An Afro-Futurist Graphic Novel
Trinity City Arts commissions teams of adult and teen artists to co-create a world in which teens are heroes in the struggle for human rights for all. We partner with youth arts and writing groups like YAYA and 826 NOLA to hire, support, and inspire the next generation of New Orleans culture-bearers.
THE PROCESS
Issue #1: Over the course of 15 months (November 2021 - February 2023), a team of six artists (3 teens, 3 adults) spent a total of approximately 300 hours in conversation, research, reading and drawing to create the world of Trinity City and its first issue.
Issue #2: Over the course of 10 months (January - October 2024), a new team of six artists (3 teens, 3 adults) will spend another 200 hours in conversation, research, reading and drawing to create the second issue. Issue #2 will answer important questions raised by Issue #1, like: What is the Pact, and why are so many people against it in Trinity City? Where is Rowan’s sister, and what is the connection between her disappearance and the mysterious gang known only as “The Poboys”?
THE VALUES
Emergent Strategy: We use the nine principles outlined in Adrienne Maree Brown’s book Emergent Strategy to guide both our creative process and the content of the graphic novel itself:
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Small is good, small is all.
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Change is constant (Be like water).
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There is always enough time for the right work.
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Never a failure, always a lesson.
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If you trust the people, they become trustworthy.
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Move at the speed of trust.
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Focus on critical connections more than critical mass.
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Less prep, more presence.
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What you pay attention to grows.
Youth Empowerment: Our project moves fluidly between youth leadership, adult mentorship and group creation, trusting the intelligence and intuition of the teen artists.
Collaborative Creation: We value a process that is truly collaborative, with each artist bringing their own skill set into the center of the work.
Shared Copyright: We value shared investment: when complete, all six artists will share the copyright to this comic.
THE ARTISTS · Issue #1
The YAYAs
These teens are resident artists at YAYA, Inc
Keith Singleton
Keith is 19 years old and attends Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. He dreams of being a well-known professional comic book artist with his own franchise.
Morgan Prevost
Morgan is 19 years old and attends Loyola University. She loves being able to bounce ideas off of other artists, collaborate, get tips, and experiment with new mediums in order to grow. She believes that art is cleansing, drawing is limitless.
Blair Augillard
Blair is 18 years old and attends Willow High School. He creates art using digital mediums like procreate. His work incorporates influences from graffiti, cartoons, and skate culture. He is also interested in Glassblowing and Mixed Media Arts.
THE ARTISTS · Issue #1
The Professionals
Steve Prince
Steve is an artist, educator and art evangelist. His mediums are printmaking, drawing and sculpture. Steve is a native of New Orleans and the Crescent City's rich tradition of art, music and religion pulsate through his work. He is currently the Director of Engagement and Distinguished Artist in Residence at William and Mary College, and is represented by Eyekons Gallery.
Angélique Roché
Angélique is an attorney, journalist, producer, host, moderator, voiceover artist, and co-author of the non-fiction book, My Super Hero is Black, forthcoming from Marvel / Simon and Schuster / Gallery Books. She has contributed to Harper’s Bazaar, NBC News, Black Girl Nerds, Syfy Wire, Marvel, Nerdist, and Rewire News. She is originally from Port Allen, LA.
Sharika Mahdi
Sharika is a visual artist and art educator based in New Orleans. Her style has been described as joyful, happy and even healing. Her background in visual art, particularly her participation in the renowned YAYA (Young Aspirations Young Artists) youth art program throughout high school and college, has laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial spirit to promote her art through gallery exhibits and festivals nationally.
THE ARTISTS · Issue #2
The Young Writers Council of 826 NOLA
These teens are members of the 826 NOLA Young Writers Council.
Alex Warren
Alex is 18 years old and attends Walter L. Cohen High School. He is a poet and hopes to go to Morehouse College for Psychology and become a published author by the age of 22.
Cherielle Clark
Cherielle is a 9th grade student at George Washington Carver High School. When she graduates, she wants to attend an HBCU and study medicine. She loves to write because it helps her express herself in a creative way, and her favorite color is orange.
Je’Miyah Suggs
Je’Miyah is 17 years old. She is a writer with no limits or label. She’s a cosmetologist that adores math and writing.
THE ARTISTS · Issue #2
The Professionals
Kennedi Andrus
Kennedi Andrus is a New Orleans native and visual artist, currently teaching creative writing at 826 New Orleans. Her inspiration comes from nature, the world, and young people. She hopes to always continue teaching and creating.
Keith Knight
Keith Edgar Knight, Phd, is a cartoonist and musician based in North Carolina and known for his accessible yet subversive comic strips The K Chronicles, (Th)ink, and The Knight Life. While his work is humorous and universal in appeal, he also often deals with political, social, and racial issues Woke, a television series based on his work, debuted on Hulu in 2020.
Steve Prince
Steve is an artist, educator and art evangelist. His mediums are printmaking, drawing and sculpture. Steve is a native of New Orleans and the Crescent City's rich tradition of art, music and religion pulsate through his work. He is currently the Director of Engagement and Distinguished Artist in Residence at William and Mary College, and is represented by Eyekons Gallery.
THE VISION
We know what happens to young people (people of all ages!) when they get a great comic book in their hands: they become absorbed, they start imagining alternative worlds and narratives, and they start talking about it.
When our comic book is complete, we will work with community partners to distribute the comic free to schools, community centers and summer camps throughout Louisiana.
We will consult regularly with youth leaders and teachers, camp counselors and other youth development workers on ways young people can adapt our comic book and creative process to inspire cultural and political actions of their own to reduce, re-direct and otherwise reform the law enforcement systems in their communities.
OUR GOAL: to inspire at least 25 new youth-led cultural and political actions across Louisiana each year by 2025 that we will then support through the creation of a small community-based arts fund based in part upon future income from the comic book.