A year ago I installed this piece on Vashon Island for the Vashon Center of the Arts.
Abolition is… is outdoors on the Breezeway of the center’s building. Every car that passes by must reckon with the concept of abolition. Ask themselves what Abolition is to them.
Since it’s installation, the center has programmed dozens of convos and art projects around this piece.
I am grateful for art and I’m grateful for abolition.
Abolition is… Saying yes to our imagination and prioritizing care versus punishment. What does it mean to build out care as a model towards interpersonal relationships but also as a model to build our institutions?
I am thinking about the global harm happening right now. From Gaza, to Sudan, to the Congo, Iran. The harm happening right here in the U.S.
And then I’m thinking about our movements that are tasked in transforming that harm, and how often we replicate the harm that has been enacted on us.
What will it take to build abolition in our daily practice? To be accountable first? To hold space for the harmed and the harmers? So that we can transform conditions and behavior to build anew.
I want to thank @_heyywonton and the abolition dream lab that has asked me these questions over the last 3 years.
Let’s practice together. Our lives depend on it.
#abolitionis
Abolitionist Meditation, Imagination Practice
We spent the evening for a collective care moment with @theslowfactory sharing #AbolitionistMeditations – being in community and just giving space to our healing.
This innovative meditation series is one of the ways I am offering myself and the community more spaciousness to dream into a collective imagination aimed towards abolition. It’s possible if we imagine it so.
Soundscape by: @collisbrowne
🎥 @kingavriel
Whenever I’m in deep grief or need to remind myself where I come from I pray to the orisha. This past month has been an exercise in holding grief while taking action. This is an exercise I’m deeply experienced in.
I don’t find it coincidental that last weekend was the opening of @fowlermuseum The House Was Too Small exhibition. My work ‘Free Us’ is featured and up until June 2nd. It’s an opportunity for the world to not only experience the objects of Yorubaland but also bear witness to the way our people pray. The way we hold grief. The way we activate resistance.
When I say there was an entire village who helped build out this body of work of mine, it took an entire village.
My ancestors and Olodumare. The entire orisha pantheon.
Dafa, odu, and ebo.
I want to thank the entire @fowlermuseum team and especially Erica Jones the curator of African arts for being some of the best people to work with.
Thank you @maxwelladdae and @samchatterjee for the beautiful visual short you brought to life.
Thank you @whitneyskauge for capturing all the BTS for the stunning images you saw and witnessed and shared with all of us.
Thank you @kutula for being my ace in all of this performance work. For fabricating and co designing these beautiful crowns for Oya, Obatala, Oshun and Yemaya.
Thank you to @_twiintowers_ for the beautiful and epic soundscape you created for the altar room.
Thank you @metabolicstudio for supporting this exhibition!
Thank you to the gorgeous and powerful #BlackFemmes who walked with me. A mindfulness moment to hold the space for us all. The way Black women do.
@kingavriel
@beingxiana
@cindybonaparte
@liliana.jeanine
@ladyblake23
@autumnbreon
@luxngrace
Thank you @norblacknorwhite and @mayameyershop for our opening ritual garments for Ori Whispers.
Thank you @nyasha_bm and @nurturednaturalhair for the care around our Ori. Your magic hands were felt.
And thank you to our hair sponsor @rebundle.co.
This space is a sacred space for all to receive the kind of love and care we all deserve. Come and be present for yourselves and the orisha. Give space to challenge Christian Supremacy. Ashe ooooo
Whenever I’m in deep grief or need to remind myself where I come from I pray to the orisha. This past month has been an exercise in holding grief while taking action. This is an exercise I’m deeply experienced in.
I don’t find it coincidental that last weekend was the opening of @fowlermuseum The House Was Too Small exhibition. My work ‘Free Us’ is featured and up until June 2nd. It’s an opportunity for the world to not only experience the objects of Yorubaland but also bear witness to the way our people pray. The way we hold grief. The way we activate resistance.
When I say there was an entire village who helped build out this body of work of mine, it took an entire village.
