My Nails Tell A Story:

A Multimodal Ethnographic Exploration of Expression, Identity, and Resistance in Brooklyn Nail Salons 

My Nails Tell A Story is part of a larger multimodal project that explores the cultural significance of nail salons and manicures in Black-American communities. Through poetic visuals, the film draws viewers into an intimate relationship with the artistry and materiality of the expressive manicure. Filmed in two Brooklyn nail salons, it reveals how manicures act as conduits for embodied storytelling while intersecting with the politics of race, care, and identity. The film invites us to reflect on the social role of the manicure, ultimately honoring this art form as a powerful and celebratory expression of self-care, sovereignty, personhood, and resistance.

The film was screened for the first time on Nov 6 in Amsterdam at Visual Encounters. An ethnographic film screening and an exploratory version of the installation will be displayed at the 2024 AAA Annual Meeting in Tampa.