wild rivers move
wild rivers move is a series of works that consider cultural, spiritual, and everyday interactions with water. The project particularly centers the stories of Black, brown and Indigenous people. Communities of color are disproportionately affected by man-made environmental pollution and lack access to clean, healthy water and foods. These harms are often due to willful governmental neglect and corruption. The environmental impacts of this harm also creates barriers to engaging in much of the rituals, traditions, social and cultural practices that ground our livelihoods. This series considers how environmental racism intersects public policy with long-term, dire consequences.
an offering to the water by Maya Simone Z. Crete, Greece (2021).
Photo credit: Hadley Rosenbaum
current project development
as of summer 2022, state of water is in development through the FloodNet summer artist-in-residence program, with support from the FloodNet Consortium at the NYU Tandon School. each walking tour will take place in Lenapehoking, particularly in Brooklyn neighborhoods (Munsee Lenape lands) that experience worsening flood events. this work centers the impact of flooding and flood events by considering Black, Indigenous and people of color’s experiences and interactions with water and worsening water infrastructure.
wild rivers move currently includes three works. read more about each project and view select images below. this series is in development with support from: FloodNet’s Deluge microgrant program (summer 2022), More Art where Maya Simone is currently a 2022 Engaging Artist Fellow, and the Art & Survival Fellowship as a 2021-23 Fellow. the support offered by these organizations and programs, in addition to deeply valuable community-based partnerships, make the growth of this work possible.
if you and your organization would like to learn more and support the wild rivers move series, please contact Maya Simone and get updates about their work.
an offering to water.
While collecting wild flowers in the mountaintop village of Agios Ioannis, I considered - what is joy and how does my blackqueer body retain it while in transit? The flowers tied to blue string adorn feet, neck, and chest in this experimental photo collection. This was created while in residence at Mudhouse Art (Crete, Greece) by Maya Simone with photographer, Hadley Rosenbaum.
the way back.
This solo is an exposition on lives lived by Black trans, femme and nonbinary folks across time. I embody a creature that wades through cycles, moments and memories while reveling in power untold that rests just beneath their skin.
I wonder: what does this vessel that is my body hold? How do I carry all that my family, people, ancestors have given me?