Claiming Colman Commons: Takiyah Ward on Black Art and Divine Audacity
The recent Colman Commons Grand Opening marked a monumental milestone for Seattle’s Black artist community, but the celebration's heartbeat truly resonated during the honoree panel of Black women in the arts. Taking center stage was Takiyah "TDUB" Ward, the newly appointed Creative Director of Colman Commons and the owner of The Re-Sole 206.
Known for her bold artistic vision, Ward delivered her perspective on cultural stewardship, divine audacity, and the necessity of physical spaces for Black art. Moderated by Colman Commons Executive Director Ashleigh McCurdy, the discussion probed what it takes to stop waiting for permission and start building for oneself.
The Audacity of Creation: The 2020 BLM Mural
When McCurdy asked the panel at what point they stopped asking for a seat at the table and chose instead to pour directly into their own community, Ward pointed to a defining moment in 2020: the creation of the Black Lives Matter mural.
Created by the Vivid Matter Collective with Ward at the helm, the project was not sanctioned by local government; no permission was sought, and none was granted. As public narratives began to distort the movement's focus, Ward felt an artistic duty to preserve the message.
"It was clear that the original intent and message was being lost," Ward said of the message behind the mural. "And so it felt important to me as an artist to make sure that whoever was on that spot knew exactly why they were there."
Navigating pushback from city officials, taxpayers, and critics who labeled the work as vandalism, Ward found fuel in the divine energy of the collaboration and the real-time feedback from the community who praised Ward and the Collective for the statement they were making with art.
"There's a divinity attached to this effort. And so once I realized that, I had no choice but to keep going,” Ward said. Today, that unsanctioned act of resistance stands as a world-renowned landmark, a rare surviving anchor from an era of global reckoning.
The Currency of Invitation and Physical Space
For Ward, stepping into the role of Creative Director at Colman Commons represents a new chapter. She emphasized that while talent is important, it cannot thrive without the tangible real estate to manifest it.
"For me, invitation is everything," she said. "To be invited to bring my creative expertise to [Colman Commons] was the opportunity for me to show that I can do this type of work... You can't show it until you're able to find the space to do so."
She noted that art is not merely an intellectual exercise, but an environment that must be felt.
"I can show you better than I can tell you," Ward said. "As an artist myself, it’s always about the tangible, the physical, and allowing people to have their own story when they interact with it.
Ward views her role at Colman Commons as a form of sacred, energetic guardianship.
"I think it's incredibly, incredibly important for us to have spaces to do that work because it's spiritual work. It's energetic work,” she said.
Honoring the Past to Inspire the Future
Ward spoke passionately about drawing strength from the artistic giants who laid foundations before her, referencing the childhood impact of encountering Marita Dingus’ deities at the Garfield Community Center and Barbara Earl Thomas’ The Geography of Innocence. Seeing their work in public spaces planted seeds that blossomed decades later, giving her the "permission to show up and to spread my wings."
Ultimately, Ward’s presence at Colman Commons is a commitment to ensuring the world accurately reflects the Black experience, driven by an obligation to both her ancestors and her inner child.
"It is important for me that the world that I exist in reflects my experience, and how I do that is by showing up," she said. "I show up because I am excited to inherit what people who are in this room have laid for me. And I also show up because little Takiyah would want me to."
Learn more about The Re-Sole 206 at theresole206.com
The Colman Commons Grand Opening was produced by The Elite Collective, a Seattle Impact Architecture™ firm that builds live experiences and the content that carries them forward.
EC ran the technical side of the evening end to end. Video capture preserved the full honoree panel with Jazmyn Scott, Takiyah Ward, Barbara Earl Thomas, Sierra Jones, and Stephanie Morales. Sound reinforcement kept every panelist clear for the room and clean on the recording, so one setup served both the live audience and everything that comes after it. A dedicated interview station captured reflections from artists, honorees, and guests while the night was still happening. A photo booth and a 360 booth turned the audience into participants and sent the celebration home on their phones.
One night in the Colman Building produced a live experience, a documented archive, and a library of shareable content.
Learn more about The Elite Collective at theelitecollective.com and on their Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Looking to book a space for your upcoming event? Check out Colman Commons for all your event space needs at colmancommons.com
