Art Residence
I will start 2026 by spending 3 weeks in Red Wing, Minnesota in January at Anderson Center's Winter Retreat to see how much inking I can manage. :)
News
Nathalie and me, tired from hanging up our very first exhibit but very excited to shared Lulu White's story with our local communities!
Our exhibit focused on proposing a historical context for the time and place where Lulu White lived.
We tried to offer a glance into the work of searching for inspiration both in subjects and in techniques. One of our favorite artists is Toulouse-Lautrec for the way he portrays the life of the demi-monde.
These pages are examples of the way we use archives to imagine vignettes of Lulu White's life. We combined different perspectives: the traces she left in archival documents like her will, the public persona she created through her promotion, and through newspaper articles which depict the gaze of the society that resented her presence and her fortune.
Our map is based on the work of Pamela D. Arceneaux in her Guidebooks to Sin: The Blue books of Storyville, New Orleans with her permission.
Through our exhibit, we sought to introduce Lulu White to Ida Dorsey, a successful Black madam in Minnesota at the same time as Lulu White. Historian Penny Petersen joined us to talk about her work on the Minneapolis Madams and the Red-Light Districts of the Twin Cities.
A sample page of our book depicting different words used to describe a sex worker around the turn of the 20th century. The beautiful lettering was done by artist Nathalie Serena-Bazinet. A playlist and some acknowledgements.
Thanks to input by a SWOP (Sex Workers Outreach Project), we attempted to described the current situation for sex workers.
Did you know that the first case against segregation laws was won by a group of Black madams in New Orleans?
In this page, we want to show that not only Mardi Gras was (and continues to be) a huge source of revenue for sex workers but it was also where brave marginalized individuals could step out of the shadows.
Newspapers loved to talk about Lulu, transforming into profitable scandal her struggle to keep her business open despite pressure coming from all directions. But she doesn't always mind the publicity and she sometimes manages to use newspaper to make her voice heard.
Life in Storyville was a rough and dangerous man's world, so Lulu White's success is a testament to her ability to tenacity.
Here's a snapshot of the exhibit.
Nathalie found a scroll for a mechanical piano for this era. Lulu White had one in her Mahogany Hall.
Wow! These kids' imagination has no bounds!
We wrote stories with objects from the Northfield Historical Society, thanks to Alexus Kreft.
We were honored to be joined by Penny Petersen, author of Minneapolis Madams: The Lost History of Prostitution on the Riverfront whose important research brings back to life Ida Dorsey, another immensely successful Black Madam and remembers Minneapolis' forgotten red-light district(s), but owned and run by women.
An exhibit
From June 12 to July 12, the Northfield Arts Guild will host my exhibit on Lulu White, Queen of Diamonds. Opening and public talk "The Fallen Women of Storyville" on June 20 at 5PM followed by a reception 6-8PM.
FOr kids!
May 17 11:30am - 12:30, there will be a workshop on making comics for kids ages 8-13 at the Northfield Arts Guild. @411 Water Street S
Contact me to register. Limited to 10 participants.
working with archives
June 14 1:30-3:30pm, I will offer a workshop for participants ages 14 and up to tell a story visually based on a photo or another artifact from the past. More info coming soon... Register by contacting me. Limited to 10 participants.
A meet up for comics creators!
Local artist Rocky Casillas Aguirre and I are starting a monthly meet-up (1st Thursday 4-6PM) for cartoonists in the Northfield area. As cartoonists ourselves, we know the lonely work of making comics and how much we learn from others. For more info, check out our Facebook page. Next meeting will be in August.
See you at the Northfield Library!!
-- Steph
Stephanie Cox is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. These activities* are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Another incredible sight: OUR COMIC BOOK IN THE HANDS OF PRINCIPAL AND STUDENTS OF INANDA SEMINARYI!
During his trip, Chérif visited Inanda Seminary for Girls in the Durban vicinity. This is where Northfield-born missionary Ida Belle Wilcox taught Nokutela.
Here is Chérif at the showing of his documentary "Remembering Nokutela/uKukhumbula uNokutela" at Inanda Seminary where Nokutela great grandniece was present.
Here, Chérif is with Mrs. Baleka Mbete, former Vice-President of South Africa and former President of the South African Parliament.
WHAT A TURNOUT!
A BIG THANK YOU to our great many old and new friends at the Northfield Public Library for our public talk on January 16, 2025. It was heartwarming to feel the love for us, for Nokutela and the story that connects Northfield, Minnesota to this important South African heroine.
This event was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
(photo credit: Heather Lawrenz)
WHAT A TURNOUT!
A BIG THANK YOU to our great many old and new friends at the Northfield Public Library for our public talk on January 16, 2025. It was heartwarming to feel the love for us, for Nokutela and the story that connects Northfield, Minnesota to this important South African heroine.
This event was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
(photo credit: Heather Lawrenz)
An incredible sight: OUR COMIC BOOK IN THE HANDS OF SOUTH AFRICAN FORMER PRESIDENT MBEDKI!
The day after our presentation, Cherif traveled to South Africa with over 100 copies of self-published comic books. During his visit, he presented a copy of "A Zulu in New York" to South African fromer President Mbeki.
During this visit, Chérif autographed copies of "A Zulu in New York" for South African former President Mbeki.
*BIG EXCITING NEWS!* (12/30/24)
I got a grant from the Minnesota States Arts Board to keep working with collaborator Nathalie Rech and to finish and locally promote our graphic novel...
LULU WHITE, QUEEN OF DIAMONDS: CHRONiCLES OF A NEW ORLEANS BLACK MADAM
Comics workshop at the Northfield Public Library on
Jan 11, 2025 @1PM
(Northfield, Minnesota)
Full house!! Thank you all for coming!!
This activity was made possible by the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council. SEMAC activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from Minnesota Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
public talk
Thursday Jan 16, 2025 @5PM
"A Zulu in New York"
Northfield Public Library
with Chérif Kéita
Want to know how the small town of Northfield, MN played a part in the life of Nokutela Mdima Dube, a South African forgotten woman who worked to liberate her people ?
Come join the conversation.
Free copies of the comic book will be given away.
All are welcome!
(photo credit: Heather Lawrenz)
This activity was made possible by the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council.
SEMAC activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from Minnesota Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
support
"A Zulu in New York" was supported by a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council and made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the MN State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