My ancestors and Olodumare. The entire orisha pantheon.
Dafa, odu, and ebo.
I want to thank the entire @fowlermuseum team and especially Erica Jones the curator of African arts for being some of the best people to work with.
Thank you @maxwelladdae and @samchatterjee for the beautiful visual short you brought to life.
Thank you @whitneyskauge for capturing all the BTS for the stunning images you saw and witnessed and shared with all of us.
Thank you @kutula for being my ace in all of this performance work. For fabricating and co designing these beautiful crowns for Oya, Obatala, Oshun and Yemaya.
Thank you to @_twiintowers_ for the beautiful and epic soundscape you created for the altar room.
Thank you @metabolicstudio for supporting this exhibition!
Thank you to the gorgeous and powerful #BlackFemmes who walked with me. A mindfulness moment to hold the space for us all. The way Black women do.
@kingavriel
@beingxiana
@cindybonaparte
@liliana.jeanine
@ladyblake23
@autumnbreon
@luxngrace
Thank you @norblacknorwhite and @mayameyershop for our opening ritual garments for Ori Whispers.
Thank you @nyasha_bm and @nurturednaturalhair for the care around our Ori. Your magic hands were felt.
And thank you to our hair sponsor @rebundle.co.
This space is a sacred space for all to receive the kind of love and care we all deserve. Come and be present for yourselves and the orisha. Give space to challenge Christian Supremacy. Ashe ooooo
Whenever I’m in deep grief or need to remind myself where I come from I pray to the orisha. This past month has been an exercise in holding grief while taking action. This is an exercise I’m deeply experienced in.
I don’t find it coincidental that last weekend was the opening of @fowlermuseum The House Was Too Small exhibition. My work ‘Free Us’ is featured and up until June 2nd. It’s an opportunity for the world to not only experience the objects of Yorubaland but also bear witness to the way our people pray. The way we hold grief. The way we activate resistance.
When I say there was an entire village who helped build out this body of work of mine, it took an entire village.
My ancestors and Olodumare. The entire orisha pantheon.
Dafa, odu, and ebo.
I want to thank the entire @fowlermuseum team and especially Erica Jones the curator of African arts for being some of the best people to work with.
Thank you @maxwelladdae and @samchatterjee for the beautiful visual short you brought to life.
Thank you @whitneyskauge for capturing all the BTS for the stunning images you saw and witnessed and shared with all of us.
Thank you @kutula for being my ace in all of this performance work. For fabricating and co designing these beautiful crowns for Oya, Obatala, Oshun and Yemaya.
Thank you to @_twiintowers_ for the beautiful and epic soundscape you created for the altar room.
Thank you @metabolicstudio for supporting this exhibition!
Thank you to the gorgeous and powerful #BlackFemmes who walked with me. A mindfulness moment to hold the space for us all. The way Black women do.
@kingavriel
@beingxiana
@cindybonaparte
@liliana.jeanine
@ladyblake23
@autumnbreon
@luxngrace
Thank you @norblacknorwhite and @mayameyershop for our opening ritual garments for Ori Whispers.
Thank you @nyasha_bm and @nurturednaturalhair for the care around our Ori. Your magic hands were felt.
And thank you to our hair sponsor @rebundle.co.
This space is a sacred space for all to receive the kind of love and care we all deserve. Come and be present for yourselves and the orisha. Give space to challenge Christian Supremacy. Ashe ooooo
Whenever I’m in deep grief or need to remind myself where I come from I pray to the orisha. This past month has been an exercise in holding grief while taking action. This is an exercise I’m deeply experienced in.
I don’t find it coincidental that last weekend was the opening of @fowlermuseum The House Was Too Small exhibition. My work ‘Free Us’ is featured and up until June 2nd. It’s an opportunity for the world to not only experience the objects of Yorubaland but also bear witness to the way our people pray. The way we hold grief. The way we activate resistance.
When I say there was an entire village who helped build out this body of work of mine, it took an entire village.
