James is from the mean streets of Providence, Rhode Island. An alumni of Classical High School and New Urban Arts, he is no stranger to creative play. James has been exploring the world of higher education in various institutions (Guilford College, NYU, CCRI and RIC), studying Philosophy and Political Science. While having a strong interests in academia, his heart truly resides within art making and service work. Intrigued by narrative/story telling James has dipped into multiple art mediums: creative writing, print making, photography, film-making, and graphic design. All to figure out a way to get his personal narrative across. His artwork focuses on his various identities and his struggle to balance them. In the past few years James has led and taught art workshops in both Providence, RI and Greensboro, NC as part of his work as Bonner Scholar. His workshops center around the idea that self-exploration through art making can be used to transform local communities (and on making the biggest mess possible with adults). James’s work, both creative and non-creative, is considered to be thoughtful, observant, self-actualized, and rough around the edges.

 

(2013, Artist mentor profile, at NewUrbanArts.org)