Put me in your box ...

This summer has been wonderful. I've created and shared and been inspired. Epiphanies have come and gone, only to return again. Resolutions have been made. Energy has been redirected and encouraged. Love has been refined and redefined and persistent. From this comes ideas that need outlets, messages that want breath and room. The birth of dryskywater is on the horizon...take a peek at these metaphoric sonograms:



A series of tin boxes, perfect for holding those customer discount cards that can clutter a wallet, laundry quarters, creative gift boxes etc...


Mixed media collage. The epitome of fierce. It depicts the beauty of progression, while also being beautiful in your progression.







Mixed Media Collage. "Free Yourself" This is less about the individuals photographed, and more about the idea of agency in general. No one will give you you peace or freedom. Sometimes, most times, you will have to take it.






Mixed Media Collage. "Rock and Roll." Rock and Roll is a product of The Blues, The Blues is a beautiful expression of aspects of the Black experience. This piece seeks to connect the contemporary notion of 'rock and roll' to the blues, as well as to the idea that Black communities globally have expressions equivalent to The Blues.




Mixed Media Collage. "s/he's gotta have it." This piece plays with the idea of gender roles and sexuality. The boxes we put others in limit ourselves as well. The boxes we remain in is of our own volition.








Thank u :),

S. Laraia

The Caribbean-American Book and Art Fair 9.19.09 - 9.21.09

The CABA Fair 2009

The CABA Fair was held in Hollywood, Fl and hosted an array of Caribbean writers, scholars and artists. The first night I attended a discussion between Derek Walcott and Rex Nettleford. Walcott has been one of my favorite poets for sometime so you can imagine my excitement. (An excitement that was only minimally doused when he declined my request for a picture-seconds after taking a few with other guests … but I digress) The ideas presented were varied, and a few perhaps profound. What I am most grateful for is the subsequent dialogues that this discussion has put bin motion, both within myself and between friends.

While Walcott was the guest of honor for the fair, female writers, scholars and artists were represented very well. Paule Marshall, a writer I’d previously been unfamiliar with, shared excerpts from her work, “Triangular Road: A Memoir,” that were rife with wit and candor. Other writers, scholars, artists in attendance were: Eintou Pearl Springer, Evelyne Trouillot, Nelly Rosario, Cynthia McLeod-Ferrier, Nerissa Street, Tony Muhammad, Jessica Alarcon, and of course yours truly (I shared a poem).

(i met Edwidge Danticat (right))

All in all the fair was a great experience, they even had a section for vendors who displayed everything from handmade jewelry and incense to fine art and literature. I think the experience was particularly beneficial for me because it helped me understand better a phenomena I’d been unable to in the past. I have roots in deep-southern-sharecropping-Georgia as well as pigeon-peas-and-rice-sugar-plantation-with- no-representation-Bahamas. I claim both legacies with no qualm and feel personally welcome in any diasporic circle. With that said, it is only among (some) Caribbean circles that I feel a duality that implies simply being a descendant of Africa is not enough. In the past I’d thought perhaps it was just a strain of elitism particular to the Caribbean. After hearing some of the experiences and expressions shared at the fair, I’m convinced it’s deeper than that. I look forward to exploring the depths and seeing what it’s really about.

<3 smooches.

On my way …

I’ve toyed with the idea of starting a blog for some time. My hesitance lingered mainly because I was unsure of what to write about. While I’d like to just put out randomness, the idea of a cohesive theme quiets the compulsions and convinces me that this is a good idea.

My primary interests are education and the arts, so my entries will revolve around those. I love, love, love, street festivals - so having this blog gives me an excuse to seek out more.

<3 Smooches.