Today we’d like to introduce you to Ida Harris.
Ida, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My cousin has two beautiful daughters whose births I missed because of distance and resource. I wanted to celebrate the girls in a special way, but finances were low. I had a sewing machine, old jeans, and time. Thanksgiving Day 2012, Ba’beez was born. The first doll was an epic fail. Thanks to ambition, I kept trying. They evolved over time.
Has it been a smooth road?
Yes and no–Ba’beez was well received, but it was a challenge to define and establish them as art. Many people dismissed them as simply dolls. I wanted to distinguish them as poetic sculpture and not just mere craft.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and career?
Zero. Life is incidental–$#!+ happens. I wouldn’t define occurrences, good or bad, as luck in any capacity. Life is so much more than happenstance. In the creative sphere, ideas are birthed. They are intentional, technical, organic, at times spiritual–divine even. Luck doesn’t exist.
Do you feel like there are certain traits that increase the likelihood of success?
That my work is thoughtful; that it is honest; that it connects to people beyond the superficial.
What do you love about our city and what do you dislike?
That it is both intimate and inclusive. That it is vast and distant; commuting everywhere is a beast–it can be exhausting.
Pricing:
- They range between $250 and $1500
Contact Info:
- Email: hotpeeznbutta@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Hotpeeznbutta
- Facebook: Ba’beez
Image Credit:
Terrell Clark
Erskine Isaac
Ahsan Washington
