Mind Med, Aura Alters

Shalonda Jemison

Solo Exhibition at Gallery Be

October 2 – November 1, 2024

Closing reception on November 1, 5:00 – 7:00pm

Gallery Be
Disability Network Washtenaw Monroe Livingston
3941 Research Park Dr | Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Open during office hours:
Monday – Thursday, 8:30am – 4:30pm

Contact the artist to inquire about artwork availability.

734.971.0277
Gallery Manager, Claire Moore

Artist Statement

The mind is powerful, it can create heaven or hell. Each embodiment has a profound effect on the chakra centers of the soul. I hope to unveil the various layers of meditation for my mental well-being journey. Self-love is vital for well-being and harmony within the body, mind, and soul connection.  

As a middle-aged black woman with a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, I create to navigate the complexity of my mental health condition. I walk through life with internal chaos from hypomania and dedication to harmony from daily stress management methods like medicine, meditation, natural remedies, physical movement, and spiritual practices. I am learning to accept the challenges that present themselves in the form of delusions and addressing them through art, natural remedies, and writing. 

I weave artwork that combines celestial, nature, and woman and man into a mind med from reference photos of poses and allow the painting to evolve from them. I like to sketch out ideas on paper using pen or pencil, then take the concept to canvas with acrylic paint. Acrylic medium is important to my process because the paint dries quickly, easy to layer, and allows movement across the canvas from background to subject. Celestial concepts show expansiveness and chaos in motion with wild brush strokes that layer into a background, using a stipple brush which represents the mental breakdown turned into beauty. In this way, blending and shading is easier to visualize, because the brushstrokes reveal the design.  

“Mind Med, Aura Altars” is the practice of achieving harmony through mind and offering myself to the altar of my auras for balance. I feel called to create this body of artwork to re-introduce myself to myself and find the courage to spark conversations about a mental health condition that’s initiated self-love, harmony, and soul. 
Artist Bio
Shalonda Jemison is a middle-aged, black woman raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is a self-taught visual artist, training throughout post-secondary education. Shalonda has shown artwork at local galleries and Ann Arbor City Hall.
 
After receiving a diagnosis of schizoaffective, Shalonda reclaimed an appreciation for art. The art sessions in psychiatric hospitals helped her regain a better understanding of how to communicate with the world around her. Art has been integral in relieving stress, focusing on tasks, and unveiling the subconscious mind.

Shalonda prays for a better understanding of her diagnosis through art and sharing a journey of recovery. Self-care is wealth and she hopes to spark discussions about the connection between art, science, and soul.
Audio Tour

Feel free to pause the audio tour at any time to allow yourself more time with each piece. COMING SOON.

Huge radiating sunburst in reds and oranges, with a yellow center. Black background.Huge radiating sunburst in reds and oranges, with a yellow center. Black background.

Sky & Earth
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2024

Woman in center of Blue sky with Turquoise and purple planets placed around her. Below her is nature scene with red, pink, yellow, blue flowers and green trees on far left and far right.

$133

Two abstracted faces in black charcoal. They float in the center of the page. The left face is a profile, the right is upside down and looking straight ahead. Thick charcoal marks surround the faces.

Fairies in the Woodland
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2023

Woman and man in a red background with brown trees and on blue tree. Woman is standing against a tree and on top of a gray rock whole right hand touching man’s beard. She is wearing a blue dress. Man is wearing a blue shirt and purple pants standing to right of woman in front of her. He’s left hand is touching her right shoulder and arm outstretched underneath woman’s armpit. Blue fairy wings are placed near trees. There is a brown Woman with purple dress and yellow hair fairy with arms outstretched holding up tree Woman is standing against. There’s a beige fairy woman with purple dress and brown hair.

$336

Simplified depiction of a smiling face with chin-length straight hair. The face and background are split into four different color quadrants. From left to top to right to bottom: pink, green, blue, purple.

Galaxies in Maroon
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2024

Maroon sky with dark maroon cloud and pink and orange planets with white stars.

$94

Golden is Wisdom
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic and acrylic ink
2024

Cerulean blue sky with black umber tree stretching upwards with metallic gold leaves. Seven roots stretching downward on violet background.

$92.79

Deeply saturated blues, greens, and purples swirl behind a thin, black silhouette of a tree. The tree’s branches are tipped in green dots. To the right of the tree, an orange and yellow sun.

Voice Hearing Stops
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic paint markers, fine nib pen, acrylic ink, and acrylic paint
2024

Woman with brown skin, wearing a red headwrap, blue tank top, and orange patterned skirt, sits on the grass under a golden yellow sky. She holds her hands to her ears.

$92.80

Untitled
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic, molding paste, paint markers
2024

A brownish red door to left with white light coming out. On top of door is a landscape scene of mountains, grass, and waterfall falling on shoulder of woman. The background is red-violet and cerulean blue sky with light pink clouds and a man in upper right corner of painting.

NFS

Flower and nature-based collage. The focal point is a large pink peony in the center of the page. Purple, blue, and green flowers, plants, and insects surround the peony.

Wishing on a Planet
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2024

Galaxy painting with blue sky and green and Burgundy planets. White stars placed around the planets.

$89

30mg Rx
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic ink, fine nib pens
2024

Woman with curly light brown hair with chains around her neck and chest. White bottle in top left corner with “Rx” written on it and yellow pills, falling down onto the woman. Woman’s mouth is open and iridescent blue tears dripping from right closed eye. Pill bottle top is resting on the right shoulder of the woman.

$43

Abstract. Yellow background covered with dot-like brushstrokes in silver, red, green, purple, and gold.

