So here’s your invitation: Find your own Sugar Shack. Dance like your liberation depends on it. And when the lights come up, let the art of that moment live on; whether in a photo, a story, or the way your body still remembers the beat. Let it be sweet like sugar.

-Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha

Happy last day of 2025.

This year I published more writing online than ever. And one of my most popular essays was an in depth history of The Sugar Shack painting by Durham native and NCCU grad, Ernie Barnes. So in this episode, I’ve decided to dig deeper into the Durham creative archive and read my research on the painting for you.

I spend time with The Sugar Shack as a puzzle to be solved. From the location of the painting to the recently uncovered mystery of two versions, I talk through Barnes’s story, the cultural weight of his work, and how art becomes a bridge between generations.

As we close out the season, I hope this episode feels like an invitation. To remember. To honor. And to recognize our role in carrying these stories forward. Thank you for a warm 2025 and I look forward to sharing a new season of the Durham Artist Archive soon.

Let 2026 be sweet.

Associated Songs

I want you - Marvin Gaye

Dance tonight - Lucy Pearl

Related Reading

Sinners in the Sugar Shack

Support the Podcast

🎙️ Love what you’re hearing? The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform—it helps more people discover Durham’s creatives. And if you’d like to go deeper with Durham-focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack. Paid subscribers get exclusive perks like a credit in the show notes and a shout out in our season finale for helping preserve these voices.

👉 Join as a paid supporter today and keep these stories alive

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyRead on Substack

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa.artlab/alyssacuffie.com

☕ Support the Pod:https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:Recorded at Queeny’s in Durham, North Carolina

Authenticity is the most human part about you. Even your mistakes.— LaPrince Miller-Smith

LaPrince-Miller Smith reminded me that authenticity is a practice you return to again and again. And in this episode, we talk about the long arc of her artistic life and what it has taken to keep choosing herself within it. From singing in the Durham Children’s Choir to studying jazz and science at NCCU, teaching, performing, acting, and eventually stepping into full-time artistry, her story is rooted in commitment, curiosity, and care. LaPrince is the embodiment of honoring all of the things she’s ever loved.

We talk honestly about fear, practice, and self-advocacy, especially when navigating creative spaces that do not always make room. Sometimes, you have to make room for yourself and we get into the benefits that can come from it. LaPrince also shares what she has learned through mentors and building Beyond the Mic, her radio segment and budding podcast dedicated to uplifting local music artists. This episode is for musicians and creatives who are still figuring out how to stay true to themselves while growing. It asks what it really means to be authentic and what becomes possible when you allow community to hold you as you do the work. It’s not one to miss. 💕

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* Navigating a transition into full-time creative work

* The role of community and mentorship in artistic growth

* Authenticity, practice, and continual learning as an artist

* Building platforms that uplift local creatives

Related Episodes

Support the Podcast

🎙️ Love what you’re hearing? The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform—it helps more people discover Durham’s creatives. And if you’d like to go deeper with Durham-focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack. Paid subscribers get exclusive perks like a credit in the show notes and a shout out in our season finale for helping preserve these voices.

👉 Join as a paid supporter today and keep these stories alive

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyRead on Substack

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with LaPrince-Miller Smith:https://www.instagram.com/laprincesings/

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa.artlab/alyssacuffie.com

☕ Support the Pod:https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:Recorded at Queeny’s in Durham, North Carolina

“I want to archive more because a lot of Black people in America have not been afforded the freedom of having history and being the ones who tell it.”— Atigré Farmer

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I sit with Atigré Farmer, a multitalented 3D artist, community advocate, and creative whose artwork explores the limits of technology. Her early interest in fashion and film have lead her to experiment with digital design including her Artificial Intelligence-inspired project Xia. Together, we unpack how Black femininity, spirituality, and self-reflection show up in her work. Plus, we dig into my favorite topic of how archiving both personal and collective stories can become a radical act of preservation.

In addition to her creative work, Atigré’s contributions to the community are felt through her work with Durham’s Office on Youth- one of the few in the state. Her passion for empowering the next generation of artists was exciting to hear about alongside the resources for young creatives locally. This episode is all about art as innovation, liberation, and love. Join me as we parse through it all on the pod.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:• How artists are blending spirituality, technology, and storytelling• The making of Xia, an AI character exploring Black identity and empathy• What community art and youth programs look like in Durham, NC

Related Episodes

Support the Podcast

🎙 Love what you’re hearing? The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform—it helps more people discover Durham’s creatives. And if you’d like to go deeper with Durham-focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack. Paid subscribers get exclusive perks like a credit in the show notes and a shout out in our season finale for helping preserve these voices.

