Shades of Excellence:
Exploring Black Artistry in Dallas
Culture of Value is a micro-grant program created by the Office of Arts and Culture and funded through the National Endowment for the Arts. This program aims to support artists and arts and culture organizations whose primary programming and services center around an ALAANA experience. Selected artists execute self-defined, one-time projects that provide a service to the residents of Dallas and further the “Culture of Value:” the idea that the arts are essential to a thriving, equitable society within the city of Dallas.
I was awarded a $3000 grant to produce my film “Shades of Excellence: Exploring Black Artistry in Dallas.”
Culture of Value
The Artists
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The Visual Activist
HAKEEM ADEWUMI
Photographer + Visual Artist -
The Joy Collector
EVITA TEZENO
Contemporary Folk Artist -
The Story Savant
WRLDFMS TONY WILLIAMS
Singer + Songwriter -
The Forever Student
DESIREE VANIECIA
Educator + Visual Artist
The Story We Told
Shades of Excellence is a film dedicated to highlighting and preserving the stories of black artists in Dallas. In this film, you will experience the stories of four artists:
Photographer and Visual Artist Hakeem Adewumi
Contemporary Folk Artist Evita Tezeno
Singer and Songwriter WRLDFMS Tony Williams
Painter and Dallas ISD Educator Desiree Vaniecia
Each artist is filmed in their artistic zone, capturing the true essence of their work and creative space. In this film, we learn about the families, the styles of work, the influences, what the artists are creating now, and what they would like to see from the city of Dallas when it comes to supporting black artists.
I hope that you enjoy receiving these narratives just as much as I have enjoyed collecting them and sharing them with you.
