The best memories have been with you. You have always said I did a good job raising you. But in reality, you raised me. You taught me patience, understanding, communication, and how to give and receive love. You have been such an incredible support to me since we were little girls. All the deep conversations, sitting on the roof on warm evenings, listening to R&B til the wee hours of the morning, and renting videos on the weekends are only a fraction of the fond memories of our sisterhood. How beautiful to see you become the extraordinary woman I always knew you would be and the most awesome mother. Never ever forget how special and amazing you are, my dearest Mel. Happy birthday, Sis. Cheers to many many more birthdays! Love you. Always. ✨💖✨
I remember first sitting down with @spikeleila at @kalaartinstitute last year and blown away by her multifaceted practice. Moreover, she somehow, magically, is able to use various media and complement one with the other. Not a simple task. It takes a strong command and precision to wield a multitude of skills (on their own, each is already tough to master).
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Super excited about this show. So, I suggest you pay the @growlerysf a visit this Saturday. It will be 🔥#leilaweefur 🔊➕💦
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Also, here’s Leila’s impressive bio...
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Leila Weefur lives and works in Oakland, CA. Weefur received her MFA from Mills College in 2016. She uses video and printmaking to investigate the phenomenology of Blackness. With materials and visual gestures that access the tactile memory she explores the abject, the sensual and the nuance found in the social interactions and language with which our bodies have to negotiate space. She is a recipient of the Hung Liu award, the Murphy & Cadogan award, and recently completed an artist fellowship at Kala Art Institute. Weefur has exhibited her work in local and national galleries including Southern Exposure and SOMArts Gallery in San Francisco, Betti Ono in Oakland, and Smack Mellon in Brooklyn, New York. She is the Audio and Video, Editor In Chief at Art Practical and the Creative Director and co-curator of The Black Aesthetic.
I’m not sure my mom will remember this memory, but it’s one that always comes to mind when I think of my mother’s love for me. When I was in grammar school, I got teased by a couple of boys incessantly. One of the boys in my class said I had shit on my face, repeatedly. He was talking about my birthmarks. That day, after school, when I got home, I tried to scratch the moles off my face. I actually started to bleed. My mom came home, tired from work. And the look on her face as she saw what I had done was one of extreme sadness. She cleaned me up and asked, why did you do this? She wasn’t angry or upset, just insanely concerned. I didn’t know what to say. I was so hurt and ashamed. She reassured me how beautiful I was and how those marks are extra special because they’re a part of me.
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She has always been there to soothe me. To hold me when someone has broken my heart. She watches my presentations when she is able to be present. She reads the things I write. She donates to all of the orgs and projects I get myself into. She never ceases to amaze me with her generosity, wit, brilliance, beauty, and ingenuity. She could fix ANYTHING when I was a little girl and she remains the one person in my life that has NEVER ever ever broken my heart. I say this ALL the time. She is a lover of Love. She is patient, kind, compassionate, and understanding. And even when she doesn’t understand or we disagree...she is ALWAYS willing to listen, understand, and be present for me. I cry, sometimes, when I think of how much she has done for me and our family. And she has never EVER made me feel like I was a burden. If anything, she is one of the people that makes me feel so so special. Like, I can do and be anything. And there are FEW people I can actually say that make me feel like I shine bright and feel special. Everyday, I try my best to be even a fraction of what you are. I love you @dulcesantos152 Thank you isn’t even enough. I love you isn’t even sufficient. Happy Mother’s Day! ✨♥️✨
I’ve hiked around here and always wondered what went on in the buildings!
Sorry I’m only responding now! It is a great place and hoping to apply for a writing residency after I’m done with school. 🙂