Curated and juried by Anthony Graham (BAMFA)
Keep Driving, Untitled #3
Mixed Media Fiber Work (currently on display at The Berkeley Art Center). Upcycled upholstery samples, cyanotype print on silk, and acrylic paint. (36”x40”)
Keep Driving is an extended series by Ezra Teshome that includes fiber art, film photography, and acrylic painting. In January 2024, Ezra and their fiancée traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to visit family and connect with the land of their ancestors. During this trip, Ezra captured numerous visually compelling images through street photography using a 35mm film camera. Each photograph tells a unique story, yet an overarching theme emerged after processing the images. January marks both the anniversary of Ezra’s brother’s passing and Ezra’s birthday—a time charged with subconscious reflection on grief and the hopeful optimism of a new solar return. The photographs use color and composition to invite viewers into the vibrant hustle and bustle of Addis Ababa’s rapid growth, seen from the perspective of a backseat passenger. The work balances the sorrow and hardship of poverty in a developing country with the resilient, optimistic spirit of its people.
