Tell Mi Weh De Gwan Celebrates Belizean Resilience & Expression
Solo show from ceramicist Desmond Jervis examines the traditions and sustained resistance of Belizean culture through a diaspora lens
When: Opening Saturday, 11/15 from 6-9 p.m.; Gallery open Sunday, 11/16 from 12-4 p.m.
Where: Little Pot | 3220 W. Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018
How: Free to attend; appointments available by contacting info@potstudiola.com.
Information & Images: Available online and here.
LOS ANGELES—In Tell Mi Weh De Gwan, Belizean-American artist Desmond Jervis, MFA, displays terracotta and multimedia sculptures that examine the creative praxis and traditions of Belizean culture, history, and representation. Opening on Saturday, November 15 at POT, Tell Mi Weh De Gwan, Belizean Kriol for “Tell Me What’s Up?” is a visual dialogue between indigenous Maya and African cultures’ shared history of decolonization.
A testament to the resilience and creativity of Belizean people—at home and across the diaspora—the exhibition explores the mediums and meanings of Garifuna Wanaragua (or Jankunu) dancers, a satirical representation of slaveholders and expressions of resistance during and after colonization.
The multimedia sculptures also reference the creative domestic Belizean spirit, particularly around Christmas and New Year. Jervis’ Wanaragua figures dance atop polished “mahogany” plinths—an intentional nod to the colonial legacy of Belize’s timber industry and woodworking—while a clay Belikin beer crate rests on linoleum supporting handmade brooms, in ode to traditions of domestic care and the ingenuity of creating out of need.
Tell Mi Weh De Gwan is a manifestation of Jervis’ knowledge of history, visual cultures—and a pertinent, timely expression of his experiences as a Black man and member of the diaspora in Los Angeles.
Learn more and RSVP; please send media inquiries or opening RSVPs directly to camila@potstudiola.com.
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Desmond Jervis, MFA, is Belizean-American artist, art historian and professor of ceramic art at California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. Focused on ceramics, historical research, installation art, photography, and video, Jervis is also a writer with a radio show dedicated to exploring music from the Caribbean and beyond.
POT Studio LA is the first pottery studio owned and for people of color in the country. With a focus on community building and cultural preservation through clay, POT offers accessible classes, creative expression, and intentional spaces for LA’s Black, Indigenous, and people of color to create.
