Tamara DeSilva… is an artist by trade and an art and cultural studies scholar by practice. In 1998 she earned my BFA and in 2006 I completed my MA in Art History and Archaeology. After two visits to Africa and completing her degrees it was imperative to work in education no matter my place of dwelling. This is part of the goal to create a bridge, mental and realistic, for youth to visit the world especially the many cultures of Africa.
The Art is in the process
Tamara believes we can interact with Art on the intellectual level. Also interacting within a group’s creative process is Art. Simply put she became an art teacher and practices different levels of art within a group regularly. Art facilitator. Cooperative painter. These titleʼs have crept up on her. Tamara has helped so many people make time for art, and to express themselves and their ideas. Finally, now she havs started creating a balance between her art, and her instruction.
The newest pieces are forming now! Tamara’s most up and coming is a painted mural. This acrylic painting is in the final stages of completion. It is one painted 5ʼ x 5ʼ canvas and three interior walls of The D.C. Developing Families Health and Birth Center. The scenes painted directly on the walls are in the new childrenʼs are of the waiting room. They are a nature scene with birds and other such animals as well as an expansive sky. Family activities. The painting intentionally creates a serene place for anybody visiting the Center. The one canvas is off-set for the many ages of the regular visitors; this canvas depicts the Black mother breastfeeding her new born child. In the paintings you can find symbols from several cultures. Reflecting the high value we have as individuals to mimic and teach our culture. The inclusion of Adinkra Symbols from West Africa and some Native American symbols are decorative as well as educational.
During the past few years Tamara has worked two dimensionally, with mixed media. Most often she starts with a water color background and then apply pastel work and pencil drawing. This work is somewhat expressionist and airs on the side of abstract. At times she works on realistic figures, while some figures are stretched and mimic organic shapes. Some of my most personal passion is put in her clay work and have been teaching this, ceramics, primarily, in this medium for several years. In her portfolio are abstract sculptures, some of them she visits the expressiveness that lives in anger and the releasing of that anger. Currently she is working on a series of ceramic pitchers. This work is developing and it addresses the crisis that is the lack of clean water ways Africa. This project is to draw attention to the spiritual connection all life has to water and the absolute need we have for it in order for us to survive. The pitchers call attention to vessels that help us nurture and serve one another. All the coalitions working to keep and sustain natural reservoirs are thanked. The pitchers are oversized, some two feet tall and others more round holding more than a quart.
To commision Tamara or purchase clay work contact her here at The I On Temple.
Photo’s comming soon.
