John/Juanx Sexton Cornejo
John/Juanx Sexton Cornejo spins yarn with a drop spindle and talks to ancestors.
Self-Defense Skirt, (2022-2023) Faux Black leather belt, aluminum self defense key chains/window breakers. Image is of a work in progress.
VVitches' Broom, (2022) A gathered Witches' broom from a Japanese Maple tree in my mom's backyard, drop spindle spun Merino wool dyed with: Hibiscus flowers/Jamaica tea, Lavender flowers, as well as Brown, Black, and Blue Mx. dyes, roped and braided.
"Numerous scholars documented that transformation for the shaman is born from crisis, illness, pain, and trauma but that such conditions are not usually considered pathological, as illness is seen as an invitation into a higher consciousness where wisdom is gleaned." -Kelli Zaytoun from "Reaching Through the Wound to Connect: Trauma and Healing as Shapeshifting" from the book "Shapeshifting Subjects: Gloria Anzaldúa's Naguala and Border Arte"
The Xicanx Archive of Brown/ness: Never Brown Enough, an ongoing color study (Left), (2021-) objects for activating space(s) and mind(s): Qiviut wool, Qivuit drop spindle spun yarn, plastic Omingmak/Muskox figurine, Buffalo/Bison wool fibers, Buffalo/Bison drop spindle spun wool, plastic Buffalo/Bison figurine, single use Brown plastic bags, corn husks, a stone, a bent and rusty railroad spike, a jar with the artist's Brown hair, ash, an empty hot sauce bottle, and "The Decolonial Imagery: Writing Chicanas Into History" by Emma Pérez.
“…Cuz’ I Am the color of Earth…” -Kahsenniyo (Mohawk poet) from Decolonizing Love, a poem
The Xicanx Archive of Brown/ness: Never Brown Enough, an ongoing color study (Center), (2021-) objects for activating space(s) and mind(s): Sage and Sweet grass I grew, Cedar, drop spindles, an empty Brown glass Root Beer bottle, "The Sense of Brown" by José Esteban Muñoz, burnt corn tortillas, Churro wool, the artist's dog's fur felted into a ball, rusty bits: a bolt, and a razor blade found on the street.
“When brown matter literally takes up space, we are challenged to confront brownness in all its connotations.” -tierrafirme (on rafa esparza’s “Brown Matter”)
The Xicanx Archive of Brown/ness: Never Brown Enough, an ongoing color study (Right), (2021-) objects for activating space(s) and mind(s): drop spindle spun Churro wool, Merino wool, Hopi Black Sunflower seeds I grew, drop spindle spun Merino wool dyed with Hopi Black Sunflower seeds, plastic sheep figurines.
"Am I afraid? Yes. I am afraid that América wants to defrock us of our queer powers." -Cherríe Moraga from "A Xicana Codex of Changing Consciousness: Writings 2000-2010.