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Mel Harper Creative

@mhcart

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Writer, reader, thinker, maker.
Honest reflection + strategic planning = more space for creative work.
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This portrait of Jay-Z came across my feed today. In it, I see a possible reference to Francis Bacon's screaming portraits that feels intentional: the three-quarter angled pose; Jay's arms flattened along the chair's arms and gripping the ends; the vertical lines of the drapery/mural invoking the way Bacon's vertical paintstrokes slash through his compositions. I didn’t know if Bacon was a direct reference, but I began to wonder what layers such a reference could add, to a portrait of man who's now become an elderstatesman of rap—one of the first, for an art form only birthed in the late 70s, not too long after Jay himself. Bacon wanted to create an impression that his screaming subjects—many of whom never sat for or consented to his portraits, including most notably the Pope—had passed through the canvases, leaving a trail of sludge on the surface, as a snail might. Is that what this photo represents? A remnant substance of Jay passing through the camera's lens? Upon Googling, I found out it's a photograph by @RashidJohnson, made to accompany a recent GQ profile of Jay. When I saw the cover design, I instantly saw a reference to a work many know i am OBSESSED with (and very slowly writing about)—James Van Der Zee's 1982 portrait of Jean-Michel Basquiat, made when the photographer was NINETY-SIX year's old, to the emerging painter's twenty-one. And this reference feels intentional for sure: Jay in suit and tie; hand on his cheek;his torso angled to our right, gazing up/left; chair now front-facing. He holds a bouquet of flowers in his lap, in place of Van Der Zee's cat. Also, anyone who's listened to more than 3 Jay-Z songs knows he's into Basquiat. His locs of recent years seem Basquiat-esque, for a cherry on top of the photographic homage. Another of Johnson's portraits for GQ picture Jay peeking from behind an African mask. It made me think of Man Ray, and the Dutch waxcloth print fabric background reminded me of Carl Van Vechten's 1960s photograohs of James Earl Jones. There may be more direct visual references than those coming to my mind right now, but just wanted to share what I'm seeing. There's a lot to dig into here. [image credits in comments] taken in Marcy Projects, Brooklyn by @mhcart
12
7 months ago
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R.I.P. to my Canine Co-parent, my Shotgun Shawty, my roommate, my therapist, my emotional support animal, my nanny, Walt's "Bwoo," my Bluey girl 💙 I knew you'd have to go some day, but I wasn't ready 💔 The last photo was Blue's 12th and final Christmas-Birthday, 2025 ❤️💚 (with cameos from her big bro, my soulmate dog, the late great Purple Haze Harper 💜) taken in Southeast, Washington, D.C. by @mhcart
26
7 months ago
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My greatest gift, under the tree. +accidental #shelfie #whereswalty #charliebrownchristmastree taken in Southeast, Washington, D.C. by @mhcart
2
10 months ago
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We got you, Madame Vice President. . #HU #HowardUniversity #Bison #KamalaHarris taken in Howard University by @mhcart
3
2 years ago
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Rainbows swirling around @SimoneYvetteLeigh's "Satellite" (2022) 📷 1: @_de_jon_ ❤️ #melfie taken in Glenstone by @mhcart
0
2 years ago
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"Take Your Twintern to Work Day" 🥰 [National Take Your Child to Work Day, 2024] sn: When the gift shop doesn't sell staff shirts in child sizes—you paint one yourself! #WheresWalty #melfie 📷 1 and 10: @mendoncae 📷 8: @gottkatherine taken in National Gallery of Art by @mhcart
10
2 years ago
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Such a beautiful time celebrating @HollyBass360 at the premiere of her new play, The Trans-Atlantic Time Traveling Company (TATTCo) at @TheaterAllianceDC. TATTCo is a layered, surprising play that you have to experience for yourself. Holly's story centers 3 Black women in the reconstruction era, performing their traveling medicine show throughout the American South. There are only TWO more weekends to see the show through March 17—including this one! Thurs/Fri/Sat shows start @7:30pm, and Sunday matinees @2pm at the Anacostia Playhouse. "Name Your Own Price" Tickets are available both in-person and online @ theateralliance.com Hope to see you there! Slide 1 📷: @SheldonAScott ❤️ #melfie #HollyBass #acreativedc #202creates #dctheater taken in Anacostia Playhouse by @mhcart
1
3 years ago
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Me: "So remember—who are you?" Walt: "Valter." Me: "Well, yes. But when somebody asks who are you today." Walt: "I'm Valter!" Me: "Well if they ask who you're DRESSED as." Walt: "I'm DWESSED as Valter!" Me: "You ARE Walter. But you're dressed as Thurgood Marshall." Walt: "But dese are MY cwoze! So how can I be dwessed as Furgood?" Me: "Well . . . that robe isn’t your normal clothes. We made that for you to dress up as Thurgood Marshall." Walt: "Ok, so when I'm wearing the wobe I'm Furgood . . . but undourneath I'm still Valter!" Me: 🥰🥰🥰 #BlackHistoryMonth #ThurgoodMarshall #becauseofthemwecan #BlackHistory #WheresWalty taken in Southeast, Washington, D.C. by @mhcart
17
3 years ago
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Whew! This was a tough asthma day! I had 3 inhalers on me backstage trying to find the lung strength to even get my story out! But, the show must go on! What an honor to be invited to @StoryDistrict's Top Shelf 2023 show. A full cast of "closers"!! #storytelling #storydistrict #topshelf #asthma #theshowmustgoon taken in Capital Turnaround by @mhcart
2
3 years ago
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Have you ever been to a storytelling show like this before? It's time to introduce you to DC's top storytellers this year. Top Shelf is Story District's annual celebration of the year's best stories told on stage. Get early bird tickets until November 30—don't wait to get yours! This event sells out every year.⁠ ⁠ Hosted at the poshest venue in town—the newly renovated @capturnaround in partnership with our friends @unionstage ⁠ Dress to the 9s and you could win tickets to the OG annual Valentine's Day show, Sucker For Love. ⁠ ⁠ Get ready for an extravagant night out in DC featuring scintillating stories of sex, long-lost siblings, sweet revenge, and sex. Your storytellers Julie Condit Mel Harper Reggie MxCaw II Yasmin Elhady Jaleesa Matthews Marjorie Winther Douala Preston Renee Moore taken in Washington, DC by @mhcart
1
3 years ago
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Walt decided we should #Switch it up this year for Halloween 🤣. We had so much fun designing and creating these costumes together ❤️💙 📷 9: @mal_tay29 #Halloween2023 #costume #NintendoSwitch #Nintendo #Switch #joycon #melfie #WheresWalty #BlackCosplayer #puns taken in Southeast, Washington, D.C. by @mhcart
4
3 years ago
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"Excuse me." —Daria Morgendorffer #WorkCostume #halloween #Daria #90s #mtv #cosplay #BlackCosplayer taken in Sick Sad World by @mhcart
12
3 years ago
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