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Unveiling the Inner Artist: InterArts Cabinet of Curiosity

Dionne Hardy

Dionne Hardy is a 19-year-old visual artist from Atlanta, Georgia. She classifies herself as a visual artist, but she dibbles and dabbles in many different mediums. The other mediums that she does are dancing, poetry/spoken word, painting, and sculpture. She has her own business (a nail business) where she is more than able to express her creativity on nails. She believes that everyone is an artist, whether they are great ones is solely up to them.

View some of Dionne's creative work from the fall 2020 InterArts course in the gallery below.

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Princess Tiana
By Dionne Hardy

Let's talk about something found. My object that is in chapter one is my acrylic glass painting of Princess Tiana. I've wanted to create a glass painting for so long, but I was too much in my head. I constantly thought that it had to perfect. And I was just overall scared that I would mess it up. I hate dedicating so much of my time to art for it not to come out as I envisioned it. But for this piece of art, that was not the case at all. I knew this piece was going to come out great, and it did. I thought to myself, "you can never go wrong with Princess Tiana."
The Princess and the Frog was based on, The Frog Princess. It was a princess animation released by Disney in 2009. The film took place in New Orleans. The creators of the movie set it during the time of Jim Crow, and they only just touched upon the racial incriminations going on during that time. The story is about an African American waitress living with insufficient funds, desperate to fulfill her dreams of becoming a restaurant owner. She embarks on her journey after she encounters Prince Naveen, who is already a frog (turned by the shadow man). He mistakes her for a princess and kisses her, turning her into a frog as well. They will stop at nothing to turn back into humans. The major problem, they must find Mama Odie, who is located deep in the bayou. She creates a potion that allows them to turn human, but they must love each other. In the end, Tiana marries Princess Naveen, which makes her a Princess. The turn human again, and she ends up owning her restaurant.
The Princess and the Frog is by far my favorite Disney princess movie. I love the movie so much that I think I've watched it more than 20 times. I even have the film on DVD. It brings back so many memories, and I am also saving it for my niece. She deserves to see someone that looks like her and me in the role of a princess. I know for a fact, she will love the movie just as much as I do. Growing up, I even had a Princess Tiana Barbie doll. If only I had known I would become an aunt to an amazing little girl, I would have saved the doll for her. I am still in good spirits because I gave that doll and lots of other toys to children in the salvation army.

All in all, something found for this project was not only physical but emotional. I found the picture frame at my local Dollar General and the reference photo offline. With this being my first attempt doing a glass painting, I think it came out pretty amazing. Not only is the backstory for me choosing to do this piece spectacular, but the piece of art itself is spectacular. I wanted to gift one of my friends with a glass painting, but instead of just sharing the excitement with just one person, I decided to share it with ALL of you!
The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements
By Dionne Hardy and Naomi

By definition a Cabinet of Wonders is something that should invoke questions, astonishment, and at some points awe. We believe that this not only applies to our time period but we also believe it should apply to the time period the object was created in. An object in a Cabinet of Curiosities should make a person question why, no matter when they are viewing it. We chose our object for this reason, along with many others.

We chose a book from the Watkinson Library titled, The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements by William Wells Brown, published in 1863. William Wells Brown was an escaped slave and abolitionist lecturer and is considered to be one of the first African American’s to publish a book. This book is considered one of his greatest pieces of work. It debunks the misinterpretation that black people have to be surrounded by white people in order to succeed. William Wells Brown was born into slavery in 1814 or March of 1815 near Lexington, Kentucky. He was a descendent of Mayflower passenger Stephen Hopkins through his father. His mother was a slave of Native American and black ancestry. She was owned by John Young and she had seven children all by different fathers. Brown’s siblings were Leander, Solomon, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Milford and Joseph.

To paraphrase information given by the library, the book encompasses short and informative biographies of “noteworthy” African American’s from that period. In the library the page is open to the biography of Reverend James Pennington, a black man who escaped from slavery in 1827 when he was 20 years old and, as described by Brown, was “ignorant of letters”, which we assume to mean unable to read and write effectively. Eight years after his escape he was admitted as an auditor to Yale, back then it was called the Yale Divinity School. Once there he studied and mastered Greek, Latin, and German. Pennington eventually led the Talcott Street Congregational Church from 1840 to 1847.

Earlier we stated that objects in our Cabinet of Wonders should invoke a sense of astonishment and awe, but should also make the viewer ask questions such as why. Upon first viewing this book in its display case one of the first questions we asked was why. Why would someone like William Wells Brown take the time to publish a book about noteable African American’s in the 1800s? Someone may consider now, looking back on what happened during that time, that publishing a book wouldn’t help very much in the grand scheme of things. Racism still ran ramped in America and still would no matter what was published.