My ancestors and Olodumare. The entire orisha pantheon.
Dafa, odu, and ebo.
I want to thank the entire @fowlermuseum team and especially Erica Jones the curator of African arts for being some of the best people to work with.
Thank you @maxwelladdae and @samchatterjee for the beautiful visual short you brought to life.
Thank you @whitneyskauge for capturing all the BTS for the stunning images you saw and witnessed and shared with all of us.
Thank you @kutula for being my ace in all of this performance work. For fabricating and co designing these beautiful crowns for Oya, Obatala, Oshun and Yemaya.
Thank you to @_twiintowers_ for the beautiful and epic soundscape you created for the altar room.
Thank you @metabolicstudio for supporting this exhibition!
Thank you to the gorgeous and powerful #BlackFemmes who walked with me. A mindfulness moment to hold the space for us all. The way Black women do.
@kingavriel
@beingxiana
@cindybonaparte
@liliana.jeanine
@ladyblake23
@autumnbreon
@luxngrace
Thank you @norblacknorwhite and @mayameyershop for our opening ritual garments for Ori Whispers.
Thank you @nyasha_bm and @nurturednaturalhair for the care around our Ori. Your magic hands were felt.
And thank you to our hair sponsor @rebundle.co.
This space is a sacred space for all to receive the kind of love and care we all deserve. Come and be present for yourselves and the orisha. Give space to challenge Christian Supremacy. Ashe ooooo
Whenever I’m in deep grief or need to remind myself where I come from I pray to the orisha. This past month has been an exercise in holding grief while taking action. This is an exercise I’m deeply experienced in.
I don’t find it coincidental that last weekend was the opening of @fowlermuseum The House Was Too Small exhibition. My work ‘Free Us’ is featured and up until June 2nd. It’s an opportunity for the world to not only experience the objects of Yorubaland but also bear witness to the way our people pray. The way we hold grief. The way we activate resistance.
When I say there was an entire village who helped build out this body of work of mine, it took an entire village.
My ancestors and Olodumare. The entire orisha pantheon.
Dafa, odu, and ebo.
I want to thank the entire @fowlermuseum team and especially Erica Jones the curator of African arts for being some of the best people to work with.
Thank you @maxwelladdae and @samchatterjee for the beautiful visual short you brought to life.
Thank you @whitneyskauge for capturing all the BTS for the stunning images you saw and witnessed and shared with all of us.
Thank you @kutula for being my ace in all of this performance work. For fabricating and co designing these beautiful crowns for Oya, Obatala, Oshun and Yemaya.
Thank you to @_twiintowers_ for the beautiful and epic soundscape you created for the altar room.
Thank you @metabolicstudio for supporting this exhibition!
Thank you to the gorgeous and powerful #BlackFemmes who walked with me. A mindfulness moment to hold the space for us all. The way Black women do.
@kingavriel
@beingxiana
@cindybonaparte
@liliana.jeanine
@ladyblake23
@autumnbreon
@luxngrace
Thank you @norblacknorwhite and @mayameyershop for our opening ritual garments for Ori Whispers.
Thank you @nyasha_bm and @nurturednaturalhair for the care around our Ori. Your magic hands were felt.
And thank you to our hair sponsor @rebundle.co.
This space is a sacred space for all to receive the kind of love and care we all deserve. Come and be present for yourselves and the orisha. Give space to challenge Christian Supremacy. Ashe ooooo
Whenever I’m in deep grief or need to remind myself where I come from I pray to the orisha. This past month has been an exercise in holding grief while taking action. This is an exercise I’m deeply experienced in.
I don’t find it coincidental that last weekend was the opening of @fowlermuseum The House Was Too Small exhibition. My work ‘Free Us’ is featured and up until June 2nd. It’s an opportunity for the world to not only experience the objects of Yorubaland but also bear witness to the way our people pray. The way we hold grief. The way we activate resistance.
When I say there was an entire village who helped build out this body of work of mine, it took an entire village.
