s Children’s Center for foster children. I was a foster child a couple of times. I was asked to paint design a mural that parents who visited their children there and volunteers could paint and participate in.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve always drawn since crayons where six in a pack for ten cents. I the 1990’s I noticed they’re weren’t many puzzles w people of color, so I decided to make my own As I leaned to become better with scroll saw I became more interested in making scenes in wood. Started getting invited to exhibits and ofen was told those pieces were something many had never seen. I was so very excited. Basically I’m a freelance artist, but my biggest joy was when the Atlanta library took in two of my pieces into they’re permanent collections as well as ASU here in the AZ in the post office and nursing school. I think my favorite sellers were the portrait puzzles I made for gifts.i love working with wood, cutting, smelling,and sanding it. Designing and putting all the pieces together to make a scene.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Was let out of foster care at 18 with a one week voucher on skid row in los Angeles. During that week I looked for a job, while waiting for an interview, I was sketching, a guy approached me after he heard me tell the receptionist I had no address, homeless. He offered me a place to stay, of course I looked at him like he was crazy! He explained it would be with his sister so I agreed. Scared and thankful! Not having a job yet, I would take the bus to the Baldwin Hills area and go from door to door to sell my sketches well into the night…

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

A short clip on PBS shown on YouTube, article in Valencia, CA, Google , New Times magy and a few other small articles

Contact Info:

• Website: shakurs_artiistry.com
• Instagram: srukahs
• Facebook: Shakurs Artistry

Image Credits

Rhonda ‘Shakur’ Carter