The Watermelon Couch
Summer 2025 : The Midwest
Arkansas - Oklahoma Tennessee - Ohio - Pittsburg Buffalo - Michigan - Illinois Minnesota - Indiana - Missouri Kansas - Colorado - Utah
A Journey Through Culture, Community, and Creativity
The Watermelon Couch isn’t just an art piece—it’s a movement. What started as a bold, hand-crafted sculpture has grown into a nationwide journey retracing the Great Migration routes of Black families from the 1940s and 1950s. Each summer, I take the Watermelon Couch Road Trip across the country, bringing art, storytelling, and community engagement to cities along the way. This project is about more than just travel—it’s about connection, history, and celebrating our collective culture.
Season 2 - 2024
90 days
40 interviews
20k miles
27 states
Season 1 - 2023
30 days
24 interviews
8k miles
10 states
Why This Matters Now
The Watermelon Couch Project isn’t just about history—it’s about the present and the future. In today’s political climate, where Black stories, histories, and cultural contributions are being challenged, erased, or rewritten, it’s more important than ever to reclaim and amplify our narratives.
The Fruit Stand
Supporters + Donors + Partners
Made possible by people who support artists living out their dreams, to provide authentic and healthy lifestyles that contribute to the preservation of our ecosystem and universal well-being:
A Black, Adrian Nava, Adrionna Fike, Aiyana Knowles, Alana Taylor, Alysha English, Amelia Rudolph, Andrew Baker, Aneesha Hargrave, Anna Keightley, Anthony G, Ariel Trimmings, Arielle Gonzalez, Audrey Burch, Aunt Conny, Barbara French, Benjamin Braley, Bill Tomlin, Brent Housteau, Brooke Nugent, Calune Eustache, Carlos Rivera, Carlton Petties, Carolyn Cole, Cecille Isidro, Charmin Roundtree-Baaqee, Christian Irish, Christy Bennett, Clama Maret StAimee, Cobby Benson, Dani Bule, Daniel Fields, Delfina Bright, Derrick Clements, Devin Bruner, Diane Haywood, Dorrtheia Wright, Elizabeth Ghormley, Emily Johnson, Emily Pape, Emmet Johansson, Erica Wheeler-Dubin, Ericka Fizer, Ericka Myers, Erin Ashford, Faenina Coyle, Falani Spivey, G Shields, Germania McCleese, Gigi Pandian, Hen Fookes, Hien Hoang, Hilary Jacobs, Hillary White Nash, Huong On, Ibrahim Aziz, Irene Frazier, Jacqueline Westermeyer, James Bell, James Braley, James Shields, Janelle Jones, Jaro Fleet Technologies, Jasmine Jackson, Jean Greene, Jennifer Reis, Jennifer Wright, Jere Samuels, Jesse Staub, Jessica Jallorina, Joel Griffin, Jonathan Furst, Josef Miler, Julia LaMone, Julian Scott, Justin And Kelly, Justin Vandenbroeck, Kate Spacek, Katie Speicher, Kelly Whalen
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.