The Art of Self Love

Event Title: The Art of Self Love Workshop

Date: November 9, 2024

Time: 2pm - 5pm

Facilitated by: Nia Simone Lane with support from Black in Mayberry

Join us for The Art of Self Love, a transformative workshop designed to empower participants to embrace and celebrate their Afrocentric features while building a sense of vulnerability and community. Developed by Nia Simone Lane, this intimate session uses the power of self-portraiture to challenge conventional beauty standards and explore self-expression.

Finding Love for Afrocentric Features through Art:

In this workshop, we’ll delve into the complexities of self-esteem and the impact of societal pressures on Black identity. Through guided activities and open discussions, participants will have the opportunity to break down barriers, confront insecurities, and reclaim their narrative of self-love.

Nia Simone Lane:

Nia Simone Lane is a visual artist, whose work delves into the expansive spectrum of Black womanhood and inner-city life. Nia's paintings explore themes of identity, beauty, depression, womanhood, and the multifaceted realities of Black people, particularly Black women. Her goal is to create more than just aesthetically pleasing work; she strives to foster empathy and initiate deeper conversations. Drawing from personal vulnerability, her art reflects her lived experiences and those of loved ones, offering an intimate portrayal of the complex emotional landscapes that shape Black life.

In this workshop Nia shares her personal journey of growing up in Compton and moving to Ohio, where she discovered how both communities projected different types of strength while hiding similar vulnerabilities. This workshop is a space to peel back those layers and allow ourselves to be fully human—strong, yet vulnerable.

Artist Statement:

"I created this workshop because I feel that insecurity and vulnerability are often missing from conversations within the Black community. Coming from a family in Compton, my parents always projected toughness, embodying that "hood" mentality of never showing weakness. But when I moved to Ohio and was around middle-class, well-off Black people, they projected confidence instead. Despite the differences, both groups had something in common: we all kept ourselves in shells.

As I grew older, I realized that many of the issues in the Black community are deeply rooted in low self-esteem. Personally, I’ve struggled with this in the past, and I see how the “strong, confident Black person” stereotype has done a disservice to us. It doesn’t allow us to be fully human. We hide our insecurities, which go unaddressed, and eventually, we project them in unhealthy ways. This workshop is meant to be a safe space to address and explore the things we try to push away because healing starts when we confront the things we don’t like about ourselves. I want to encourage participants to confront their insecurities and speak against them." - Nia Simone Lane

Come ready to reflect, create, and embrace your authentic self in this empowering and supportive environment.

This workshop is for anyone looking to embark on a journey of self-love and self-discovery. All materials will be provided.

Black in Mayberry invites you all to join us in this healing experience. Let’s transform together.


Registration:

The event is free, but donations are welcome to support our ongoing efforts in art based education and community empowerment.


Location:

The location will be provided after registration.


Art Materials:

All art materials are provided. Please wear clothing that you don't mind getting paint on.

Contact Us:

For any questions or more information, please email us at support@blackinmayberry.org

Hosted by:

Black in Mayberry
www.blackinmayberry.org

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