My ancestors and Olodumare. The entire orisha pantheon.
Dafa, odu, and ebo.
I want to thank the entire @fowlermuseum team and especially Erica Jones the curator of African arts for being some of the best people to work with.
Thank you @maxwelladdae and @samchatterjee for the beautiful visual short you brought to life.
Thank you @whitneyskauge for capturing all the BTS for the stunning images you saw and witnessed and shared with all of us.
Thank you @kutula for being my ace in all of this performance work. For fabricating and co designing these beautiful crowns for Oya, Obatala, Oshun and Yemaya.
Thank you to @_twiintowers_ for the beautiful and epic soundscape you created for the altar room.
Thank you @metabolicstudio for supporting this exhibition!
Thank you to the gorgeous and powerful #BlackFemmes who walked with me. A mindfulness moment to hold the space for us all. The way Black women do.
@kingavriel
@beingxiana
@cindybonaparte
@liliana.jeanine
@ladyblake23
@autumnbreon
@luxngrace
Thank you @norblacknorwhite and @mayameyershop for our opening ritual garments for Ori Whispers.
Thank you @nyasha_bm and @nurturednaturalhair for the care around our Ori. Your magic hands were felt.
And thank you to our hair sponsor @rebundle.co.
This space is a sacred space for all to receive the kind of love and care we all deserve. Come and be present for yourselves and the orisha. Give space to challenge Christian Supremacy. Ashe ooooo
Whenever I’m in deep grief or need to remind myself where I come from I pray to the orisha. This past month has been an exercise in holding grief while taking action. This is an exercise I’m deeply experienced in.
I don’t find it coincidental that last weekend was the opening of @fowlermuseum The House Was Too Small exhibition. My work ‘Free Us’ is featured and up until June 2nd. It’s an opportunity for the world to not only experience the objects of Yorubaland but also bear witness to the way our people pray. The way we hold grief. The way we activate resistance.
When I say there was an entire village who helped build out this body of work of mine, it took an entire village.
My ancestors and Olodumare. The entire orisha pantheon.
Dafa, odu, and ebo.
I want to thank the entire @fowlermuseum team and especially Erica Jones the curator of African arts for being some of the best people to work with.
Thank you @maxwelladdae and @samchatterjee for the beautiful visual short you brought to life.
Thank you @whitneyskauge for capturing all the BTS for the stunning images you saw and witnessed and shared with all of us.
Thank you @kutula for being my ace in all of this performance work. For fabricating and co designing these beautiful crowns for Oya, Obatala, Oshun and Yemaya.
Thank you to @_twiintowers_ for the beautiful and epic soundscape you created for the altar room.
Thank you @metabolicstudio for supporting this exhibition!
Thank you to the gorgeous and powerful #BlackFemmes who walked with me. A mindfulness moment to hold the space for us all. The way Black women do.
@kingavriel
@beingxiana
@cindybonaparte
@liliana.jeanine
@ladyblake23
@autumnbreon
@luxngrace
Thank you @norblacknorwhite and @mayameyershop for our opening ritual garments for Ori Whispers.
Thank you @nyasha_bm and @nurturednaturalhair for the care around our Ori. Your magic hands were felt.
And thank you to our hair sponsor @rebundle.co.
This space is a sacred space for all to receive the kind of love and care we all deserve. Come and be present for yourselves and the orisha. Give space to challenge Christian Supremacy. Ashe ooooo
Whenever I’m in deep grief or need to remind myself where I come from I pray to the orisha. This past month has been an exercise in holding grief while taking action. This is an exercise I’m deeply experienced in.
I don’t find it coincidental that last weekend was the opening of @fowlermuseum The House Was Too Small exhibition. My work ‘Free Us’ is featured and up until June 2nd. It’s an opportunity for the world to not only experience the objects of Yorubaland but also bear witness to the way our people pray. The way we hold grief. The way we activate resistance.
When I say there was an entire village who helped build out this body of work of mine, it took an entire village.
My ancestors and Olodumare. The entire orisha pantheon.
