When I walk into Bosco’s home she’s still locked in, hands hard at work, molding the clay that will become mugs for her upcoming Palette.xyz exhibition, slated for the following weekend. She has only paused to open the door and offer me tea and water. Before we sit down to chat, hands and eyes still glued to the clay, she warns me that when she gets really zoned in she can lose her train of thought, something I already admire.
Bosco is nervous for the upcoming exhibition, reminding me that “every artist still thinks they suck.” For some reason nervousness and second-guessing are some things artists never really outgrow. The nerves however, are outmatched by her work ethic, love for what she does, and desire to bring her community together.
In her conversation with GROWN the multidisciplinary artist, founder of Slug Global, and creative genius behind Palette.xyz talks about her latest venture, the need to preserve nostalgia, and much more.
We first met you as a singer-songwriter (I still listen to “Castles” all the time). Tell us about the journey to the multi-hyphenate we see today.
“B.” was my favorite project ever. I think I was just at a really chaotic but reflective point in my life. I think for me I wanted to flex more of my skills because I would do my visuals and my videos and my cover art and I thought why don’t I start doing that again and I stopped focusing on music so heavy.
Music needs to be my gift that I give, not something I do because I need to tour and make money. I started not liking how that felt. Yes, I could be creative but it was as a need to survive and music was never supposed to be that for me. So a way for me to not totally abandon it, was to take a break. It’s like a love-hate relationship. I love that bitch and I hate that bitch. You make me do too much for you, but that’s why I love you because you make me work hard.
Do you think you experience a lot of burn out?
Burnout is relative is what I am finding out right now. Right now I’m a little tired but it’s my shit. I’m not working for a client right now. I’ll be tired for my shit. It’s crazy when passion projects turn into your business.
How did ceramics come into play?
For me working as a freelancer, working as an agency, you get inundated with your laptop, being in constant communication, being of service but not in a way that provides for the community. You’re being of service to yourself, to a brand, to a sponsorship, or partnership. I’m using my creativity but not exactly in my voice. I was like I need to separate this.
I wanted to use my hands. I went to art school, so I was already used to that discipline, and using that way to communicate. I remembered how I was and the brain space I was in when I was using my hands.
This isn’t for me to make money, this is a byproduct of people being a part of an experience.
What influences the creative medium you choose to work with/ how do you decide which creative outlet needs nourishing at x time?
It all depends on how much I need people. I feel like ceramics is very much about me and my discipline — if I want to just be more reflective and still be creative and still feeding myself I’m over here with it. When I need more juice, I’m more collaborative, like with photoshoots and video shoots.
Tell me about Palette.xyz. How does nostalgia and innovation coexist for you?
I used to treat those things separately. I thought nostalgia could only exist in past memories from my childhood. Those core memories we hold on to are like medicine for our soul. It relaxes our nervous system. I always want to somehow return home within myself. Nostalgia does that for me. With Palette, it’s like this just ignites a feeling of me being in middle school, I had this conversation, I had this crush, these are things that ignite memories more so but it’s still functional.
You describe this feeling of coming home when you think/look at these things that represent the past. How do you want people to feel when they leave the exhibit?
Hopeful. Inspired. I just want to wake people up. I want them to be inspired to do other things, be inspired to get off of their computer, be inspired to get in touch with the old things they have in their house. I want them to wonder do I need to always be on my iphone, can I reduce my screen time. We really can survive, not saying I want technology to stop, but what I’m saying is that we can really preserve the things that we have with our current thought process, things that are more environmentally friendly. We could cut down on a lot if we can repurpose.
Years from now when the next generation is traveling back to learn about your work, what do you want them to uncover, or say about Bosco? What do you want your legacy to be?
Wow that’s a lot. I have a lot of work to do, and I understand that this is hard. I want people to know that what we perceive on social media isn’t who we really are. I feel like I do social media a disservice. I’m way better offline. For me, I’m not trying to be at every event or taking up space to just take up space.
Keep going, you’re going to get a lot of nos, people are not going to like you but as long as you have faith in yourself and are surrounded by your loved ones, give yourself grace, and [go to] therapy.
What are your favorite campaigns to work on as creative director at Slug Global?
Sports (Adidas, Nike), anything to do with language, panels, workshops, and films/ commercials.
It is very clear when brands/businesses try to connect with Black audiences without employing any Black creatives. What role is Slug Global playing in bringing authenticity to these campaigns and why do you think brands are actually focusing on us as consumers?
As far as connecting with Black audiences the elephant in the room has really been police brutality. Now, there is more visibility and more safe spaces for us to say things and stand up for ourselves so Slug is bringing accountability. We’re calling them out, like a white man shouldn’t be consulting with a black woman on her hair.
What are your thoughts on AI, as an artist, innovator, business owner? Do you think it will change the way we tell stories?
I just started using ChatGPT a couple of days ago. I needed a lot of copy and I needed some frame. But at the same time, and I might get some slack for this, but I’m confused about why they are always trying to make America lazy. From social fast food, to physical fast food, how we consume is crazy. I just want us to try.
Let’s revisit nostalgia. What are some of your favorite “old school” products, or stores?
Stores: I was a Delia’s, Limit Too, and Rave girlie. They are my core memories.
Food: Teriyaki chicken in the mall, Pizza Hut.
Hair products: I fried my hair; I dyed it a lot and used Spritz and White Rain.
What can we learn from the past and how do you think it informs our future?
The past is a roadmap. It’s a great compass to have a general sense of where you are. I also feel like things back then were a lot more intention based. Things lasted longer. You buy it one time you have it your whole childhood. Whatever they were tapping into, we need to use that now. Everything has been sped up, from technology, the way we consume, the way we produce. Something happened in those thirty years and I’m trying to find the through line between that.
How has Atlanta, GA and all the places you’ve called home influenced your work?
In Atlanta, I’m creative. In LA and New York, I’m musical. It is very much centralized where I’m based, what pulls from what.
Right now for the first time in my life, maybe that’s because I have a son, I feel like I’m walking in who I am. No GMO, no preservatives. This is just who I am. When I do music again, it’s just going to be that. That whole fluff stuff, I’m still going to be a bad bitch. I’m going to give the girls what they want but that extra stuff, I’m good.
How has motherhood changed the way you approach your art? Has it impacted your interests?
I always said when I have a child, I’m going to be a mom, whatever that means. I love my son so much that the things that I love to do will have to love me back the same amount for me to pick that. Maybe that’s just right now, he’s three.
Motherhood has impacted where I place my value and who I place my value in. Time is a commodity over here. I don’t have a lot of it. Whatever I am working on, I have to feel it 100%. And maybe that’s also creative maturity.
More from our cover shoot with Bosco
Credits:
Photographer: Arieanne Evans
Creative Director: Maame Yaa Ansah
Movement Director: Michaela Johnson
Producer: Chamone Diane
Writer: Ashley Fern Ashley Fern
Stylist: Kyanna Renée Styles
Creative Assistant: Ashley C.
Makeup Artist: Kalene Gentles
Hair Stylist: Janiquia Scott
Wardrobe Provided By:
Shoot Locations:
