A Womb of Violet: An Anthology

Produced in conjunction with the 2019 Project for Empty Space Feminist Incubator Program

A Womb of Violet: An Anthology is a collection of poetry and original prints by Black women writers and artists from Newark, New Jersey. The hand-cut, risograph artbook features an introduction by Dr. Antoinette Ellis-Williams, Chair, Department of Women's and Gender Studies at New Jersey City University. The book begins with five previously unpublished poems by Amina Baraka and pays homage to Black feminist writers and thinkers. 

Contributors include: Amina Baraka, Jennifer Coard, Dominique Duroseau, Dr. Antoinette Ellis-Williams, Bimpé Fageyinbo, Margie 'Mia X' Johnson, Breya 'Blkbrry Molassez' Knight, Jennifer Mack-Watkins, Jasmine Mans, K. Desireé Milwood, Kween Moore, K. Eleven Muldrow, Sheikia S. Norris, Angela Pilgrim, Jillian M. Rock, tarah douglas and cover photography by Adama Delphine Fawundu.

Cover Photo: Adama Delphine Fawundu, Nëku, Hair is Apolitical #14, from the series "DeconstructingSHE series", 2017

Inside Photo: Adama Delphine Fawundu, Group Hug, Brooklyn, New York, from the series "I AM HERE: Girls Reclaiming Safe Spaces", 2008 

Back Page Photo: Adama Delphine Fawundu, Tiroli Girls, from the series "I AM HERE: Girls Reclaiming Safe Spaces", 2008

Layout and Design by: Rebecca Jampol, tarah douglas, and Jasmine Mans

Writer fayemi shakur worked collaboratively with fifteen Newark-based, female-identified writers, poets and visual artists to create an artbook oriented around both individualism and collective identity. shakur and her collaborators present new perspectives on poetry, camaraderie, performance, and bookmaking. In addition to the tangible collection of work, shakur also organized performances and gatherings throughout the duration of her PES residency. These gatherings provided ways to share lyrical and literary formats of addressing intersectionality in the art space- intended to be a place to not only perform, but also workshop new ideas.