London Williams and Izsys Archer explore their friendship in collaborative exhibit
What does it mean to be a best friend? To have someone built-in to traverse life with, someone who just gets you. A person with whom you can be vulnerable, and that vulnerability leads to growth and trust.
Artists London Williams and Izsys Archer explore the intricacies and timeline of their friendship through their recent collaboration and one-night-only showcase at 1Hood Media. In the exhibition "Matchin' Tattoos," a multimedia film installation and performance, the Artivist Academy members took viewers on an emotional journey, capturing the raw and honest essence of connection and identity.
"Activism plays a part in all of our work and we are living proof," Williams said.
Archer focuses on activism at a personal level. "It's about how to advocate for yourself and others who look like you and may have experienced things similar to you," she said.
"I've had a lot of experiences with Izsys where I've been able to stamp my friendship and love for her through exhibitions. This is just another way to show everyone how much we love each other and where that comes from. I'm grateful," Williams, 25, said.
For Archer, the feeling is mutual. The two have grown through their academic and artistic journeys, but their bond has expanded far beyond any classroom setting.
"The exhibition felt like a solidification of what we will do for each other and how we will always be besties," Archer, 26, said.
They met during their senior year of high school, Williams was in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wis., and Archer in Lafayette, Ind. Serendipitously, they were both selected as presidential scholars by the Kansas City Art Institute for their undergraduate studies.
After the Kansas City Art Institute, they both went on to Carnegie Mellon University's School of Art for graduate school, with Williams making the leap first and Archer following his lead.
Jasmine Green, director of education at 1Hood Media, described the showcase as a pure distillation of what the Artivist Academy stands for.
"It's a space that focuses more on process than on the project," Green said, calling it one of the most experimental shows in the theater space.
Although they live together and often bounce ideas off each other, this exhibition felt like it was kismet. "It's just the furthering of our lifetime together," Archer said. "When creating, sometimes I lose track of time. It's that sort of spiritual interaction with the work that constantly feeds your identity and sense of self.
"Without the love we pour into our work, we wouldn't be who we are. It's our purpose. It feeds our souls, Archer said.
Collaboration, according to Williams, involves reflecting their shared vision in the best way possible, a process of giving and taking. "I'm constantly vibing off Izsys. She's always there to get the gears turning," he said.
Archer describes her style as very honest, and that honesty resonated with viewers like Frank Marlin Santos, 26. "This was a really beautiful and timeless experience. It was a great reflection for Black people to think about their relationships to love, friendship and kindness," said Santos, who met Williams and Archer at CMU. "It was a deeply spiritual and emotional experience to be here."
Ajani Zanaya, another attendee, felt immersed in the friendship and community connection displayed in the exhibition.
"The multimedia pieces used in the storytelling help you grasp their narrative and connect through the memorabilia," Zanaya said. "The different mediums really drew me in."
Reflecting on his work, Williams said, "A lot of it comes from those home places foundational to my identity. For me, it's been about emerging into my butch-queen identity and reclaiming something that wasn't nurtured. I get to heal parts of my inner child through creating.
"As a Black queer individual, our existence is political no matter what. Our bodies will always be looked at, and just existing is radical. It's vital for us to create as a form of survival and to continue our legacy," Williams said.
Green was grateful to help bring their work to a performance space and also to be part of the audience. "Having that sort of conversation is beautiful. There's a level of vulnerability only two people who know each other really well can bring out," she said.
"Many artists and activists are trying to restore our humanity, to delve into the ways we see ourselves," Green added.
Zanaya appreciated the reflective nature of the exhibition. "Especially in Black and queer communities, it's important that our stories are told and remembered," she said.
"Matchin' Tattoos" created that permanence, Zanaya added.