Diffuse Not Stirred
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2024

White background with flowers and martini glass. Bundle of lavender flowers and geranium flower on the left side of martini glass. Red rose stem inside martini glass and flower on right side of canvas. Two geranium stems with light pink flowers on right side of martini glass.

$62.59

Twelve individual pieces: three to a row, totalling four rows. All of the pieces have a variety of vibrant colors, with black lines intersecting across the pages. The top three pieces are abstracted trees.

Embrace Her Passion
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2023

Man has arm wrapping around woman’s shoulder. Woman has left hand placing on man’s chest. Woman has red hair with orange and yellow flames. Man has brown hair with gold accents.

$110

Twelve individual pieces: three to a row, totalling four rows. All of the pieces have a variety of vibrant colors, with black lines intersecting across the pages. The top three pieces are abstracted trees.

Blue Goddess
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2023

Abstract green and blue hues painting.

$189.40

Twelve individual pieces: three to a row, totalling four rows. All of the pieces have a variety of vibrant colors, with black lines intersecting across the pages. The top three pieces are abstracted trees.

Yoga on Mountaintop
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2024

Woman on mountaintop standing in yoga pose. Her right extends out and left arm is behind her holding the left foot. She is wearing purple top and pants. Light blue background.

$71

Twelve individual pieces: three to a row, totalling four rows. All of the pieces have a variety of vibrant colors, with black lines intersecting across the pages. The top three pieces are abstracted trees.

Zential
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic, fountain pen, and acrylic ink
2024

Woman is sitting in meditation pose with left and right hands on her opposite feet. Woman is wearing purple shirt and turquoise head wrap and pants. Her right leg crosses over left leg. She is sitting inside an abstract pink lotus flower. At the top is yellow sun on left and crescent moon on the right. A blue and black background.

$74.59

Auditory Inception
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2023

Black sky with white stars. Three mountains to right with green man to left corner and looking up towards purple planet with ring around it. Center of canvas blue planet with three craters. Top right corner a rose light and top left corner a lion head.

$290

Twelve individual pieces: three to a row, totalling four rows. All of the pieces have a variety of vibrant colors, with black lines intersecting across the pages. The top three pieces are abstracted trees.

Non Compliance Nature Heals
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic paint and markers
2024

Yellow and red on top of canvas. Woman with mouth open and staring straight ahead. She has Burgundy hair, green eyes, and lavender lips. To the left of woman is green syringe with planet emerging from the top and a tree. Woman is wearing a light blue shirt with an open pill bottle below her.

$91

Twelve individual pieces: three to a row, totalling four rows. All of the pieces have a variety of vibrant colors, with black lines intersecting across the pages. The top three pieces are abstracted trees.

Night Vision Calling Home
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2023

Landscape with a blue waterfall flowing into a river across the bottom of the composition. The sky is black with a gray space ship on the top left, a purple orb in the middle, and a purple and pink planet on the top right. A woman with long red hair sits cross-legged by the river, with her arms raised above her. An expanding purple orb flows from above her hands.

NFS

Line drawing of a sitting cat.

Untitled
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2023

Landscape with three gray mountain peaks, green foothills and land, and four shorter brown plateaus spreading out before them. A blue river cuts across the center of the composition and snakes toward the bottom and edges. The sky is black with sparkling stars, with purple and pink planets.

NFS

Line drawing of a cat lying down with its paws tucked underneath its body.

Proud to Be
Shalonda Jemison
Mixed media textile and acrylics
2024

Turquoise background with woman staring off to left. She has caramel brown skin and two green leaf earrings. Her head coverings is a multicolor fabric. On her right shoulder rests a pink and Burgundy Hummingbird facing right. The woman is wearing a purple garment.

$106.99

Flowers are Stars
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic ink, metallic markers, acrylic paint
2024

Woman waving left arm with braided flower hair. She is wearing a golden necklace with a pink round stone and light blue dress against a dark blue background. On top of the painting is the quote “Are not flowers the stars of the earth? – Clara Lucas Balfour.”

$36.40

Vibrant color radiates from the center of the composition. Oranges, pinks, and greens move into blues and purples.

The Welcoming of Trust
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2023

Yellow background with painting of woman walking down a steeped mountain. Woman is purple with red and pink hair. Man is green and holding the woman’s left hand. Woman is holding the rail on step mountain with right hand. A waterfall is on top right of canvas pouring down into an ocean shoreline. Behind the step mountain are grey and umber mountains in background. Step mountain is surrounded by grass.

$376

Close-up line drawing of a lily flower.

Rise Awaken Live
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic on wood panel
2024

Three faces looking toward top left of panel. The descend diagonally toward the bottom right. Top face is light purple and has white tendrils protruding from its mouth and touching a red circle. Second face is magenta-red. The third face is pink, with purple hair, and raises a hand toward the red circle.

$50

Simplified depiction of a face. Their tongue sticks out. Their brown hair is short and spikey. Their skin is bright yellow and they’re wearing a purple necklace with a heart charm. The background is blue with red dots.

Butterfly
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2024

Woman’s profile on purple and blue galaxy background. She has brown skin, purple lips, and her face emerges from clouds. Two purple butterflies fly in front of her face.

NFS

Silhouette of a tree against a stained glass-like background of vibrant colors. The tree is 3D and raises off of the surface of the paper.

Yello Planets
Shalonda Jemison
Acrylic
2024

Blue background with red violet Nebula cloud cascading from top to middle of canvas. Yellow and red orange planets with white stars.

$117