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Artist: Mina James-Gist
Artist Statement
I paint from direct observation, often from the porch of the first home I have ever owned on Detroit’s east side. This body of work began during a period of convalescence following hospitalization, a time that slowed my pace and sharpened my attention to the immediate world around me. In that stillness, I became more aware of the houses that surrounded me, their textures, their endurance, and their unspoken histories.
I have long been drawn to the idea of homemaking and to the belief that everyone has a fundamental right to a place of belonging. I also hold the conviction that homes carry a kind of spirit that deserves recognition, care, and preservation. This perspective is closely tied to my family’s nonprofit work in Detroit, which supports the restoration and stewardship of neighborhood spaces. Through painting, I aim to honor these structures not only as architecture, but as vessels of memory, presence, and care.
Artist: Mina James-Gist
Artist Statement
I paint from direct observation, often from the porch of the first home I have ever owned on Detroit’s east side. This body of work began during a period of convalescence following hospitalization, a time that slowed my pace and sharpened my attention to the immediate world around me. In that stillness, I became more aware of the houses that surrounded me, their textures, their endurance, and their unspoken histories.
I have long been drawn to the idea of homemaking and to the belief that everyone has a fundamental right to a place of belonging. I also hold the conviction that homes carry a kind of spirit that deserves recognition, care, and preservation. This perspective is closely tied to my family’s nonprofit work in Detroit, which supports the restoration and stewardship of neighborhood spaces. Through painting, I aim to honor these structures not only as architecture, but as vessels of memory, presence, and care.