Dafa, odu, and ebo.
I want to thank the entire @fowlermuseum team and especially Erica Jones the curator of African arts for being some of the best people to work with.
Thank you @maxwelladdae and @samchatterjee for the beautiful visual short you brought to life.
Thank you @whitneyskauge for capturing all the BTS for the stunning images you saw and witnessed and shared with all of us.
Thank you @kutula for being my ace in all of this performance work. For fabricating and co designing these beautiful crowns for Oya, Obatala, Oshun and Yemaya.
Thank you to @_twiintowers_ for the beautiful and epic soundscape you created for the altar room.
Thank you @metabolicstudio for supporting this exhibition!
Thank you to the gorgeous and powerful #BlackFemmes who walked with me. A mindfulness moment to hold the space for us all. The way Black women do.
@kingavriel
@beingxiana
@cindybonaparte
@liliana.jeanine
@ladyblake23
@autumnbreon
@luxngrace
Thank you @norblacknorwhite and @mayameyershop for our opening ritual garments for Ori Whispers.
Thank you @nyasha_bm and @nurturednaturalhair for the care around our Ori. Your magic hands were felt.
And thank you to our hair sponsor @rebundle.co.
This space is a sacred space for all to receive the kind of love and care we all deserve. Come and be present for yourselves and the orisha. Give space to challenge Christian Supremacy. Ashe ooooo
Abolitionist Meditations, Nature’s Embrace
On this last day of #BlackFuturesMonth I offer a meditation to ground us in our collective strength and to be reminded of nature’s endurance.
As we continue to witness the starving of human beings in Gaza. As we witness the depravity of human beings. As we witness the dehumanization of peoples. We must resist the urge to dehumanize. We have to be in a practice that is a reflection of what is possible.
This meditation series is disrupting the algorithm and asking us all to sit with our grief, pain and suffering and transmute it into action, right action. Transmute it into courage and compassion and care.
This isn’t about a lack of accountability. We must hold them all accountable for the atrocities. But we have to transmute the rage. I know this because I’ve had to do it over and over again.
Sit with this meditation. And hold space for yourself, for the collective and all living beings.
“Abolitionist Meditations” is an innovative meditation series developed by Patrisse Cullors, artist/abolitionist and co produced by Avriel Epps artist/scholar. This thought-provoking series uniquely combines elements of imagination, healing, and transformation. Cullors and Epps utilize meditative practices as a vehicle to promote a deeper understanding of abolitionist principles, fostering a mental and emotional shift towards a world that is centered in care. The series emphasizes self-awareness and introspection as tools for not only personal growth, but also for societal change, underlining the power of individual and collective healing in the pursuit of transformation. It encourages participants to imagine a world free from violence and harm and to actively work towards a vision, integrating transformative ideals into their daily lives.
Thank you @edgar_three for being such a grounding mentor and believing in @calmatetupedo and I’s work. Today’s walk through discussion gave me more perspective. Gave me more agency, and reminded me that this work we are doing is a re – membering of what was and is.
This is the final week of our show, Freedom Portals. Would love to have you.
Best,
Tree
P.s. I love @alexandrealirezadorriz and @calmatetupedo so much. Thank you for seeing me.
Thank you @edgar_three for being such a grounding mentor and believing in @calmatetupedo and I’s work. Today’s walk through discussion gave me more perspective. Gave me more agency, and reminded me that this work we are doing is a re – membering of what was and is.
This is the final week of our show, Freedom Portals. Would love to have you.
Best,
Tree
P.s. I love @alexandrealirezadorriz and @calmatetupedo so much. Thank you for seeing me.
Thank you @edgar_three for being such a grounding mentor and believing in @calmatetupedo and I’s work. Today’s walk through discussion gave me more perspective. Gave me more agency, and reminded me that this work we are doing is a re – membering of what was and is.
This is the final week of our show, Freedom Portals. Would love to have you.
Best,
Tree
P.s. I love @alexandrealirezadorriz and @calmatetupedo so much. Thank you for seeing me.