👉 Join as a paid supporter today and keep these stories alive

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyRead on Substack

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with Atigré Farmer:https://www.instagram.com/atigrexia/

https://www.instagram.com/theworldofxia/

https://www.atigrexia.com

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa.artlab/alyssacuffie.com

☕ Support the Pod:https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:Recorded at Queeny’s in Durham, North Carolina

“You can be an artist and you can monetize your art and you can be very successful at it. The question is: you have a strength in the artistry, are you willing to be trained on the things that you don’t know how to do?”— Coach Toci

This week on the Durham Artist Archive, I sit with Coach Toci, a poet and business coach who treats structure as a creative tool for possibility. She’s building Mompreneur Academy, where she helps artists and mothers streamline their operations, set prices with confidence, and integrate AI without losing their voice.

We talk about what it takes to run a sustainable creative business including systems that save time, standard operating procedures (SOPs) you can actually follow, and the village you need for family and business. We also dig into how she’s used poetry to capture her experiences with motherhood. If you want a creative practice that runs as well as it dreams, this episode will meet you right where you are with tactical tools to help. Make sure you take notes on this one. ✏️

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* Practical systems for creatives, from SOPs to project management

* Responsible use of AI that keeps your personality intact

* Maternal health, community care, and support for artist-parents

* Turning a creative practice into a scalable business

Comment or send me an email- did any of the tactics mentioned resonate with you? What might you be implementing into your own work?

Related Episodes

Support the Podcast

🎙️ Love what you’re hearing? The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform—it helps more people discover Durham’s creatives. And if you’d like to go deeper with Durham-focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack. Paid subscribers get exclusive perks like a credit in the show notes and a shout out in our season finale for helping preserve these voices.

👉 Join as a paid supporter today and keep these stories alive: [Subscribe Here]

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Read on Substack

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with Coach Toci:www.join.mompreneuracademy.biz

www.join.mompreneuracademy.biz

https://www.instagram.com/mompreneuracademyofficial/

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa.artlab/

alyssacuffie.com

☕️ Support the Pod:https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:Recorded at Queeny’s in Durham, North Carolina

“Take the seeds you find in the Durham soil and go plant it where you are. That’s literally why we started—it was so that people could get rejuvenated and inspired by the beauty of Durham in the triangle.”— Khalisa Rae

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I sit with Khalisa Rae, an award-winning artist, writer, educator, and curator whose work moves with both rigor and tenderness. Khalisa Rae let us into her story of an artistic childhood in Gary, Indiana, through musical theater, and into the hard-won voice that shaped her poetry book Ghost in a Black Girl’s Throat. Throughout our convo, she talks openly about higher education, adversity she faced, and her experience of being a poet in the South. Time and time again her story shows the power of trusting an ordained path and how community kept showing up as both anchor and engine.

We also dig into what it means to create spaces built on purpose like her cofounding of The Griot and Grey Owl Writers Conference. These, among her other projects make a strong case for the value of collective practice over isolation. Khalisa Rae has the kind of resilience that turns a no into a new door and I can’t wait for you to listen in.

Enjoy.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* Practical guidance on practice, resilience, and moving through rejection

* Creating inclusive literary spaces and running artist-centered programs

* What it looks like to serve a community through arts leadership

Want to attend the Griot & Grey Owl Writers Conference?

As a special thank you to Durham Artist Archive listeners, Khalisa Rae and I would like to share a discount code for the conference coming up on November 7-9th 2025! Whether you’d just like to attend my session (Lunch Time Pizza & Podcast Pull-up), or want the full All-Access VIP experience to connect with writers from across the South, use this code for a discount on your ticket.

And remember- the Friday Opening Ceremony and the book fair is completely free! This is a family friendly event that writers and book lovers alike will love. Come hang out with us!

