Created in collaboration by Ikwe and Kino, “Gold N Diamond” is a song and filmed performance art piece. Composed by Ikwe, the song titled Gold N' Diamond is produced with Native American hand drum and electronic hip-hop music production. The lyrics illustrate the history of Black and Indigenous people being used and exploited for profit. It plays off of common Hip-Hop tropes such as flaunting one's wealth and clout in a braggadocious manner. However, the verses illustrate how Black and Indigenous people face systematic challenges that can keep us from gaining actual wealth. The video begins with neon lights that depict common imagery found in pawn shop windows.  The neon sign imagery is followed by a performance of the character “Golden Blindian.” The “Golden Blindian'' is a Virgin Mary inspired false idol. She painted in gold and decorated with feathers, cowry shells, door knocker earrings, gold coins and diamonds. She represents the lies Christopher Columbus told in Spain and the weaponization of religion. 

Kino Galbraith & Kelsey Van Ert Artist Statement

Kino Galbraith is a Jamaican born Brooklyn based photographer and film artist. Kelsey is an African American and Ojibwe (Native American) performance artist, music producer, and storyteller from Minneapolis MN. As collaborators we challenge each other to use our mediums to respond to each other's work. Together our projects blend film with music, poetry, and performance art to amplify narratives of people of the African Diaspora and Native American people. Through our pieces we amplify our decolonization process, identity, communities, history, cultural practice, and experience. 

Ikwe (Kelsey Van Ert) Bio

Kelsey Van Ert, also known artistically as Ikwe or Kelsey Pyro, is an African American and Ojibwe artist and musician from St. Paul & Minneapolis, based in Brooklyn. Her practice incorporates storytelling, movement, film, as well as electronic and acoustic music composition.  Kelsey is a two time recipient of the Brooklyn Arts Council Community Arts Grant (2018 & 2019). She is also a recipient of the 2022 AudioFemme Agenda Grant. She was a 2018 Artist In Residence and grant recipient at The Shed in Hudson Yards where she developed and presented her musical piece, “MAKADEWIIYAASIKWE”the Ojibwe word for, “a Black woman; a woman of African descent.” The work was later recorded during the 2019 Protest Garden  artist in residency at The Wyckoff House. Her work has been presented at Lincoln Center Out of Doors,  the Brooklyn Prelude Festival, SECCA (the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art) in Winston-Salem NC, Beckham Gallery in Flint MI, and SoundSet Music Festival in Minneapolis MN.  Kelsey is currently a Music Technology Masters student at New York University.

Website: blackikweproject.com
Social: https://linktr.ee/KelseytheIkwe 

Kino Galbraith Bio

Kino Galbraith is a Jamaican born, Brooklyn grown film artist and photographer. His work focuses on amplifying imagery of urban and sometimes rural spaces in New York city and around the world. He enjoys collaborating on creative projects with friends, many of whom are local artists of New York City,  by documenting and highlighting their work with his camera. Kino’s work has been shown at The Shed NYC, The Center at West Park, the Wyckoff House’s Protest Garden Artist Residency funded by Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Prelude Festival, the SECCA (the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art), Yeehaw festival in Seattle Washington, and Buckham Gallery in Flint Michigan. Kino is also a member of Bear Canvas Sounds, a collective that curates spaces for local BIPOC artists to showcase their work.   

Social: https://www.instagram.com/fka_niko/