rEvolutions

-An Evolution

This post has been in drafts since I shared the last one (which I didn’t email so you might have missed!) but last week’s household drama (more on that some other time!) stopped me from sharing it when planned.

I also wanted to add audio to it but unfortunately I’m an emotional wreck right now and as a result my voice is a croaky mess. I can’t see a point in the near future when it won’t be, so rather than hold it up any longer, I give you the story of the rEvolutions logo…

Back in November (2022), my friend Sofia shared with me about some work that she is doing to learn about various social justice issues, including joining a feminist group who host an event called ‘draw with us’. People take turns to bring a peice of art and describe it, unseen, to the group The group draw it from the description, before viewing and comparing with the original. Sofia asked if she could share one of my images in the group, and also if I could write a description as she didn’t think her English was up to the job.

I was honoured to be asked but immediately went into a panic about choosing an image, as that is the kind of decision my brain hates! It was agreed that Sofia could choose any image from my website or Instagram (that I had created) and I would write the description. I thoroughly disagreed with her reasoning but was happy to oblige as it seemed like it would be a fun thing to do and she asked so nicely!

When Sofia got back to me with her choice of image I was a little surprised as it is so far away from my ususal style, but also glad because it would give me an oppurtunity to explain the process behind this logo that I had created specifically for this publication.

The image shows the head and shoulders, right facing-profile, silhouette of a black woman with a mid-length afro.

The background is various shades and intensities of blues, purples, pinks and orange which radiate from a point behind the head of the silhouette like a galactic paint burst.

Overlaying the silhouette are two repeating elements:

The first- a rainbow ring, blurred at the back (left) third sits within the head. A larger less colour intense version of the same ring skims the tips of the afro to the top of the image and intersects at the shoulder and décolletage at the bottom. The rings echo the ripple effect of created by the background.

The second element comprises two diagonal lines of white hearts of various (small) sizes and opacity. The lines both run from bottom right to top left and overlap in the middle of the head (and inner rainbow circle) to create one longer line, from the back of the head to just below the mouth.

I created the image in Adobe Express whilst having a play to see what features it had, and how to use them after learning about it at Adobe Max.The photograph which forms the basis of the image (my silhouette) is one of several early self-portraits that I took in the summer of 2020, as part of my project on racial identity, ‘Coconut-Oreo-Bounty’. It has been my Instagram profile picture since then and is also my creative logo, and watermark. Even though I now wear my hair cropped short, I still feel that this image represents me well, but now- over two years later, I decided to add some new elements to create a logo for this space.

I wanted to illustrate the multitudes within me and how they interact with the multitudes without, to form connections and create ripples in consciousness towards positive change. I hope that this space will help me to reconnect with my sense of self and cement my belief in the value of connection and creativity for collective growth.

I wanted this new logo to symbolise that, and help to draw near others who share these values to this community. I hope that it will also serve as a reminder to me (and all of us) of the futility of attempting to place restrictions upon what is limitless both within, and between us.

Expand the circle- Tell a friend!

I’d love to hear your thoughts the in the comments. Are we vibing? Are you ready for the rEvolution?! Oh, and speaking of limitless… I’ve decided that limiting myself to monthly emails defeats the object of this platform- Hopefully you won’t get sick of me!

             Love,

                              Emma

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