Discount code: GROUPGRIOT25

Link to event page

Related Episodes

Support the Podcast

🎙️ Love what you’re hearing? The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform—it helps more people discover Durham’s creatives. And if you’d like to go deeper with Durham-focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack. Paid subscribers get exclusive perks like a mailed zine, a credit in the show notes, and a shout out in our season finale for helping preserve these voices.

👉 Join as a paid supporter today and keep these stories alive: [Subscribe Here]

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Read on Substack

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with Khalisa Rae:khalisarae.com

https://www.instagram.com/khalisarae/

https://griotandgreyowl.org

https://www.instagram.com/griotandgrey/

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa.artlab/

alyssacuffie.com

☕️ Support the Pod:https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:Recorded at Queeny’s in Durham, North Carolina

“Art doesn’t have to be pretty or quiet. In a world drowning us with noise, it’s important that some of us whisper, and some of us yell from the mountaintops.”— Wonder

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I connected with Wonder, a multidisciplinary artist whose practice includes graffiti writing, muralism, and community work. His passion for the art form is palpable. With his stories of the history of graffiti and the of reimagining barren walls as spaces of opportunity, Wonder is the only word that could arise for me as he dove into this often looked over genre- graffiti.

And while spray paint is the medium, social justice is always the message. We talked about art as resistance and the importance of building a community with depth. These are themes that come up often on the podcast but feel very different when taken in the context of an activity that can have adverse consequences.

Humans have always wanted to leave their mark on the world whether it be cave paintings or sharpie on a bathroom stall. It’s all graffiti. Exploring this culture and its impacts on a community with Wonder was a pleasure and gave me new perspective on what it means to reimagine a more just future. It might be one where politicians spray paint it out.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* The history of graffiti culture and how it appears in all political spheres

* The impact of public art on a community whether it be solving interpersonal tensions, gentrification, or something else

* The complexities of community building and tactics for how one does so

Related Episodes

Support the Podcast

🎙️ Love what you’re hearing? The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform—it helps more people discover Durham’s creatives. And if you’d like to go deeper with Durham-focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack. Paid subscribers get exclusive perks like a credit in the show notes, and a shout out in our season finale for helping preserve these voices.

👉 Join as a paid supporter today and keep these stories alive: Subscribe Here

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Read on Substack

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

alyssacuffie.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:Recorded at Queeny’s in Durham, North Carolina

“I would love to see more zero-commission art spaces downtown. There are so many artists that deserve the opportunity to be seen and to be paid for their work.”— Wutang McDougal

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I sit with Wutang McDougal, a queer Black visual artist, storyteller, and graphic designer who’s followed their intuition into a colorful arts career. We traversed their path from Leesburg, North Carolina to Durham discussing their early sketches of cartoons to high-profile work for the Sister Song podcast and Will Smith’s book launch. We dove deep into their illustration process and Wutang shared their design style evolution and ethos- something I was very curious about.

We talked about what it takes to build an art scene that pays artists, why creative freedom matters, and how to push past imposter syndrome with the help of collaborators who tell you the truth. There is Scrap Exchange tinkering, public art that meets people where they are, and a vision for Durham that feels generous, accessible, and loud with color. This episode feels super local with all of its classic Durham shout outs but also has invaluable advice for artists anywhere. It’s not one to miss.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* Ideas for how cities reactivate common space with art

* Moving through imposter syndrome and protecting your creative freedom

* How to explore ones personal design style and find comfort in it’s evolution

Support the Pod

🎙️ Love what you’re hearing? The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform—it helps more people discover Durham’s creatives.

And if you’d like to go deeper with Durham-focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack! Paid subscribers get exclusive perks like a mailed zine, a credit in the show notes, and a shout out in our season finale for helping preserve these voices.

👉 Join as a paid supporter today and keep these stories alive: Subscribe Here

Related Episodes

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Connect with Wutang:

https://www.instagram.com/wutangmcdougal/

http://www.wutangmcdougal.com/

Connect with me:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa.artlab/

alyssacuffie.com

Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

Additional Details:

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham

“Grief and joy are like sisters or lovers or friends… I think shifting that perspective or regrounding myself in what I would like to build from here has been nourishing my practice a lot recently.” -Huiyin Zhou

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I sit with Huiyin Zhou, a Durham-based multimedia artist, cultural producer, photographer, and writer whose practice is fed by friendship, care, and the importance of remembering. Between conversation of ghosts and dreams we explore how we understand our expanding identities. In short, the definition is always changing. And while that can be disconcerting for me, Huiyin leans in and finds play in their expansiveness. We also unpack the differences between online and offline community, why they carry a disposable camera to gatherings, and how grief and joy move together inside their work.

