spillings, babbles & tales on the fly

[make a panther purr is a monthly series, where I spotlight, something that I’m digging and makes the panther in me purrr]

Last spring I made a drive to Detroit to check out a show that Jessica Care Moore has been putting on for a while now called Black Women Rock. What drew me was the tribute to Betty Davis. No folks, not the actress — I feel like I have to say that, but lately it’s been less and less that I have to declare that, and I’m happy about that. Still, for those who don’t know who I’m talking about, Betty Davis was a woman WAY ahead of her time melding funk, rock, blues, sex and soul in her music and causing controversy. Long before Madonna was even thought of, Betty was being banned from black stations for being too much. Not only that, but she was wife and an integral role in Miles Davis’ shift from more traditional jazz to fusing funk and rock into his jazz. Legend has it that she introduced him to Jimi Hendrix and that he later accused her of having an affair with him — which she vehemently denies.

Anyhow, the show was spectacular, I felt like I was home in a room of black folks rocking out!! There was no question of what the hell or why the hell are you doing rock, it was happening and everyone was IN IT! With a full band of women onstage — two drummers, keys, guitar, sax, strings, bass — it really was ridiculous.

On top of that, off in the corner, on a little side stage close enough to the band to catch vibes and spirit was a visual artist named Sabrina Nelson. She was actually painting throughout the show. I was sold! And then I went a little closer, to see what was really going on and, she was painting on wallpaper — a lady after my own heart using textures to give multi-dimensions to her work. Now, I thought I was hooked then, but then I went to her website and fell even MORE deeply in love with her expression. Beyond life sized paintings of her children captured in their highest potential, they’re god and goddess states. The spirit and spiritual tones of all of her pieces had me moved and just staring for hours.

Needless to say, I had to share that Sabrina Nelson’s art makes this panther purrr…