Tanisha Warren

I started making art in 2013 when I came here to Creative Growth. I admire and I’m inspired by black history. I like people that are ancestors and famous people: black icons in America. Some I really like and some I don't know yet but am getting to know like Harriet Tubman. You can bring them back to life once they're gone; gone but not forgotten. 

Me and my cousin always go to the doll show at the African American museum here in Oakland every December. I decided to make my own dolls and I made 53 for the window box. For the dolls I used fabric material and I sewed it myself. I made all their clothes out of fabrics that I picked because of black history; some of them are connected to that. I built the trees and other furniture out of wood and cardboard. 

I learned a lot about black history from my uncle. He was a high school teacher and he passed a lot of that on to me. Family is really important. When people see the window I want them to think about family. Like, we all family here at Creative Growth. The dolls are part of the family. You got to spend time with family when you can. 

Image Description: Tanisha Warren pictured in front of her window box installation as part of the Soul Food Exhibition with Artist Facilitator Emma Fenton Miller

D'Lisa Fort

My window box installation is about mystical practices and Wicca practices with God and Goddess, nature or earth. Do no harm, do as you will.  Wiccans celebrate nature and earth, elements like air, water, fire, earth, spirit. And so do the Pagans. They practice with understanding of nature, earth and the elements. Wiccans and Pagans are not bad people. They are good people. 

Image Description: Creative Growth Artist D'Lisa Fort in front of her windox box installation as part of the Soul Food Exhibition