TEXT Jasmine Bible + PHOTOGRAPHY Susan Kalergis
In our “Meet the Makers” series, we’ll introduce you to local personalities from each of the towns where Nest offices are located. In our technology driven world, it’s nice to meet people who are still physically making tactile things by hand…these makers enrich our communities and color the landscape of our towns. For this installment, we visit an artist from Richmond, VA.
+ Unicia Buster, Artist
Born and raised in Richmond, VA, Unicia Buster is ever the consummate artist. There is an ease about her, juxtaposed with an undercurrent of energy—as if at any moment her next brilliant idea will bubble up to the surface. Her upbeat attitude and positive outlook on life is palpable, and her humble nature is endearing, if not surprising, given her accomplishments.
Buster earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in photography at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, and her Master of Arts degree from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. She’s received various awards, completed an internship at the VMFA (Virginia Museum of Fine Art), and has taken classes in every artistic discipline you can imagine—ceramics, stained glass, sculpture, silkscreening, drawing, painting, and photography.
“Each of those classes were wonderful with brilliant instructors, but I realized my interest lay more in crafting than fine art. With crafting, it’s tangible. Here’s a project—let’s make it.” An 8-foot by 11-foot quilt that she completed as her senior thesis at Cornell was prominently displayed at the Richmond Public Library on Franklin Street from 2003 – 2016.
This passion for art began at the age of 8, and now at age 40, art has organically woven itself into every facet of her life. Buster was a graphic designer for 10 years with the Richmond Free Press, and more recently served as the art specialist at VCU Health where she curated gallery exhibitions and the hospital’s permanent art collection. While working directly with patients, using arts and crafts projects to help with dexterity, boredom, stress, and anxiety, she discovered that some patients were especially receptive to adult coloring books. But in working with many African-American patients, she discovered there was a lack of diversity in the offerings. So she created her own. She’s now published two adult coloring books: Coloring Curls, and Coloring Curls 2, both available on Amazon. There are coils, curls, and afros, mixed with mandalas, patterns, and shapes.
Buster’s celebration of afros is also seen in her “Hair Naturally” series—a compilation of quilted wall hangings, photographs, paintings, and drawings that honors the beautiful texture and patterns found in afros.
I ask Buster about continuing to find inspiration for her art. “You have to push your medium. If there are a billion artists, how can you make your art stand out? How can it be different from the rest? To be a true artist, you have to push it further.” She recently completed a year-long project, “Afros 365” where she created a new depiction of an afro each day for a year. Th ere were everything from drawings, painting, doodles, sculptures made from noodles, arranged sea shells, and lines drawn in the sand. The challenge was to physically make something every single day. When it comes to debating what is or isn’t art, her philosophy is one she learned from a mentor: “Anything can be your medium. It’s what you do with it that becomes art.”
To learn more about Unicia, visit her website: UniciaB.Wixsite.com/Artwork
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
We ask each of our makers to share what’s in their toolbox—the five things they can’t live without:
1. Sewing Machine
2. Fabrics
3. Fabric Cutter
4. Sketch Book
5. Art Supplies – Pencils and Pens
We shared this story with you in our Spring/Summer 2018 Issue of NEST Magazine. To view the full issue, click here.
Unicia Buster
Written on
Awesome! Thank you so very much.
Dorothy Marie Rice
Written on
This young woman inspires me!