Self Help Graphics & Art is excited to announce Floating on Cotton: Freedom Maps, Trade Routes, and City Codes, a solo exhibition by Rashonda Bartney (Zoe Blaq), SHG’s Beyond the Press artist in residence. The exhibition, deeply rooted in the artist’s ancestral history, explores the interconnectedness of culture, identity, and the natural environment, drawing on the historical context of Afro-Indigenous peoples’ migratory patterns and the significance of travel in their quest for safety, resources, and cultural preservation through symbolic maps and objects. The exhibition will open on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at Art Share L.A., from 1pm to 4pm and will run through February 8, 2025.

This immersive art experience combines mixed media, eco-art, and storytelling to highlight themes of migration, freedom, and identity. Bartney’s work, rich in historical and cultural significance, not only reflects on the past but also addresses contemporary issues, including housing, food security, and environmental sustainability. As part of the exhibition, she will create opportunities to learn through a zine and a seed mobile inspired by George Washington Carver’s “movable school.” This unique feature symbolizes new seeds of knowledge, perseverance, and community empowerment, embodying Carver’s vision of education and self-sufficiency.

“Zoe’s residency exemplifies the mission of Self Help Graphics Beyond the Press to support artists who are working at the intersection of activism, community, and artistic practice,” said Marvella Muro, Director of Artistic Programs, Curatorial and Education, Self Help Graphics & Arts. “Her work challenges us to think critically about freedom, history, and the power of collective action. We are proud to have supported her throughout this creative journey and are excited to share her important work with the public.”

Zoe Blaq, an interdisciplinary artist, mental health advocate, and founder of Urban Soul Farmer, uses her unique platform to create art that empowers marginalized communities and fosters social healing. Through her residency at Self Help Graphics & Art, Zoe has created a body of work that reflects her deep connection to environmental justice, social activism, and the healing power of art. As part of the exhibition, Zoe will unveil her Earth Balls installation, created in collaboration with the community during SHG’s Open Studio series, allowing attendees to contribute to the artwork as a part of the larger exhibition. These tactile pieces will serve as symbols of unity and interconnectedness, connecting individuals’ contributions to a larger narrative on freedom, trade, and movement across the globe.

“This exhibition represents the power of collective memory and action. The Earth Balls reflect the spaces between identities, histories, and land, where freedom can be found and reclaimed,” said artist Zoe Blaq. “It’s about creating an environment of healing through art and community engagement, allowing us to rethink the way we see each other and our place in the world.”

As part of SHG’s Beyond the Press artist in residence program, Zoe Blaq has spent the past year creating this work, which merges her passion for eco-art and activism with her academic background in Clinical Psychology. Zoe’s involvement with the community has been a key part of her process. Beyond the exhibition, she has engaged with SHG’s Youth Committee, participated in the SOY Artista summer program, and contributed to the Sinks: Places We Call Home exhibition for the Getty’s PST Art: Art & Science Collide initiative.

In partnership with Art Share L.A., Floating on Cotton: Freedom Maps, Trade Routes, and City Codes is supported by The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts and the California Arts Council.

About Floating on Cotton: Freedom Maps, Trade Routes, and City Codes

Floating on Cotton: Freedom Maps, Trade Routes, and City Codes offers an exploration of migration and trade through the lens of art and environmentalism. The exhibition draws on Zoe’s extensive experience with urban gardening and food justice, connecting these themes with the histories of colonialism, resistance, and global movement. The work explores how maps, trade routes, and city codes have shaped and continue to shape the experiences of people across the world. Zoe’s art aims to provoke a dialogue on freedom and identity in the context of contemporary struggles, while encouraging the healing power of collective creation.

About Self Help Graphics & Art

Since its incorporation in 1973, SHG has produced more than 2,000 art print editions, including 64 atelier projects and exhibitions all over the world. The organization remains dedicated to the production, interpretation and distribution of prints and other art media by Chicana/o and Latinx artists; and its multidisciplinary intergenerational programs promote artistic excellence and empower community by providing access to working space, tools, training and beyond.

Now, more than 50 years later, SHG continues to foster emerging Chicana/o and Latinx artists through its world-class printmaking practice and supports the role of artists as leaders, both within its organization and the community. For more information, visit www.selfhelpgraphics.com.