Tag: artist

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Black Women In Fashion: Work Play and Legacy At Macy’s


I recently learned about a wonderful celebration of Black Women in Fashion at Macy’s, featuring an incredible design by my friend, Evetta Petty, the owner of Harlem’s Heaven Hats. This is a magical, meaningful, glamorous, and empowering showcase of women of color’s significant contributions to fashion during Black History Month.

Her fabulous design is on display to help showcase the impactful contributions of Black trailblazing women in the fashion industry.

The window displays feature illustrations by Brooklyn based artist Ashley Buttercup and fashion Madamette X, House of Aama, BruceGlen, Kaphill, Oak & Acorn –Only The Rebelles and High Fashion Thrift, and honor groundbreaking figures who paved the way in fashion despite facing significant challenges.

I was particularly moved by the stories of influential women like Eunice Johnson, who not only broke racial barriers in media and fashion but also worked tirelessly to uplift her community.

Evetta’s hat is dedicated to Mildred Blount, a remarkable milliner famous for her stunning designs, including those for Gone With The Wind.

It’s amazing to think about the legacy of figures like Zelda Wynn Valdes, who was the first Black designer to open a boutique on Broadway, and Ophelia Devore, who was a trailblazing model and one of the first to advocate for diversity in modeling.

Ann Lowe also stands out as a designer who created elegant pieces for some of America’s most notable figures, including Jacqueline Kennedy.

Lastly, Lois K. Alexander Lane made significant contributions to fashion and community advocacy.

It’s a beautiful way to honor their achievements and remember the strength and creativity of Black women in fashion history! If you have a chance, definitely go see these window displays; they’re a true inspiration.

Divabetic returns to Philadlephia with a free diabetes outreach program in partnership with the Frazier Family. Coalition on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

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Little Bo Peep’s Lost Sheep Short Video

What happened to Little Bo Peep’s lost sheep? We’re reimagining the lives of lesser-known characters in popular nursery rhymes.

Enjoy this short about the adventures and misadventures of Little Bo Peep’s sheep. Discover where they went, what they did after leaving the farm, and Little Bo Peep’s reaction.

As someone who wandered off ‘the farm’ when I was younger, I can testify to why traveling is worthwhile. Back in the late 80s, I left Rochester, NY, and headed to a place I could barely find on a globe: Santa Cruz, CA. My journey took me to places I could have never imagined.

It was a leap into the unknown, just like those sheep. They likely roamed far beyond the grassy hills, encountering adventures and learning about the world in ways they’d never imagined.

Life, much like those sheep’s adventures, is about venturing out and finding your own path. Every journey shapes you, just as each twist and turn of their adventure shaped the sheep. It’s okay to wander off a bit, as long as you find your way back home.

In “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy’s quest to return home to Kansas highlights a central theme of identity. It’s a reminder that our sense of self is often tied to the places we cherish.

Interestingly, U.S. Census data shows Americans have moved less frequently over the decades. In 1965, more than 20% of the population changed homes. By 2000, it was just over 16%; in 2019, that number fell to under 10%.

This trend reflects a common yearning for a place to call home. Dorothy’s journey beautifully symbolizes that home isn’t just a location; it’s where we feel we truly belong.`

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Rory McEwen’s Amazing Botanical Art

Today, I saw an extraordinary exhibit called “Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature” at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, associated with the Royal Botanic Gardens.

I wanted to share a bit about Rory McEwen with you since I knew nothing about him before heading into the museum. He was a musician who became one of the most influential botanical artists of the 20th century. Sadly, Rory’s life was cut short when he took his own life at the age of 50 after being diagnosed with cancer.

Rory’s work blew me away. His botanical artwork is incredibly detailed and colorful; seeing it in person was a mind-blowing experience. Rory developed a unique painting style on vellum and used large empty backgrounds on which his plant portraits seemed to float.

His work is showcased in this exhibition alongside the works of master botanical artists from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

“I paint flowers as a way of getting as close as possible to what I perceive as the truth, my truth of the time in which I live,” said Rory McEwen.

He is recognized as one of the standard-bearers of today’s renaissance in botanical painting and has had a lasting impact on the world of botanical art.

Here’s a short film about Rory McEwen, spotlighting his musical and artistic talents. Between 1956 and 1965, Rory McEwen was best known as a guitarist and singer, and performed at venues across the country, including the Edinburgh Festival, the Keele Folk Festival and the Festival Hall, where the demand for tickets was so high that extra rows of chairs had to be put on the stage.

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