COLD-BLOODED

Hi.

Cold-blooded is #2 in the My black joy series. She is 36x36" on wood panel. Heavy. She is in progress, see...

When I was growing up, and well into adulthood (until April 8, 2017 to be exact,) my mom's brother, my Uncle Curt, was known for his prolific use of, "Cold-blooded." Cold-blooded is a piece of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) from about the 70's (I called my dad to verify, as I found literally one google reference. We're guessing.)

As a piece of AAVE, "cold-blooded" meant: wow, no kidding, that's interesting, that's wonderful, that's incredible...so hot it's cold? ...so cool it's cold-blooded? Cold-blooded indicated a depth of impressed that doesn't exist in the ordinary, "Wow." When used properly it sounded cool and it accomplished immeasurable levels of comfort, love, and affirmation.
​
​Affirmation.

Brilliance.

There is brilliance in pulling a phrase from existing language and breathing a new life into it. Or is it extrapolating greater meaning from it? Stretching it's limits...giving more people access to it...to each other.

Right now I'm polishing the sides before the layer of resin. It is a work of love to spread the coat of wax...rub it off...buff it out.

It's the love I know from an uncle who'd surely say, "Cold-blooded!" If he knew that the piece that I told him (via Facebook) would happen, is now in progress. I hoped to start before we lost him. I didn't know we'd lose him so soon...

​Uncle Curt would be impressed beyond the depths of wow.

I would be comforted, loved, and affirmed in this work...

This work of preservation, presentation, and affirmation...

Got me feeling part historian, part archeologist, part archivalist.

I imagine her collected...hanging in a space. African American Venacular English in its rightful. Fine art.

​Now wouldn't that be cold-blooded?

(She can be reserved or purchased in full.  She will be available for shipment upon the complete curing of the resin -- about 2-3 weeks.)