But the point was not drastically changing society, it was simply bringing awareness. Not just about the fact that there were successful intellectual black people in the world, but that there could be. A common assumption during that time period was that black people were nothing without the aid of white people. That they needed the help of “white saviors” in order to become accomplished and civilized. Brown took the power of his literary voice, and disproved that assumption with sheer fact. Was Brown able to stop all racism with a single novel? No of course not, but the book brought awareness in place of ignorance to those who read it, which was definitely a step in the right direction. His very existence itself was a sign of hope for all black people, free or enslaved. He himself was a well-educated black man publishing books and making speeches, something that black people were not supposed to be capable of doing. The idea of black people being inferior, uneducated and unsuccessful without white people is still prevalent in the present day.
Dionne's Letter to Naomi
By Dionne Hardy

Dear Naomi,

I can't describe in words how amazing you are. But that's the whole reason for me writing this letter. Looking back eight months ago, I would have never imagined that we would have been as good friends as we are. Initially, coming into the InterArts class, I thought it was cool how I wasn't the only black person, let alone, I wasn't the only black girl. I took the initiative and started talking to you because what harm could it have done? The answer is NONE. I am so glad and grateful that I get to call you, my friend. You are one of the kindest people I know. Your heart is pure, and you deserve every good thing that is coming to you! God took his time with creating you. You are beautiful, intelligent, and wise beyond your years. I love the fact that the conversations never get boring between us, and we can talk about anything. I want to let you know how much I appreciate you for always being there for me and listening to me without judgment. The world needs more people like you. I love the fact that you teach me to see the positive in negative situations, and you allow me to live in the moment. Though we've only known each other for a short time, it feels as if we have been friends forever. You may not say much, but I have observed your willpower. That's one of the many reasons why we get along so well. On top of that, our grandfathers are from Alabama...what a coincidence. I know this is God's way of letting us know that we are meant to be friends. I decided to paint the inside of a picture holder, and now it reminds me of a Rubik's cube. The different colors represent all the light that I see in you, and on the inside of the holder, I wrote messages for you. Use those messages as your daily aspirations and know that I am always here when you need me.
P.s. whenever I have children (a girl), I will be naming her Naomi!

XOXOXO~ Dionne <3
By Dionne Hardy
What These Eyes Are And What They Have Curated
By Dionne Hardy

These eyes are what do the looking.
These eyes do all the seeking.
These are the eyes that stare into the depths of one’s soul.
These EYES see EVERYTHING.
These eyes know you. These eyes know me.
These eyes are what see the different perspectives of reality.
These eyes know emotion.
These eyes know strength.
These eyes are what makes a person’s heart sank.
These eyes, my eyes are what guided me and helped me write these poems.
These eyes, my eyes have never steered me wrong.

What does it mean to be a young adolescent? Many people say that our lives are just black and white. But they’re much more than that. We go through heartaches and heartbreaks...stress from being inducted into the workforce. We go through bullying and peer pressure. Not knowing what path to take...who to turn to or look to for guidance...sometimes not even wanting to survive another day. But it’s all up to the person and their reaction to the situations they are placed in. So, what does it mean to be a young adolescent? It isn’t just black and white. Our lives are multicolored and they're filled with a bunch of light.

Smize with your eyes
Black girls with thick thighs
Afros and baby hairs
For ye do not tell me what to wear.

I am more than just my brown skin
Exaggerated full lips stopped with a grin.
I am more than just my thick wooly hair
Course but tamable, touch it if you dare.

I am more than my dark brown eyes.
My brain is filled with knowledge, they say I’m wise.

I am more than extra-long weave and artificial nails.
As I speak these words, my truth prevails.

These bags under my eyes tell stories.
Stories of a little brown girl with big hopes and aspirations.
Stories of a little brown girl laying down a foundation.

Stories that I hope are one day inspirational
Stories of a little brown girl that will never be erasable.

My stories have stories and their stories do too,
Sit back and relax as I brief a story to you.

I am not loud and ratchet.
I am tasteful and respectable.

I am not an angry black woman.
I am a passionate black woman.

I am not simple-minded.
I am sophisticated.

I will not be whoever society wants me to.
I will be whoever I want to be.
I will do whatever makes me happy.

I love my beautiful brown skin,
It is a gift so I embrace it.
If I was given a choice to pick my skin
There is no way I would change it.

Confidence comes from within.
Little brown girls, loving yourself is always a WIN.

I Am STRONG, I AM BLACK And I Am A WOMAN!

Intellectual for a reason... Detective pick apart the pieces. Had to cross some silly rabbits out my circle like they’re lethal.
don’t play man I do this, simple minded but talking ruthless. You ain’t got a career plan you a bum and get the boot sis.
Smart chick still talkin book spit. Could never be a bandwagon sis I got my own drift. Never needed fake friends, Byeee, sis that’s spilled milk. If you don’t like it then that’s fine, keep yo lips zipped.
I’m a little ratchet, always sassy never flashy. Get a little wild but remember, keep it classy. You don’t need friends or a man to be happy. Unnecessary yelling makes my voice a little raspy. You nasty.
Get moody, maybe choosy but he chooses me. Ain’t got to do too much...I do enough. stay true to me. Always been wise and creative that’s like food to me. People come and go...Boo Hoo but get used to me.

These EYES see EVERYTHING.
These eyes know you. These eyes know me.
These eyes are what see the different perspectives of reality.
These eyes know emotion.
These eyes know strength.
These eyes are what makes a person’s heart sank.
These eyes, my eyes are what guided me and helped me write these poems.
These eyes, my eyes have never steered me wrong.

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Picture of Dionne