The Art of Revolution Spotlight: Tomi Tina & Jessico
Now is a time for radical change.
At Uprising Theater, we believe that art is a pillar of revolution. Inherently interactive, it forces society to engage with the perspectives of individual communities. From ten-story murals to fashion, to photography, to dance, art elevates the voice of the people. As a Palestinian American theater company, our mission has always been to amplify the voices of marginalized communities seeking social justice. As our society faces this exciting movement, we feel it imperative to play a role in passing the mic to Black voices.
Meet the Artists
Oluwatomiloba Tina Elizabeth Obikunle (she/her), aka Tomi Tina, is a Nigerian-British-Canadian-American Princess and multidisciplinary DIY artist based in Chicago. For over a decade, Tomi served as an educator focused on empowering underserved students and getting kids (especially girls) excited about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Now, as a human-centered user experience researcher and designer, she helps everyday people through design and technology challenges. Tomi always strives to meet and honor folks where they are, and she channels her multicultural perspective when navigating work, play, art, and social justice efforts.
Jessico Renee Dickerson (they/them) is a DIY artist and wellness educator based in Chicago. They are originally from Milwaukee, WI, and moved to Chicago in 2007 to pursue their passion for holistic health. Jessico runs their own ethically sourced plant-based medicine shop, Gemini Moon, and is currently pursuing their holistic health coach certification from AFPA. Jessico currently works as the Wellness Manager for Dill Pickle Food Cooperative in Logan Square, where they are dedicated to re-enfranchising BIPOC artisans. They strongly believe in food sustainability as a way to build resilient communities.
Tomi Tina
Photographer: Melvyn Windmon | Jewelry designer: Caridá Diaz @caridacira cargocollective.com/cira
Jessico
Photographer: Chanel Matsunami Govreau @queengidrea www.queengidrea.com
The Art
Behind the Art
Tomi and Jessico met in 2017 but it feels like they met many moons ago. They naturally bonded over their mutual interests in using education as a tool for community empowerment, and through their commitment to radical self-care and self-expression. At some point, they discovered they both have Yoruba roots and overlapping astrological signs, which explains their soul connection. Nowadays, they serve as each other’s thot partners and collaborate on artistic endeavors whenever inspiration strikes them. Whether they’re making bath bombs and scent satchels or posing with plants, they often act as their own muses, artistic directors, and models.
Representation is at the core of Tomi and Jessico’s art and praxis. As queer Black folx, they understand that BIPOC representation matters. It matters because in the artist community especially, BIPOC are rarely ever given the space to tell their own stories. When Black folx are not in charge of their own narratives, the portrayal of Blackness can become misconstrued into a negative or monolithic representation, which can lead to racial bias against people of African descent.
When we tell our own stories we portray Blackness in an honest light, giving shape to our multifaceted experiences. We’d like to shout out some of our biggest inspirations and influencers: Assata Shakur, Angela Davis, Nina Simone, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Alice Walker, and Sade, to name a few. It is our intention to twerk in our truth and to reflect the light, the magic, and the power that is Black excellence in our efforts to cultivate ecosystems of care within our communities.
Connect & Discover
Tomi Tina
Jessico
The Art of Revolution
Spotlight Series
#blackartmatters
This is only the beginning.
The goal of The Art of Revolution Series is to commission at least ten Black female and non-binary artists to amplify their rich artistic contributions in the medium of their choosing.
Throughout July, we will be introducing you to the selected artists and showcasing their work. We encourage you to like, subscribe, follow and share their work.
Support Local Voices.
Your support enables us to continue our mission: using art to amplify the voices of marginalized groups. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our ongoing work. Any amount will make an impact. Donations can be made through our GoFundMe Charity Page or via PayPal. Please note/select #BlackArtMatters.