Nature’s Palette Workshop for REMERGE’s Sweet Auburn Artist Residency — Filmed & Photographed by John Stephens (@jas_photo)
Sunset on Auburn Ave (2024)
Sunset on Auburn Ave is the final project for the Sweet Auburn Art Residency for Atlanta-based visual artists. This painting features paint that Riyah Niko hand made from plant material, so it's all about plant pigment dust clouds coagulating within oil and binding to garden fertilizers and laundry supplies on canvas. The painting features aspects of Sweet Auburn that REMERGE community members uplifted such as: The Historic Ebenezer and Big Bethel churches, Haugabrooks Funeral Home and Gallery, Dr. and Mrs. King, Ella Baker, Rev. Orange, Hosea Williams, John Lewis, and the soon to be constructed "Front Porch." Riyah Niko extracted the blue (indigo), red (madder), yellow (marigold), brown and black (black walnut) pigments from plant material. Riyah, along with others in her community, suffer from chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, and generational trauma. This piece is meant to uplift the history of activism and community in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood while offering alternative art supplies that might paint our canvases and heal our bodies and spirits.
Past workshops (2024)
april 20th: nature’s palette @ REMERGE
COME JOIN ME FOR A PAINT-MAKING WORKSHOP THAT I’LL BE LEADING AS THE SWEET AUBURN ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE. I’LL BE DRAWING ON MY EXPERIENCE AS BOTH A PAINTER AND HORTICULTURAL EDUCATOR TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS OF EXTRACTING PIGMENTS FROM PLANTS AND TURNING THEM INTO PAINT. TOGETHER, WE’LL CREATE A COLLABORATIVE PAINTING THAT CELEBRATES THE VIBRANT HISTORY AND CULTURE OF SWEET AUBURN, INCORPORATING FIGURES, MEMORIES, AND COLORS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. DON’T WORRY ABOUT BRINGING ANY MATERIALS — EVERYTHING YOU NEED WILL BE PROVIDED. AND TO KEEP OUR CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING, WE’LL ALSO HAVE A LIGHT LUNCH AND BEVERAGES AVAILABLE.
april 21st: ecopainting @ NOURISH BOTANICA
THIS ECO-PAINTING WORKSHOP AT NOURISH BOTANICA IS ONE IN A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS ENTITLED: NATURE’S PALETTE. NATURE’S PALETTE IS A PAINT-MAKING PROJECT THAT ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXPLORE ATLANTA’S HISTORY AND THE NATIVE FLORA THAT SUSTAINS OUR ECOSYSTEMS. SARIYAH NIKO BENOIT, ALSO KNOWN AS RIYAH NIKO, IS A SWEET AUBURN ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE AT REMERGE, AND HOSTS ART WORKSHOPS IN WHICH COMMUNITY MEMBERS LEARN HOW TO EXTRACT PIGMENTS FROM PLANTS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF A COLLABORATIVE PAINTING. THIS TICKET INCLUDES INFORMATION ON HOW TO EXTRACT BOTANICAL PIGMENTS AT HOME, HANDS-ON ACTIVITY, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE HOME YOUR PAINTED CANVAS!
JUNE 28TH: PLANT PAINT WORKSHOP @ YES, PLEASE BOOKHOUSE AND CARESPACE
accessibility note: This event will be held in the backyard at yes please bookhouse. The pathway to the backyard is flat and unpatched grass. The inside of yes please will be open to shop and explore. Masks are required in the bookhouse. yes please is located in a house style building that is in transition towards wheelchair accessibility and for that reason. there is not an ADA accessible bathroom in the home. The entryway to the building includes a ramp.
parking note: park your car on Decatur Ave, Kentucky St, Frances St, Hempstead St, and Exchange Ave. IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PARKING YOUR VEHICLE: Do not block driveways and cars parked on Decatur Ave should be parked on the same side of the street as yes please. Parking is free all around the property. Please be considerate of our neighbors, this is a primarily residential mixed use neighborhood and where you park is crucial to making our neighbors happy and yes please hosting future events of this size for the community. If taking the Marta – you can take bus 117 from Avondale Station and walk 3 minutes. Path is a paved road – there are no sidewalks.
JULY 12th: PLANT PAInt Alchemy @ IWILLA REMEDY APOTHECARY
🌿 Introduction to Paint-Making Supplies: Learn about the essential tools and materials needed to create your own vibrant paints from natural sources.🎨 Extracting Lake Pigments: Discover the art of extracting rich pigments from dye baths, and unleash your creativity with a palette inspired by nature’s hues. 🖌️ Mulling Your Paint: Dive into the hands-on experience of grinding and mixing your personalized paint blend, unlocking endless artistic possibilities.🏠 Take Home Your Creation: Walk away with a small aluminum tube of paint that you’ve crafted yourself, ready to adorn your artistic endeavors.
After the event, Riyah will send you an educational slideshow on how to extract pigments from plants at home, using flora foraged right here in Atlanta this summer. 🌻📸
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