Q: Your most recent exhibition took shape as a fully functioning Beauty Supply Shop at Recess Gallery. For this project, you worked with many collaborators including Paris McKenzie, an entrepreneur, and owner of Paris Beauty Supplyz, Eve Talley, a Korean language teacher, and Kiarrah Lynn Beverly, who taught the soap-making workshop.
Can you elaborate on the importance and role of collaboration in your artistic practice?
A: In creating Dana's Beauty Supply, collaboration was an essential part of the process and intent of the project. In reimagining what a beauty supply can exist as in our modern times, collaboration, solidarity, and empathy all come to mind. Supporting the community that you serve is part of that. All of the folks I worked with, Paris McKenzie, Oshane Nelson (Paris' brother and manager of Paris Beauty Supplyz), Kiarrah Lynn Beverly, Shandaza Paige (whose lashes we stocked), Eve Talley, and Sonya Harris (whose earrings we stocked), are all extremely talented individuals. I wanted to highlight that and support them and their businesses with love but also in monetary ways.