Donna Black is a Belfast-based ‘alternative’ photographer and contemporary artist, who all her life has taken an interest in people, topics and situations that are outside the box of conformative norms.Born and bred in Bangor Co. Down, from a young age she has looked at the world through a lens.
Projects have included may taboo subjects as:
Self Harm
Mental Illness
Homosexuality
Human Rights
Femanism
Sub Cultures
Politics
Alternative Lifestyles
Donna has also done freelance work for Diva magazine and for independent bands and songwriters in Belfast.
These are to name a few. In February Donna had her first solo show as an Artist, which was a 3 week residency in the Safe House Art Gallery in Belfast. The title was 'Dragging Ego's'.
This was a stunning exhibition that followed the life of Drag Artist Mark Bowels and his alter ego: The Fabulously outrageous Miss Felicity B. Wilde. Donna beautifully captured the transition from an ordinary man to Drag Queen through a series of portraits. A documentary was shot and you can watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQusELR8uEY
I'm adding this for two reasons, One: Donna is a friend of mine and I support her work in every way. And Two: The header to my blog page includes a portrait of me that she took, therefore it is only fair that I give her a mention.
Please visit her website via the links on my blog page akablackrat.com. Donna Black is here to stay and keep your eyes open for her work in the future!!.
Love Darren xxx
6 comments:
cheers :) dragging egos was on for three weeks tho lol. heh heh not one
x
Oops I'll change that then - it was February after all lol! xx
No one has commented on this, these are sad days indeed :( xx
Just to add people, usually Artists for Safehouse only get 1 week for a solo show. And Donna got 3 - now are you impressed :) xxxxx
Sit up and take notice - visit the website!!!! www.akablackrat.com
Donna is indeed an amazing artist, and not one I would necessarily define as "alternative" given that the purpose of art is to provoke and therefore by it's nature it needs to go against the norm in order to evoke a response. Or at least that's how I see art. I guess some traditionalists who still like their watercolour landscapes may have a different view but I'd like to think we've moved on a bit from the days of Monet.
Donna uses mixed media to produce either very vibrant colourful work or else extremely dark atmospheric stuff and her subject matter is stuff that most artists in this tiny "country" wouldn't touch with a bargepole fearing a negative reaction from fundamentalists or worse, spides!! Eeek! But Donna is brave and idealistic and that, to me, makes for a truly groundbreaking artist. If you haven't done so already go to www.akablackrat.com and bask in awe at her amazing talent. Go.... Now!!! :-)
Excellent!
I use the term "alternative" flippantly, just to highlight how how her work is viewed by the general public in this; as Petrina you perfectly put: tiny "country"
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