“ARCANUM” Cyber Gallery
Felicita “Felli” Maynard: Ole Dandy, The Tribute
Ole Dandy, the Tribute
Felicita “Felli” Maynard, constructed by gabbah baya and Natalie Valcourt, Cyber Altar, 2020. Candle, vanity, piano, ottoman, lounge, trunk, glasses, gramaphone, rug, flowers, mortar and pestle
Felicita "Felli" Maynard's digital dreamscape is an introspective into the lives of male impersonators Jean Loren Feliz and Angelo Lwazi Owenzayo, fictional characters inspired by 1920s drag kings such as Florence Hines, Gladys Bentley, and Storme Delarverie. Maynard (Sagittarius) reconstruct the gaps created by colonialism to create an alternative history based on Afro-futurism. They utilize historical photography processes to interject on an era whose mainstream media misrepresents the idea of Black life.
On January 14, 2020, Felicita “Felli” Maynard shares an intimate short film introducing male impersonator Jean Loren Feliz. The piece strips the everyday life of Jean to its core as we are welcomed into their home and how they live (RSVP here).
The artworks in this gallery can be viewed within a playable video game, an immerse dreamscape constructed by gabbah baya and Natalie Valcourt, with an audio score by HiFadility.
Please note that this game is not compatible with Safari, or mobile phones. It is best played on a desktop (Mac or PC) using Chrome or Firefox.
ABOUT FELICITA “FELLI” MAYNARD
Image by Lola Flash for the 2019 Queer|Art Community Portrait Project
Felicita “Felli” Maynard is a first generation Afrolatinx genderqueer interdisciplinary artist, storyteller and educator. They use analog and wet plate photography to explore their identity as a descendant of the African diaspora. They received their BFA from Brooklyn College, with a concentration in photography. Maynard has exhibited at Bushwick Open Studios in NYC, Brooklyn College, Westchester Community College and Pen + Brush Gallery in NYC. They are a New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellow (2018-19) and a BRIC Media Fellow (2018-19). They have participated in residencies at Smack Mellon and Nurture Arts. They are currently interning in the Digital Collections & Services department at Brooklyn Museum.