I’ve always been a dreamer, an ideas person. A big thinker about end results, but only vague ideas how to get there. All attempts to uncover information have been met by a gatekeeper here, a naysayer there. As a creative person, that shit is beyond toxic to me.

No one OWNS knowledge. And knowledge SHOULD be freely dispersed, so that the analog world isn’t replaced by the techological one. A good example would be a cobbler. Why re-sole your worn shoes, keep a craftsman and family provider in business, when you can just go get a new pair of landfill rubber shoes every 6 months?

Earlier this year I taught a monoprinting class and when the Spring was over I was left feeling like there was more I can do.

I was sitting in my office, thinking about Miami and how much I missed the streets I used to roam, scrolling though Facebook when I saw a post come up from a non-profit organization that helps the Latino community. The fact that they set up shop in our very small city of less than 30,000, means there’s enough of them in the region(rural commnities) to need assistance.

And from there, De Colores was born…named for the old folk song my father used to sing to me. While not a Cuban folk song, still one sung by/familiar to most Hispanic cultures.

I’ve spent the entire month of June building it, shaping it, visualizing it, spreading the word and learning to connect with creatives. It’s taken me this entire LIFETIME to find the confidence to put my art truly out there. No one really visits this site except my estranged daughter, or her ass father and stepmother who I doubt are THAT bored, and webcrawling bots. The occasional connection I’ve given my card to, sometimes. So while my pictures and some art have lived on this website for over 10 years, has it truly lived?

Anyway, De Colores is for my people – we’re here. They’re out there. And if you’re reading this, I know you’re out there. The singers, the dancers, the poets, the pastelito makers, the painters, the crafters, the teachers and the storytellers. And this collective is for all of you…all of us.

I’m a few bucks($75) shy of the $300 needed to file for tax exempt status, but I’ll have it soon enough. In the meantime, I’m working on the programming for the year and how it’s going to roll out at both the schools and in the community. I’m super excited about this collective and being part of a larger Shelby County creative coalition.

If you’ve read this far, and you are interested in supporting this cause for the greater good, please visit www.decoloresartscollective.org and donate at www.decoloresartscollective.org/donate. Any amount truly helps. Plus you can learn more about the programming that will be possible with your support.