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About xander

Baltimore City
Hello, I am xander dumas, a multidimensional queer artist who lives in Baltimore. I am self taught and love to practice illustration, fiber arts, photography, graphic design, poetry, film & performance. The ‘Queer Zodiac Project’ is my first independent series, most of my work is created collaboratively with elliot mittens cooperson, we moonlight under the names ‘Ephemeral Fossils’ & ‘The Dandy Vagabonds’. 
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Aries

    .aries. xander dumas. 18.november.16
With resilience initiation she emerges. 
With resilience initiation-she-emerges.  
Headfirst she breaks the soil bringing forth with her...life... 
Bringing forth with her breath...
bringing forth with her, a cycle of renewal that strengthens weary hearts 
-that reminds weary thoughts, that...she.is.a.warrior.
And she will come again & again & again- growing thick the shorn coat of a butting ram. 
With resilience initiation, she emerges. 

In February 2016 i took a class on how to read my natal chart. This class was lush with symbology, abstraction, connection & cosmic language. As i filled my notebook with symbols & adjectives, comparisons and hidden meanings it became clear that a visceral collection of the zodiac would better connect language with meaning. From the space of research, collaboration & inspiration, the ‘queer zodiac project’ was born. 

The ‘queer zodiac project’ is a series compiled of 12 vignettes of collaborated conversations & photoshoots with 12 dynamic queer Baltimore artists & activists. Each vignette is a symbolic story weaving together sewn tapestries of planets that have their exalted & detrimental voice within each zodiacal sign and an illustrated expression of the emotion & action of each symbol.  

 I created Mars in the Summer 2016, the photoshoot, illustration & Aries vignette were created in the Fall 2016 


                 

  • aries.jpg
    aries.jpg
    3’x3’ multidimensional vignette that layer illustration, a sewn tapestry, archival prints of other sewn tapestries, a painted backdrop, research & exploration. The illustration of my Aries Muse is based on a photoshoot collaboration inspired by the adjectives strength & determination which embody my expression of Aries. Aries hangs in her ring of fire symbolizing Aries’ element & expansive skill in resilience. This illustration is in front of a 20”x20” sewn tapestry of Mars, the home planet of Aries. The planets on the side are archival prints of other sewn tapestries created for this project, they represent the Sun, which is in its exaltation, Pluto which is also in its exaltation, Venus which is in its detriment and Saturn which is in its fall. The background is a shimmery painted night sky with the embroidered constellation: Aries. created in the fall of 2016
  • mars.jpg
    mars.jpg
    20”x20” sewn tapestry of Mars, the home planet of Aries. designed and created by me.
  • regina-aries.jpg
    regina-aries.jpg
    illustration based on a collaborative photoshoot with Regina, my Aries muse. This archival print layers the illustration done with Prisma Markers and a fine black point pen, with photoshopped layers on top to add to dimension.
  • aries1.jpg
    aries1.jpg
    illustration of Aries muse in progress. Illustration done with Prisma Markers & a black, fine point pen
  • aries2.jpg
    aries2.jpg
    Photo of Regina during our Aries inspired photoshoot. This project was done collaboratively in which I asked each of my participants to choose an expression that personified a feeling. Regina practiced her ariel and stilting skills to express her Aries self through the lens of ‘strength & determination’.
  • aries3.jpg
    aries3.jpg
    Photo of Regina during our Aries inspired photoshoot. This project was done collaboratively in which I asked each of my participants to choose an expression that personified a feeling. Regina practiced her ariel and stilting skills to express her Aries self through the lens of ‘strength & determination’.
  • IMG 7477
    In February 2016 I started the 'queer zodiac project' in which i photographed a dynamic queer Baltimore artist or activist who embodied my interpretation of of their zodiacal sign. I turned these photos into a flip book stop motion 1 minute short film, layering together their talent, my illustration & editing. Here Velocity Charms embodies 'Aries" ; known for thriving through obstacles.
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