Malene Barnett Holiday Gift Guide
Left Photo of Malene Barnett by Alaric Campbell
We are absolutely honoured to share this very special gift wish list curated by artist, designer and BAD Guild (Black Artists & Designers Guild) founder, Malene Barnett.
“Malene Barnett is an artist, activist, and authority on the cultural traditions and practices of art in the African diaspora and how it translates into her vision of the modern black experience.
From her sculptural ceramic tiles and vessels to mixed media paintings to handwoven rugs, Malene continues to evolve her craft and share her African heritage with a global audience. Using natural materials like the finest wools, silks, pastels and clay, she uncovers a deeper language of her legacy and an authentic understanding of her cultural identity. A passionate connector and expert ambassador, her mission is to use art as a tool to create community impact and open doors for the next generation of black artists and expand the conversation around marginalization in the arts and create greater opportunities for inclusion.
As the founder of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, a global platform and curated collective of independent black artists, makers, and designers, Malene is always seeking new ways to define the black narrative and experience for a new generation while bringing awareness to inequality. She’s also on the board for CERF+, an organization that provides emergency grants to artisans and craftspeople during natural disasters.
Equal parts artist, anthropologist, and activist, she hopes to bridge the function of textiles and ceramics from the African region by exploring what it means to be black in America today.”
Here is a list of Malene’s favourite Holiday gift items
Dana Baugh, COCOA Christmas Tree Holiday Ornament for Baughaus
"I envision these becoming part of family tradition and being passed down for generations" ~ Dana Baugh, Founder & creator
BAUGHaus Design Studio loves telling Authentic Jamaican and Caribbean stories through our handmade products!
Our COCOA Christmas Tree Holiday Ornament is one of our Caribbean Heirloom pieces, celebrating beloved traditions and symbols for many Caribbean people. One of the best loved beverages; hot chocolate, has its origins right here in Jamaica. Where it is documented that Jamaicans brewed a hot drink made with shavings of freshly harvested cacao boiled with milk and cinnamon from as early as 1494.
$50.00
This lofty gauze throw is all about the snuggle. The loose cotton weave makes it soft and lightweight and the wool adds just enough warmth without being heavy.
Designed in the US and woven by artisans in Portugal.
$ 175.00
“In this new series of collages I continue my exploration into the history of African American quiltmaking and traditional West African textile techniques. Using previously screen printed editions as source material, I create "threads" that explore materiality, process, and spatiality. In addition to the thread-like strips, I've started to incorporate some new shapes which have allowed new narratives take shape.” Lisa Hunt
Born in Ethiopia and based in Virginia, designer Jomo Tariku conceived this Dogon Stool as a modern take on small geometric stools found in the African nation of Mali. Growing up in Ethiopia, Tariku was drawn to the eclectic art and furniture pieces that his father collected from all over Africa. Tariku developed his craft during summer breaks at a local furniture builder in the Ethiopian city of Addis Ababa and went on to study industrial design at the University of Kansas.
€2,329.95
Karen Revis Sheets at Brooklinen
Beautiful Luxe Sateen sheets created by designer Karen Revis for Brook Linen
America Will Always Be (Ode to Hair and Black Girl’s Dreams) by artist Morel Doucet.
from $250.00
The photo is printed on a beautiful Hahnemühle Fine Art Photo Rag (100% Cotton Paper).
High Tide - Limited Edition 10 oz. Soy Candle
Created by Greenmarket Purveying Company or G P, who hand pour all of their candles in their Suburban Philadelphia studio.
Island orchid, jasmine, and coconut cream.
$20.00
Midunu Chocolates
Hand-Crafted Chocolate Truffles
Midunu works with “local farmers and producers to cultivate and create our chocolates in Ghana. When you open a box of Midunu Chocolates, you will taste the subtle infusion of local bounty –seasonal teas, tisanes, and complex spice blends. These flavours represent the beautiful patchwork that is Africa's culinary heritage.”
$24.00
Nur Ceramics, Rituals of Connection Bundle
Incense, perfume, and ceramics are three of the most ancient ritual crafts of North and East Africa and Southwest Asia. These forms have co-evolved over centuries.
The Rituals of Connection bundle includes:
6x4 inch incense burner
10ml handcrafted perfume oil
10g of Sudanese bakhoor
Fine grey sand to line your incense burner
4 pieces of Japanese incense charcoal
4 inch stainless steel incense tongs
$240.00
Mimi Plange + Lolita Lorenzo Sunglasses: Mustard
$285.00
Mimi Plange is an American sportswear brand infused with art and dark romance. It is a cultural melting pot of design and inspiration founded by Paris born Senegalese entrepreneur, Ibrahim Ndoye and Ghanaian born American designer, Mimi Plange.
Hadiya Williams Holiday Charm Box for And-Sons
A collaboration with mixed-media artist, Hadiya Williams, the Charm collection presents a series of artworks that combine her “ancestral modern”, African-inspired aesthetic with festive holiday motifs.
A portion of sales to benefit The Black and Missing Foundation.
$49-$99
About Camp Yoshi
“The vision is to create a space for Black folks and our Allies to unplug, in order to reconnect with the wilderness. The Camp Yoshi collective pulls this off by custom designing guided outdoor adventures that speak to our shared experience. We carefully architect routing, gourmet menus, supplies and visual documentation for each expedition. We partner with key brands that understand our mission to empower, and help provide these amenities. Our adventurers just need to show up and unplug... we’ll handle the rest.”
Find more info about their experiences here
Classes at Yaro Studio
About Yaro Studio:
“Our studio located in Greenpoint Brooklyn, creates space for education and experimentation across multiple disciplines. We hold classes, lectures and events focused in ceramics, fiber arts, textiles, block printing, mycology, and herbalism—amongst other modes of creative making…..We are a minority owned and women led business. ”
Eu'Genia Shea Butter Gift Set at 54Kibo
The Eu'Genia Shea Butter Gift Set is the perfect contemporary African gift with the highest quality luxury shea butter in the world; over 80% shea content compared to 5% average in the market. This unique gift is handmade in Ghana by a mother- daughter team dedicated to sourcing high quality shea butter. Partnering with hundreds of sustainably paid farmers, Eu'Genia delivers the best quality product in sleek, modern packaging
$ 50
Adele Dejak's Aode earrings (Brass) at 54Kibo
These unique, handmade pieces showcase beautifully decorative contemporary African design jewellery. Made with recycled metal, these long, slender rectangular brass earrings are sustainable and modern. Simple, yet bold, Adele Dejak's modern African earrings are perfect as a gift, or a gift to yourself.
$ 95
Luxury hand-blown + speciality made coloured glass, founded by Stephanie Summerson Hall
Delita Martin, Shadows in the Garden
“Shadows In The Garden focuses on the work of Texas based artist Delita Martin. It highlights works from several exhibitions and works held in various collections. Contents of the book include a forward by artist and curator Vicki Meek, an interview with artist conducted by Joshua Asante, essays by Dr. Kheli R. Willetts and Gary Reece, and select bibliography. The book also features full color reproductions of all works.
The works included in this publication examines the transition of women into their “spiritual self”. These works reinforce the bond among women and how they co-exist in the physical and spiritual realms. Through the layering of various mediums and symbols I can pull the viewer out of a logical and common world and place them within a space that offers a glimpse into the spirit world.”
$40.00