watermelon couch
The Watermelon Couch
In 2022 I made this couch as part of my sculpture series for a Juneteenth event in Oakland, CA. Soon as I made it I was like “Oh sh*t. This couch belongs in the fields.” At that time I knew very little about farming and making a documentary wasn’t even on my radar. But I just had this vision of going on an adventure with my couch and I decided to pursue it. This organic experience has grown into a multi-media, open-source, research project. It’s still in progress, but the results have been amazing.
The purpose of the couch is to collect stories, amplify voices, and build community in the realms of food justice, Black culture, and raising awareness about our ongoing climate crisis. This project features amazing, talented, everyday people in the form of farmers, business owners, artists, activists, and many more.
Season 2 - Roadtrip pt.2
This year, I'm increasing my road trip to 2 months and have planned out programming for a full year. This season will expands both geographically and content-wise, diving deeper into the history of Black agriculture in the South and into the Northern states. Investing in this project will allow me to:
Hire an editor to produce video content that matches the project's scale.
Develop a workshop curriculum for the Watermelon Couch focusing on environmental and social justice issues.
Create a range of creative works, including a coloring book, a coffee table photo book, paintings, apparel, and collectible figurines and sculptures.
Become A Sponsor
If last year's experiment taught me anything, it’s that the Watermelon Couch is a year-round endeavor. The road trip alone is a significant undertaking, and producing footage for videos, fine art, public programming, and merchandise (gifts) demands a deliberate financial commitment. Your contribution will directly support these costs and help make this ambitious project a reality.
Here’s the Budget Breakdown
Startup Costs (to get started): $11,000 Starting my journey on the East coast instead of from my home base in Oakland requires a significant initial investment.
$2,500: Secures a truck or other enclosed vehicle.
Approximately $50: Covers daily transportation rental.
$600: Covers round-trip flights to and from the east coast.
$2,000: Covers shipping the truck and the couch between the East coast and home base.
$5,000: Covers home base overhead costs.
On the Road Trip: $16,000 I anticipate being on the road for 56 days. While costs vary daily, the average daily expense is approximately $320.
$60: Gas for heavy driving days.
$60: Food for three solid meals.
$200: Quality hotel accommodation. Last year, budgeting for cheaper hotels didn’t work out, so this year I'm prioritizing quality.
Program Development: $30,500
Video and Media Editor for Season 2: $15,000
This year, I plan to publish a collection of 20 interviews. To maintain and improve the quality of my content, I’m actively seeking to hire a team of skilled media producers.
Art and Concept Development: $15,500
Studio Work for 8 months: $8,000
Print Production: $5,000
Administrative Costs (website, subscriptions, tolls, etc.): $2,500
Interviews
Spring Road Trip 2023
Spring 2023, I traveled throughout Northern California to get my first sense of what the Watermelon Couch Road Trip could be. Supporters donated $3k, which enabled my team and I to travel to 3 different farms (rental truck and gas), attend the CA Black Farmers Conference in Fresno, CA and conduct 11 interviews. This trip was a definite success that informed a lot of what I would be doing for the Summer.
Summer Road Trip 2023
Everything came together and I hit the road with what turned out to be an epic journey. I made my way South through California with the goal of celebrating Juneteenth in Houston, TX. From there I pushed east, interviewing people in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. The interviews were a mix of planning, randomness, and destiny. I met farmers, leaders, business owners, artists, and historians. I drove 8k miles in 28 days, conducted 30 interviews/convos, and traveled through 10 states. In 2024 I’m editing the interviews, posting them online, and gearing up for my second road trip this Summer.
The Watermelon Couch Art Series
I’ve been working on new paintings, illustrations, and a photo series inspired by the road trip tour. While these works are still in the development phase, they’re shaping up nicely to be books, animations, and new sculpture pieces.