Thank you @edgar_three for being such a grounding mentor and believing in @calmatetupedo and I’s work. Today’s walk through discussion gave me more perspective. Gave me more agency, and reminded me that this work we are doing is a re – membering of what was and is.
This is the final week of our show, Freedom Portals. Would love to have you.
Best,
Tree
P.s. I love @alexandrealirezadorriz and @calmatetupedo so much. Thank you for seeing me.
Thank you @edgar_three for being such a grounding mentor and believing in @calmatetupedo and I’s work. Today’s walk through discussion gave me more perspective. Gave me more agency, and reminded me that this work we are doing is a re – membering of what was and is.
This is the final week of our show, Freedom Portals. Would love to have you.
Best,
Tree
P.s. I love @alexandrealirezadorriz and @calmatetupedo so much. Thank you for seeing me.
Welcome to Artist 2 Artist! A new ig live series we’ve launched to celebrate and support the artist who are living out loud and doing amazing work in the world. We will be here monthly! So excited to be in community with some of my faves!
@mybrownbaby has a new book out! One Blood, check it out on all platforms!!
#Artist2Artist #AbolitionistAesthetics
Exciting news, art enthusiasts! 🎨 We’re thrilled to launch our “Artist 2 Artist” series on IG Live, where inspiring new artists engage in conversation and collaboration! This is your exclusive pass to explore fresh, innovative talent and witness the magic that happens when creative minds unite.
Each episode promises unique insights, captivating art, and a celebration of the transformative power of creativity. Save the date, follow us, and immerse yourself in a world where art speaks, connects, and captivates! #Artist2Artist #AbolitionistAesthetics 🌟
The first artist I’ll be in conversation with is @mybrownbaby who JUST dropped a novel, One Blood, out in all bookstores and online platforms. It’s a gorgeous read and it deserves all the love.
We will be meeting at 5pm est/2pm pst, October 5th. Can’t wait to hang with the team.
Many of us in LA county are abolitionist. Some of us even made sure we prioritized Abolition as we stopped the building of a 3.5 billion dollar jail.
We are in a deep moment of global crisis. We have the opportunity to deepen our practice and envision a world where community safety doesn’t include police, prisons and militarism.
We get to imagine freedom as an act of peace and care and love and connection.
How are you imagining global abolition? Does it include ALL living beings?
Stretch your imagination muscles. We must. We must. We must. #abolitionis
Announcement 📣
Let’s #resetthealgorithim through art and culture.
@lunaluna and @lumit
Very excited to bring #Artist2Artist to the @resetthealgorithm platform. I believe these are the times we need art the most.
Next episode out on 3/5!
Artist 2 Artist episode 2!
Welcome back to the latest “Artist 2 Artist” series on IG Live, where inspiring new artists engage in conversation and collaboration! This is your exclusive pass to explore fresh, innovative talent and witness the magic that happens when creative minds unite.
Each episode promises unique insights, captivating art, and a celebration of the transformative power of creativity. Save the date, follow us, and immerse yourself in a world where art speaks, connects, and captivates! #Artist2Artist #AbolitionistAesthetics 🌟
Thank you @bybmoore for such an authentic and healing conversation. You are a true gem.
👀
Let’s go!!!
Abolitionist Meditations, Nature’s Embrace
“Abolitionist Meditations” is an innovative meditation series developed by Patrisse Cullors, artist/abolitionist and co produced by Avriel Epps artist/scholar. This thought-provoking series uniquely combines elements of imagination, healing, and transformation. Cullors and Epps utilize meditative practices as a vehicle to promote a deeper understanding of abolitionist principles, fostering a mental and emotional shift towards a world that is centered in care. The series emphasizes self-awareness and introspection as tools for not only personal growth, but also for societal change, underlining the power of individual and collective healing in the pursuit of transformation. It encourages participants to imagine a world free from violence and harm and to actively work towards a vision, integrating transformative ideals into their daily lives.