b'andthenColumbiaHigh School.Shesaysitwasa confidenceboosttostudyFALL withteacherswhowere professional dancers.My teacher always be-lievedinme,McCrear says.HavingsomeoneObenewaa Frimpomaa accepts the Paul BartickAFTER-in the dance world that I felt saw me as a dancerMaybeIdidnttalkthatEmerging Artist 2025 award, standing in front of much. She saw somethingher artwork at SOPAC. Credit: Lauren Dick in me. withtheinstructors I talk about race. I talk aboutSCHOOLWorking from AileyDance Kids, she felt un- history. I use poetry. I reference my derstood as a Black dancer. ownGhanaian-Americandescent, Frimpomaa said. Every time I make my work, I think about my young- CLASSESer self. She was a very shy, reserved person, who felt very trapped in a box of stereotypes. I try to speak to and motivate her, Frimpomaa says. You can color outside of the lines.AVAILABLEI want to show, particularly Black, female girls like me, that you are not in a box.Frimpomaa submitted artwork to Simone McCrear, who received theInspired Minds every year for fourNOW.years, starting when she was a fresh-man. When she was a sophomore, she had a piece accepted.2024 Paul Bartick Emerging Artist Award,Justknowingmyworkwas performs her original choreographedtherethat was such an affirming work, at My Black Is Beautiful, theKitchen Table is a culinary studioSouth Orange Middle Schools Black His- moment,especiallysincethatpar-tory Month celebration. Photo courtesyticular piece was about my parentsoffering chef-led, professional-caliber classes of SOPAC. immigrating here, Frimpomaa says.for kids and adults alike.It was like, Wow. I can really shareWe also host private events and corporateBeing a Black dancer in the in- parts of myself with my communityteam-building classes throughout the year.dustry is a challenge in and of itself.and have it be appreciated. Come check us out!I always felt that I had to work hard- Frimpomaa was the recipient of er than other people to accomplishthePaulBartickEmergingArtist the things I want to, McCrear says.Awardinhersenioryearin2025. EveryonewhowasaninstructorThisincludedanexhibitofher Dfor Ailey was a person of color. I feelwork,includinghersketchbooks, like they understood my experiencewhich show the visual and thoughtOwithoutmehavingtoOexplain it to them.ObenewaaFrim- Wpomaa,avisualartist Ewhose parents are from Ghana, recently gradu- LatedfromMillburn PHighSchoolandpar-ticipatedinSOPACsAMInspiredMindspro-gram.Herartwork includesalotofpor- In Weaving Healing, a charcoal, gouache and ink piece by Obenewaa Frimpomaa, the art of hair traits, mostly of family,braiding isnt just about sisterhood, its collectivekitchentable.maplewood Kitchen Table Maplewoodfriends or herself.healing and vulnerability. Credit: Lauren Dickfeature story /35'