Artist bio

My love for art began through the medium of editorial styling and creative direction; over the years it has grown into a passion for mixing multiple mediums together to produce a full body of work. I refer to my artistry as Assemblage Art because of the mixing of multiple mediums. One thing that makes my art unique is the incorporation of fashion, architectural design, & conceptual thought. I mainly use wood, paint, clay, & metal when building my sets; as well as natural elements such as bamboo, dirt, rocks, and greenery. Above all I seek to create art that is transparent, conveys a message of authenticity; and contains life.

Title

RED SUMMER

Artist Statement

Title of Film: Red Summer™️
Directed/Styled By: (@TayElizabethSheek)
Onset Team:
Shot By: @inliight.society
SG Lead Onset Photographer & Onset Coordinator: @rejeana_violet
OnSet Photo Assistant: (@antonioelewis)
Song For Film:
Artist: DeeDONTCARE (SoundCloud)
Song: L Boogie - The Sweetest Thing {Flip}

Duration of Shoot : 100 Days
February 21, 2020 - May 31st, 2020 (Day of Pentecost)
Shoot Day: Day of Pentecost (5/31/2020)

Concurrent Historical Fact: RED SUMMER Chicago 1919-1920 (100 Years Ago to date)

How it fits into contest

Duration of Shoot : 100 Days
February 21, 2020 - May 31st, 2020 (Day of Pentecost)
Shoot Day: Day of Pentecost (5/31/2020)

Concurrent Historical Fact: RED SUMMER Chicago 1919-1920 (100 Years Ago to date)

A Significant Theme that was pointed out during the shooting and editing of the SG Film “RED SUMMER” is the number 100 and the significance of understanding the times we are living in; as well as the Repetition of History. This lining up of brutal blood shed and history supports the Battle and Warfare Paul is speaking about in Ephesians 6:10-20. Showing us that Principalities are controlling the times of warfare in our history. Or else how would the same events repeat themselves concurrently as they do?

“RED SUMMER” took exactly 100 days to plan, execute, and shoot by Sheek Gal Agency & AKSUM Magazine (2/21/2020 - 5/31/2020) and is 100 years to date of a significant point in history often referred to as ‘RED SUMMER of 1919-1920” which took place in Chicago.

Nearly 100 years later Black “Human Beings” here in America and throughout the world not only have to consider the Spiritual Attack we face as believers spoken about in Ephesians 6:10-20. But also the blatant and brutal attacks on the Black race that we witness repeatedly throughout OUR history. It was important to me as an Artist and Director to tie in a very REAL battle Black Human Beings Deal with on a daily and the heightened level of faith we must press into as a people to endure the warfare around us.

Between 1910 and 1920, the black population in Chicago grew by 148 percent and in Philadelphia by 500 percent, creating massive anxiety among white people in northern cities that black people were taking jobs, housing, and security from them. Higgins, Abigail. “Red Summer of 1919: How Black WWI Vets Fought Back Against Racist Mobs.” HISTORY, 26 July 2019

Excerpt Below From History.com (Listed in Works Cited Section)

****During the Red Summer, massive anxiety became mass violence. Between April and November of 1919, there would be approximately 25 riots and instances of mob violence, 97 recorded lynchings, and a three day long massacre in Elaine, Arkansas during which over 200 black men, women, and children were killed after black sharecroppers tried to organize for better working conditions. The Ku Klux Klan, which had been largely shut down by the government after the Civil War, experienced a resurgence in popularity and began carrying out dozens of lynchings across the south.After four days of racist mob violence in Washington D.C., an estimated 40 people were killed and dozens more were injured. Higgins, Abigail. “Red Summer of 1919: How Black WWI Vets Fought Back Against Racist Mobs.” HISTORY, 26 July 2019****

Similar to President Woodrow Wilson during the time of Red Summe in 1919; Today in 2020 President Trump has failed to speak up about the current lynchings of black individuals in America happening on a daily basis. As well as the massive genocide taking place against Black Men and Women on a systemic level globally. The issue is so deep rooted that the Incident of Red Summer 1919 has been eradicated from many history books as well as history itself.

The dead trees in the film represent Isaiah 14:8 when the Lord says “Even the trees of the forest -- the cypress trees and the cedars of the Lebanon -- sing out this joyous song: ‘Since you have been cut down, no one will come now to cut us down!”. The one who has been cut down “The Lord of Heaven's Armies” has already won the battle for his people; therefore we can stand Boldly in Christ despite any circumstance knowing we will not be cut down.

This brought me to Ephesians 3:17 “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong”. Oftentimes in the Bible the Lord references his people as his vineyard or trees that are rooted deep in the ground; which is illustrated throughout the film. In Ephesians 6:18 the Lord commands us to “Pray in the Spirit at ALL Times and on Every Occasion” & “Stay Alert and Be Persistent in your Prayers for ALL Believers Everywhere”; this is the visual description for the end of the film as the model commemorates the Death of Ahmad Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd written on her body. She is simultaneously burning the American Flag as a Symbolic Representation of Retreat in Christ not Retreat in Man Moving Forward. Just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had faith while being thrown into a fiery furnace, just as Isaiah trusted the Lord when He said in Isaiah 41:15 “You will be a new Threshing Instrument with Many Sharp Teeth. You will tear your Enemies apart, making “chaff” of Mountains”; and just as Paul was certain about God's Authority and Power in Ephesians 1:21 “Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--not only in this world but also in the world yet to come.” is The SURE FAITH that we need when putting on our Armor Daily & Fighting our Battles with THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD!

Works Cited

Article title:
Red Summer of 1919: How Black WWI Vets Fought Back Against Racist Mobs - HISTORY
Website title:
History.com
URL:
https://www.history.com/news/red-summer-1919-riots-chicago-dc-great-migration

Cited Source: Higgins, Abigail. “Red Summer of 1919: How Black WWI Vets Fought Back Against Racist Mobs.” HISTORY, 26 July 2019, www.history.com/news/red-summer-1919-riots-chicago-dc-great-migration.

Artist Statement Written By: Taylor Elizabeth

Credits

Title of Film: Red Summer™️
Directed By: (@TayElizabethSheek)
Onset Team:
Shot By: @inliight.society
SG Lead Onset Photographer & Onset Coordinator: @rejeana_violet
OnSet Photo Assistant: (@antonioelewis)

Song For Film:
Artist: DeeDONTCARE (SoundCloud)
Song: L Boogie - The Sweetest Thing {Flip}

Duration of Shoot : 100 Days
February 21, 2020 - May 31st, 2020 (Day of Pentecost)
Shoot Day: Day of Pentecost (5/31/2020)

Concurrent Historical Fact: RED SUMMER Chicago 1919-1920 (100 Years Ago to date)

How to Purchase this Artwork

Digital Copy

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