What is Black Northwest?
BNW (for short) is a project started in Olympia, WA by Oly native, Artist, and Curator Davis Bashungwa. The project is dedicated to creating a sense of identity for Black and Afro-Diasporic people of the Pacific Northwest.BNW’s Goal is to create visibility through art, publications, exhibitions, community events, and much more. BNW is a passion project, currently only run by one person in hopes of it growing into a large interconnected community.BNW also hosts a Black Creatives Directory where people can find Black creatives all in one place!
How do I join?
You can join BNW’s Black Creatives Directory by emailing [email protected] or filling out the form on the Directory page.Other than that if you’re Black and in the PNW consider yourself a member! This project is free and will stay free for as long as I can manage!As the project develops my goal is to create a hub for Black creatives to exchange information and events. If you have an event you would like me to promote on the BNW Instagram, Tumblr, or Website contact [email protected]
The BNW Flag
The Black Northwest Flag is made by Davis Bashungwa.
The flag features Three main colors - Black, Green, and Blue.
Black represents Blackness. Green and Blue represent the PNW's landscape; water, trees, grasses and rain.The symbol on the Black triangle is Aya - a West African Adrinka symbol representing a fern.
Aya represents endurance, independence, defiance, hardiness, perseverance, and resourcefulness. Aya is from the Akan language and literally means fern.The Aya is a symbol of resilience as well as the depiction of a fern which are abundant and very important to PNW ecosystems.
BLACK NORTHWEST DIRECTORY
A Directory of Black Creatives in The Pacific Northwest
If you'd Like to join the directory please fill out the form!
Visual Artists
Davis Bashungwa | Interdisciplinary Artist & Curator
Travis Johnson | Curator, Creative & Educator
Lottie-maude Caldwell | Performance, Painting & Photographer
Zoey J. | Illustration & Animator
Nathaniel Moore | Illustration, Graphic Design, & Fashion Design
Morgan | Photographer
Ebony Frison |Artist, Storyteller, Writer & Archivist
Melanie Stevens | Artist, Printmaker & Educator
Writers
Do you write? Fill out the form :D
If you'd lto join the directory please fill out the form!