Artists David K. Coleman Jr. (left) and MINK (right). (Original photos by Julian Moore-Griffin)
We’re in the final stretch of the first quarter of 2025, so it’s safe to say we can put those “Happy New Year” greetings to rest now. But before we turn the page to our next chapter, we have a neighborhood ritual to uphold — our quarterly celebration of the arts.
Germantown Art & Sound (GAS) returns for 2025 this Friday at its usual home, Our House Culture Center, from 7 to 10 p.m. This quarterly showcase gives neighbors an immersive visual and sound experience and, in the process, uplifts local artists, regardless of their portfolio and resume.
About six artists will exhibit their work in various styles and mediums this month. In addition to the visual experience, local band Velvet Grüve will enhance the space with melodic vibes.
While there isn’t a specific theme associated with the upcoming art show, two self-taught artists’ work will remind viewers that though art comes from a personal place, subjects often connect folks and remind them that they are not alone in their experiences.
And what’s the subject that connects these two? Black women and femininity.
David K. Coleman Jr.
This fine artist isn’t new to Germantown; he’s true to it — spending some of his adolescence here, even going to John Wister Elementary. And he’ll return to the neighborhood this Friday to do his big one.
David K. Coleman puts the “man” in “many talents,” as he comes equipped with skills in painting, digital art, audio production, and even rapping. He decided to wrap all of these into a newer purpose — Orange Line Lotus Publishing.
Under the publishing imprint, Coleman has released an array of “simple children’s books about complex emotions” that he’s authored and illustrated. His newest work, Never Fit In, depicts bold characters as a silly but essential “reminder to embrace what makes you unique.”
And while this latest release manifests his love for art, his passion was birthed much earlier, as he remembers his mother as an artist in his childhood days, saying, “There was always art around.”
However, it wasn’t until art became his vehicle for healing that he began to see it as his calling. Coleman twice was a patient in a mental health institution for thoughts of self-harm. He calls the experience “jarring” and remembers struggling to find purpose.
“They kind of strip you of all your things,” which Coleman says was how he was able to lean back into his childhood love. He says the impact he saw it have on those around him, especially those getting treatment at an inpatient setting, reignited a dimming flame.
“I watched it lift other people’s spirits,” he shared, naming the various occasions he’d get requests for art.
He carries this vulnerability within his artwork, which he describes as “raw.” Some of this can be seen through the visible brushstrokes in finished works, which he says help show the process. However, his lack of blending doesn’t erase the soft nature of his work, as the subject and coloring of his works fill the gap.
Much of his works center on Black women, which he says is not by mistake. Though a Black man, Coleman’s source of power is drawn from the women around him — particularly his late grandmother.
“She always encouraged me,” Coleman shared about who he recalls as the most fearless person he’s ever known. “She would always tell me [not to] be bashful. She would tell me, ‘show your art’.”
And that’s his idea of strength, especially in a familial setting, which Art & Sound goers will see on display beside his array of children’s books.
Coleman ends by saying, “I hope that anybody that reads this feels inspired to create and be bolder versions of themselves.”
MINK
This West Philly-born artist has always had a creative spirit but often struggled with the “hungry artist” narrative, not always seeing a lucrative career path as an artist. However, with the support of their family, they can officially call themselves a GAS alum after Friday night.
Aminah Muhammad, also known as MINK, is a non-binary artist whose primary use of acrylic paint and canvas helps make ordinary experiences of Black femininity, whether cis, trans, or non-binary, extraordinary.
Take their “Hair Day” painting, for example. It uses mainly blue and yellow hues and shades to depict a partially nude woman doing her edges. While the action and subject of the painting are typical solo tasks, they connect women and femmes as a familiar ritual across the Black diaspora.
MINK says these rituals themselves are art forms, which often take the same level of care and intention they put within their own artworks.
The artist feels media representations of Black people are “simple” and limiting, saying people don’t understand it or understand the weight of being Black. Those limitations expand to the art world, MINK says.
“When I was growing up, all I saw in museums was [Pablo] Picasso and Henri Matisse… it was kind of disheartening and deterred me from art because it was like, oh, here’s another white woman in the painting. That’s all I saw.”
However, learning about Black artists like Amy Sherald and Imani Bilal has helped them resist stereotypes and harmful narratives. It has also pushed them to liberate and encourage new minds through their own works.
MINK’s work strips the male of his gaze on Black womanhood and places ownership with its rightful owners. Their work screams, “We don’t get dressed for men; we get dressed for ourselves.”
Through their work, they hope people, particularly those expressing Black femininity, will at least see themselves.
“It may seem like you’re alone, especially if you’re on the other end of the spectrum of being the minority, but you always have a community out there,” MINK ends.
MINK extends thanks to Germantown Art & Sound for this opportunity, and particularly to their family, who pushed them to begin putting their art in front of the world.
While Germantown Art & Sound is free, a suggested donation of $10 is suggested. All goers must register in advance. Our House Culture Center is at 6380 Germantown Avenue (intersection of Johnson Street).