ARCHIVAL: a visual narrative-- Adeoti Azeez Afeez

poetry n. tings & lowkii ri

Rianna Samone aka lowkii ri is a multidisciplinary artist and educator based out of Oakland California. She is a full time educator, recording engineer, and all around creative who explores connection, healing, and the human experience through various disciplines. Whether it be using frequencies, a paint brush, curriculum, or a tattoo machine, Rianna’s unique and intentional way of creating is what makes her art inspiring and captivating. She is most known for her vibe and natural talent, which is why her clients always come back for the energy, the space, and the creative services she provides. Her love and gratitude for art, music, and community is at the root of everything she does. You can follow her @riannasamone on instagram to connect and see her work.

Lyn Patterson aka poetry n. tings is a storyteller and book art MFA student who lives in Oakland, CA. She is a deeply invigorated poet, specifically inspired to write about Black diaspora and those who have been systematically marginalized in society as a means of empowering future generations with their stories. For Patterson, storytelling is a sacred ancestral endeavor which can be used as a tool for paying homage and building future communities. Patterson often uses visual mediums to encapsulate her words and elevate the ways in which texts exist in conversation with one another. Her work has been published in Popshot Magazine and on KQED.

Where are you from? We are from other places but currently reside in Oakland, California.

How does narrative or storytelling play a role in your creativity?

Both of us are storytellers in our own right. But we approach storytelling through different mediums. When we started conceptualizing the EP, we really wanted to create an experience which made people feel deeply present in the eyes of the “main character.” Lyn uses words to narrate internal dialogue while Rianna uses sound to make the audience feel they are stepping into the shoes of that narrator. If you were to close your eyes while listening to the EP, you could almost feel like you were being transported to a white sandy beach, a crowded train, or a gentle river stream. Our storytelling for this project is about being so deeply present in the moment that it becomes an almost meditative experience.

What do you endeavor to archive with your art?

Archives are such a powerful tool for artists because it allows us to contribute to retellings of history that include beauty, joy, hope, and other feelings that can become neglected through dominant narratives. In this particular project, we were thinking a lot about all of the small moments of love and peace that we experience in life. The moments that make life worth living. Creativity is so often an act of transmutation and being able to transmute positive emotion allows us to return to these experiences that make us feel human.

How did you begin working with GUA?

This is Rianna’s first time working with GUA <3

For Lyn, I have been published several times with the mag. They actually were one of the first homes for my poetry. Since then, I have been able to partner with GUA as a content reviewer for their magazine selections and poetry readings they’ve done in partnership with Woodland Pattern. I absolutely love working with GUA as they are so thoughtful about supporting artists and giving artists opportunities to showcase their work.

Where can we find you?

Lyn: IG @poetryntings

Website: Forthcoming <3

Rianna: IG @riannasamone

Website: Forthcoming <3