I was specifically interested in exploring their current exhibition at Artspace, 辫 (biān) / 彼岸 (bǐ àn) — “for those of us who live at the shoreline”(Audre Lorde, A Litany for Survival). The exhibition feels like a love letter to friends and family. With every detail thoughtfully chosen down to the wall color of “lotus pink”, reflecting Huiyin and their creative partners matching tattoos, their dedication to this craft is palpable. If listening during September 2025 be sure to view the exhibition in person so you can see it for yourself. 💕

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* Building community online and in person with care and intention

* How photography and writing can hold grief and joy at the same time

* Advice for artists seeking studio environments and supportive networks

Related Episodes

Support the Podcast

The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform. And if you’d like more Durham focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Read on Substack

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with Huiyin Zhou:

huiyinzhou.com

caocollective.com

https://www.instagram.com/huiyin.zhou/

https://www.instagram.com/caocollective/

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa.artlab/

alyssacuffie.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham, North Carolina

“Writing is like taking your medicine every day. [When] there’s something I don’t understand about the world or my own life, I’m just writing to make some sense out of it.”– Dr. Zelda Lockhart

In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I sit down with Dr. Zelda Lockhart, an award-winning author, poet, educator, and Fulbright Specialist rooted in Durham. We talk about writing as a daily healing practice, story as a tool for kinship, and what it means to tell the truth when silence is easier. Dr. Lockhart shares how her life across regions and roles shaped a writing and creatives practice that holds memory, resists isolation, and makes space for real connection.

We also get into her work as a Fulbright Specialist, where she will be leading a digital memoir project that braids classrooms in Africa and the U.S. into one conversation. She is currently fundraising for this trip so please visit her website to show support!

Dr. Lockhart also names the pressures of colonization and capitalism, and we lean into what it means to write anyway. This episode is the nudge I needed to be more consistent in my writing practice and it might do the same for you. Enjoy.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

* Using writing as a daily healing practice

* How storytelling builds connection across generations and cultures

* Honest talk about colonization, capitalism, and creative survival

* Community building through art in Durham, North Carolina

Support the Podcast

The best way to support the Durham Artist Archive is by liking or rating the podcast on your favorite platform. And if you’d like more Durham focused art writing and podcast reflections, follow us on Substack.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Read on Substack

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Connect with Dr. Zelda Lockhart:

https://zeldalockhart.com

https://www.instagram.com/zelda.lockhart/

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Recorded at Queeny's in Durham, North Carolina

On July 4th, 2025 I had the honor of interviewing North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green. She is the first poet laureate of North Carolina and an amazing woman who’s dedicated her life to witnessing truth and documenting it in her poetry.

When NorthStar Church of the Arts reached out for me to facilitate the conversation I was nervous to be in discussion with such an icon yet excited. I’ve been attending events at NorthStar since 2022 and it’s become a third space for me. A place where I can go and always see someone I know. A creative sanctuary that welcomes all of me and expands my imagination. A respite. So it was an easy yes to be apart of the NorthStar legacy by participating in one of their community events.

I’m really excited for you all to hear listen in on Jaki and I’s conversation. We talked about community care, what black autonomy means, her experiences following and documenting the movements of the KKK, writing tips, and so much more. And while this is the audio version, you can watch the video here on Youtube as well.

I really enjoyed being in conversation with Jaki and the community members who came out to support and I know you will hear that through the audio. This is one you’ll want to take notes on.

Enjoy.

Subscribe on Substack to be notified first about new episodes and receive the accompanying newsletters that reflect on the podcast episodes!

🌀 Remember to like, comment, and rate wherever you listen to this podcast to help us reach more listeners!

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

✏️ Connect with Jaki Shelton Green:

https://jakisheltongreen.com/about-jaki/

⛪️ Connect with NorthStar Church of the Arts:

https://www.northstardurham.com

👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:

https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/

https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/

alyssacuffie.com

womanifestomag.com

☕️ Support the Pod:

https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa

✏️ Additional Details:

Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant

Recorded at NorthStar Church of the Arts in Durham