‘Are You Just a Plaything of Nature?’ Amina Ross on the Politics of Beauty
An excerpt from the ECHOING IDA collection
A self-proclaimed “undisciplined” artist, Amina Ross’ generous making practice includes curating a vibrant workshop series called Beauty Breaks — a series that saved me from isolation as a friendless transplant bumbling around Chicago only a year before. The irregularly scheduled workshop, hosted in F4F’s attic and performance space, brought together an earnest and dynamic group of young Black queerdos intent on building community in a notoriously challenging city. I learned how to use tarot as a tool to cultivate my intuition. I built small sculptures from recycled goods. I meditated, wrote poetry, co-created impromptu group performances, and refreshed my spirit in ways I could not have imagined. It was diametrically opposed to any of my former interactions with “beauty,” and I wanted to talk about why.
These are edited excerpts from our conversation.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Kemi Alabi: You’ve had workshops that deal with the aesthetics of the body, workshops that are more theoretical about joy, hands-on food making. What’s the through-line?
