The top shelf, bordered with a wavy edge of sandy light brown canvas, depicts family members arriving to the reunion through a canopy of coconut trees dancing in the breeze. The seven dolls on this shelf are dressed in various brightly colored floral, geometric, paisley, and kente cloth patterns. One doll, just to the left of a central palm tree with a squiggly trunk, has bright red embroidered lips and blue ribbons in her hair. In the back right corner is a bright red port-a-potty with its door ajar, and a silver men’s/women’s room symbol.
	The shelf below is bordered by a jagged zigzag edge of fresh green grass. In the left corner of the shelf, four dolls play double dutch beneath a curly-canopied palm tree. Two dolls wave double white jumpropes suspended in midair, as one doll jumps and another prepares to hop into the game. To their right is a large cardboard slide painted forest green, complete with ladder and handrails. In the center of this shelf is a deep cyan swingset with two swings. On the left swing, an adult-sized doll wearing a head to toe outfit of vegetable-patterned fabric attempts to ride the swing, but, according to Tanisha, she keeps falling off. On the right swing, a small, swaddled infant or child with a yellow bead in their hair is pushed by a blue-eyed doll with elegant blue sashes. To the right of the swings is a set of bright red monkey bars. Along the right side wall of the shelf, several dolls gather around a red boombox and a baby-sized doll, swaddled in lavender cloth, lying peacefully on a large picnic blanket. Two pastel medallions of periwinkle and pink crimped paper decorate the back wall of this shelf.
	The last shelf overlooking the dancefloor is also bordered with green zigzag grass. Dawn, the heart of the party, surrounded by loved ones, sits at a large table full of red, white, and green dishware containing chicken, ribs, plantains or corn, and various other meats, fruits, and vegetables. Dawn wears a red and gold dress and necklace made of lettered beads that spell out ”FIFTEEN DAWN.” Above the table, a banner held up by tiny clothespins reads “ALOHA,” with the letter O represented by large anthropomorphized pineapple. On the left side of the shelf, four beautifully dressed dolls play poker with red & white cards for cardboard chips and cash painted green & red. In the back right corner of this shelf, a doll reaches into an icy cooler labeled “Home Made Igloo” for a rack of ribs nestled between green and red bottles. Closer to the viewer on the right side of the shelf, a doll wearing deep wavy purple tends to a deluxe, 8-burner silver grill, cooking a brown hot link and bright red crab made of clay.
	Finally, on the ground level, we arrive at the dance floor. The entire bottom surface of the window box is covered by a painted grid of rainbow colored squared divided by thin lines of black. A large glass mosaic disco ball, whose diameter equals the height of the dolls, hangs from the shelf above in the center of the floor. Just right of center, a DJ wearing an orange, green, and black kente cloth patterned outfit stands at a table with a black & red vinyl record and a black sampler with silver buttons. On either side of the DJ table are two huge subwoofers with speakers stacked on top that tower over the dancers below. On the right side of the dance floor, three dolls gather around a table with a white tablecloth drinking champagne under a palm tree in the back right corner. On the left side of the dance floor, two dolls drink champagne at a similar, slightly smaller white table with a bowl of fruit on it. Just to the left of the disco ball, partygoers can order drinks from two brown rectangular cardboard bars, staffed by a bartender wearing an outfit of black, white, and brown vertical stripes. Both of the bars have large signs on top of them, labeled “Family Reunion 2025.”


Tanisha Warren Audio Description

D’Lisa’s window box installation depicts a witchy scene. The window box is 8 feet tall, about 5 and a half feet wide, and 2 and a half feet deep. The entire inside box is painted solid cobalt blue. 

In the left corner, a tall figure, likely a mannequin, faces the back of the window box. It wears a long dark blue, velvet cape. Near the top center of the back of the cape, which faces the window, D’Lisa has sewed on three moons. The center moon is nearly perfectly circular and is of a textured gold color. Touching both sides of this round moon are two thin crescent moons, made up of a silvery cloth, that face outward. These are sewed onto the cape with thick gold embroidery thread. The cape has a pointy hood. Its rim is lined with shiny light blue sequins. At the bottom of the cape is a layer of satiny cobalt blue fabric. 

Just to the right of the caped mannequin is a short table covered in a dark purple tablecloth. The table is almost entirely covered in fantastic objects, like tall beeswax candles, small various sized and shaped crystals and stones, a bronze femme statue - which D’Lisa says is the goddess of Love, a brightly beaded and clothed statue - also a goddess -, a wooden mannequin hand doing the ASL “I love you” sign with an evil eye draped over its thumb. Bright, hand-made tarot cards are splayed out at the front of the table, propped up by crystals. Most feature a person, like a pointy hatted witch or a jester, and natural elements like stars, lightning, and rainbows. 

Another, slightly shorter table is positioned next to this one, filling the bottom right corner of the box. It is covered in a lilac purple cloth and more magical objects. A large, empty silver singing bowl is in the center. Around it are ornate silver spoons, more beeswax candles, D’Lisa’s own ceramic cups and bowls with painted suns and creatures, geodes, a small container of Witches Flying Ointment, and a bottle of herbs labeled for Safe Travel. 

Small clear orbs dangle from string, attached around the ceiling of the box. A special crystal surrounded by two rings of metal hangs above the caped figure. 

More rocks, stones, and gems are scattered around the base of the mannequin and tables.

On the back wall of the box, near the right wall, is a self portrait of D’Lisa. She depicts herself with long tan colored hair, aquamarine eyes, a pink lipped smile, aquamarine finger nails, and a light blue single shouldered dress. She is the focus of the portrait, and emits a graceful powerful presence with arms stretched outward. She is in front of a dark blue background, with a vine wrapped tree to the left with a green fairy at its base and a copper mountain to her right. At the base of the mountain are small dragonflies, mushrooms, butterflies, and flowers. A circular yellow sun sits in the top left corner.

D’Lisa Fort Window Box Audio Description

Sher-ron Freeman
Born 1966, Oakland, California
Practiced at Creative Growth since 1988

ARTIST STATEMENT
“I started drawing flowers at home before I came to Creative Growth. I was inspired by the flowers I saw while walking outside. 


Art makes me happy—it’s something I’ve always loved to do. I like to use colorful Posca and Sharpie markers to draw and paint. I enjoy working on different surfaces like textiles, wood, and ceramics. I also like to sew and add things like buttons, beads, and puff balls to clothing. 


One of my favorite things is making jewelry with my friend Ruthie. We have fun creating pieces together.”


In my artwork, I use layers of dark and bright colors because they make me feel good. I like drawing and painting people, animals, trees, and shapes like dots.


I want to keep making big paintings, and in the future, I want to create another mural. When people look at my art, I hope it makes them feel happy—just like I feel when I make it.”


Sher-ron Freeman's Window Box

Born 1936, Berkeley, California
Practiced at Creative Growth since 2006


ARTIST STATEMENT


“I make it! The pieces are mine. Drawings, paintings and prints. Bowls in ceramics. Thread to make the clothes. I like the color blue, circle shapes.”


D’Lisa Fort Window Box Audio Description

Creative Growth Art Center

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